CHAPTER 3: HUMILIATION

CRYSTAL'S POV 

"Hello, everyone. This is Crystal Shawn. A new student in the department," A Professor who had taken it upon himself to lead me to the law department, which I chose, introduced me to the students. 

The students looked stunned for a moment, looking at me without saying a word until one of them stood up and smiled brightly at me, "Hello, Crystal. I'm Lyra, Nice to meet you," She greeted cheerfully. Her eyes were literally sparkling as she smiled at me. 

Feeling warmth from her response, I waved at her and smiled back at her, "Pleasure meeting you, Lyra,"

"Hi, Crystal. I'm Ben,"

"Hi, Crystal, I'm David,"

"I'm Sarah,"

"I'm Daniel,"

"I'm Kay,"

Almost all the students introduced themselves with bright smiles on their faces, which for a minute stunned me as this wasn't the image I had in my head. 

These people were children of either politicians or business icons. They were innately spoiled and arrogant, but to think they would go through the pain of introducing themselves with smiles on their faces. I immediately felt glad that I chose this department. 

"You should pick a seat, Crystal. The lecture starts immediately," the professor said to me, and I nodded. 

My eyes danced around, searching for whom to sit with as I walked toward the seats. Resting on Lyra, who was waving at me, I smiled and walked toward her. "Hi," I said again as I sat beside her and dropped my bag. 

"You're so pretty," Lyra said sweetly, smiling glumly at me. She looked incredibly sweet and nice. 

The class started, and the professor's deep voice carried the class on an educational journey for more than an hour before he packed his things, gave me a glance, and walked out of the class without saying another word. 

Seeing his glance and his soothing expression before he left the class, I suspected that he was sent by Madam Frost to take care of me in the university...

Warmth flushed through my heart, and a small smile formed on my face. 

How could she be so cool?

How could she be so good? 

As someone who had no mother again in this life, she successfully made me feel like she is my mother.

"Crystal, are you hungry? Shall we visit a restaurant nearby to eat lunch before the afternoon class?" Lyra's voice broke my thoughts, and I nodded my head without thinking much. 

I wasn't hungry, but it wouldn't do any harm to have a friend in a new place filled with strangers. 

I arranged my books back into my bag and dropped it on my shoulder. Standing up, I gestured to Lyra, who was done arranging her things, too. "Let's go," I said to her. 

Just then, silence fell on the class, and raising my head, I saw a girl standing at the entrance of the class with a scornful expression on her face as she looked at me. It was strange. It was my first time in the university, so how did I gain an enemy?

I gently tapped Lyra and pointed at the girl, "Who is she?" I asked in a low voice, not wanting to provoke the other girl. 

Lyra's expression changed slightly, and she immediately grabbed my hand, "Let's go. That's Hannah. She's a troublemaker and a bully. We resumed together a month ago, but she's already known all over the campus because she is the granddaughter of a minister and also Xavier Frost's girlfriend. She must be here to look for trouble. It's better if we avoid her." Her words were rushed, but she made sure to pass her words across as she made her way out of her seat with me behind her. 

"Hey, there!" A voice sounded behind us, and Lyra stopped for a moment, but it was only a moment as she started walking away without bothering to look back. 

She held my hand so I was naturally walking with her, too. 

"Yo, maid!" The voice came again, accompanied by laughter. 

My heart shook violently, and my face turned slightly pale. 

Without a doubt, Hannah was targeting me, and she was ready to humiliate me.

Being known as a maid in normal universities might not be that much of a big deal, but this was TINDERS, a prestigious university that a normal office worker wouldn't even have the money to attend.

Everyone would disdain me. They would look down on me and treat me with contempt...

As expected, Lyra stopped and turned around with confusion written across her face. "Who is she talking to?" Her voice was low, but I could hear the uncertainty in it. It was obvious that she already knew the answer. 

While I was yet to reply to Lyra, footsteps resounded behind me, and Hannah soon stood in front of me, "Yo, pretty maid," She waved her hands arrogantly in front of my face and laughed wildly. "Say it, are you working in his house for money or for other reasons? With your face, don't you think you would have made more in a bar house by working as a stripper?" She asked. Each of her words was thorny and rude, leaving me with no ounce of pride. 

Anger welled up inside me. I was so angry that I clenched my fist and glared at her, "I don't even know you. Why are you picking on me?" I asked with suppressed anger. 

Hannah raised a brow and chuckled wickedly, "Why would a lowly person like you know me? I'm only here to warn you to either resign from Xavier's house or I will make you," 

"And why should I do that?" I asked back. My anger surged. 

"That's because Xavier is mine and will continue to always be mine. A bitch like you, a cheap slut like you doesn't deserve to stay around him," She provoked and that was it___

I slapped her hard across the face and hissed, "How dare you open your damn mouth to call me a cheap slut?!" I yelled. 

I doubt any lady would be able to accept that. Especially when they had never gotten close to any guy in their life.

"You are a slut who relies on a guy but you still have the gut to call other people a slut? Have you ever seen me with any man?" I questioned, glaring at her as if I was ready to pounce on her any moment, and that was the truth.

Just then, someone tugged on my shirt, and I turned my head; I saw a troubled Lyra pointing at the door, "Xa... Xavier...' She whispered. 

My heart skipped a beat, and my body trembled violently as I stiffly turned my head to look at Xavier, who had his hands in his pockets and was walking toward us. 

Hannah happened to notice him at the same time, and she cried to him, "Xavier, you have to fight for me. This bitch slapped me and called me a slut!" She cried, pointing at me with silly tears in her eyes. 

Xavier walked past her, stood before me, and stared straight into my eyes. I could see the hatred and the disgust filling his eyes with rapid speed. "Slap her back," He ordered. 

I had no idea who he was... PA!

A loud hit on my face stopped my thoughts, and I staggered backward, disbelief and shock written all over my face. 

I turned my head to see Hannah, smiling coldly at me, and my heart went cold. I bit my tongue to counter the pain on my cheek and raised my hand to slap her back, but a figure stood between us, blocking her from me. "What are you doing?" I stressed each word, anger spilling across the room. 

Xavier scoffed and moved closer to me. He grabbed my hair, used it to pull me even closer to himself, and lowered his head, "How dare you touch my person, bitch? I've told you. I will make you pay for everything you did and will only let you go when you become a corpse, too. I will throw you on the same cold ground you left him." He pushed my head back abruptly and walked away. 

I stared at his retreating back, my body feeling lighter as tears welled up in my eyes. Every other thing grew silent, and memories of that night, which hadn't stopped haunting me since a week ago, surfaced in my mind again...

The rest of the class was unceremonious, and my mind was filled with different thoughts all through. I returned home later in the evening with a cab as Xavier had decided to leave me behind. 

"Crystal, thank goodness you're back. Can you take this to Master Xavier for me? I need to quickly use the toilet," A maid pushed a tray to me, and without waiting for my response, she rushed off. 

I stared at her back, feeling annoyed and disgruntled for a moment, but I knew I had no choice. I braced myself and took the tray toward Xavier's room. 

Getting there, I realized his door wasn't properly closed, and sitting at the edge of his bed with his back facing the door was Xavier. He had a frame in hand, and with the movement of his shoulders, he seemed to be crying...

The picture in the frame... wait!

Isn't... isn't that the man? The one I... THAT MAN!