Chapter 1

I walked around her and headed toward the administration building, but Janice Morrison stepped sideways and blocked my path again.

“I told you to take it off. Didn’t you hear me?”

“I heard you.”

“Then why didn’t you do it?”

“Why should I?”

The crowd around us fell silent.

The girls watching nearby looked stunned, as if they couldn’t believe someone had actually dared to speak to her that way.

The dress Janice was wearing was an unreleased design by the famous designer Anna Watson. There were only two samples in the entire world.

One was in Anna’s own studio, while the other was on me.

The dress Janice was wearing wasn’t quite right. The fabric was different, and the waistline sat 0.7 inches too low. It would’ve gone unnoticed by most people, but I could tell at a glance.

I couldn’t help letting out a quiet laugh, and that made Janice frown.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.”

I looked at the dress she was wearing and casually remarked, “I just think it’s beneath the heiress of the Morrisons to be wearing a knockoff.”

Janice glared at me, her expression darkening.

“Are you saying I’m wearing a fake?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I glanced at my watch.

Twenty minutes remained until the inauguration ceremony.

“Move aside.”

Those two words pushed her over the edge.

Sally, the short-haired girl beside Janice, shoved me.

“Janice asked you a question. What are you acting so high and mighty for?”

I took half a step back, avoiding her hand, and said, “There are security cameras all over campus. Whoever strikes first will get a disciplinary warning.”

Sally snorted.

“A disciplinary warning? You really think you matter that much.

“Janice’s uncle is the university’s vice president. Forget pushing you. She could physically throw you off campus right now, and nobody would dare put anything on her record.”

My eyes narrowed slightly.

Zeke Jenkins was merely in charge of facilities and student affairs. Calling him a vice president was giving him far too much credit.

Just yesterday, I received an anonymous report. It contained evidence that Zeke had abused his position to award the university’s cafeteria contract and dormitory renovation project to his relatives.

Looks like today’s inauguration ceremony was going to be much more interesting than I’d expected.

I pulled out my phone to call my secretary before Janice swatted it out of my hand. The phone hit the ground, leaving a crack across the screen.

She stepped on it and stared coldly at me.

“Trying to call for help? Not a chance!

“Take off those clothes right now, or I’ll make you regret it.”

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard her.

“Janice, this is a university, not your home.”

Her expression turned cold.

“The Morrisons paid to build this university. What right does a broke student like you have to lecture me?”

I lifted my head and looked her straight in the eye.

“Morrison University has been around for a hundred and seventeen years. The Morrison Group has only been around for thirty-two.

“And you still have the nerve to claim your family built this university?”

Janice’s face froze while a few people in the crowd snickered.

Sally immediately snapped, “What are you laughing at? All of you, shut up!”

The crowd quickly fell silent. I took the opportunity to yank my phone free, causing Janice to stumble under the sudden movement and nearly fall.

Once she regained her balance, she lunged at me. I caught her wrist and her palm stopped just a few inches from my face.

She struggled, but couldn’t break free.

“Let go!”

Janice lifted her chin and continued, “Do you believe that with one word from me, you’ll be kicked out of Morrison University today?”

I released her and pulled out a tissue, wiping my hand.

“No.”

That gesture finally drove her over the edge.

“Hold her down!” she ordered.

Two bodyguards stepped forward at the same time. I took a step back, dodging one of their hands.

The other grabbed my shoulder. I caught his wrist, twisted it against the force of his own movement, and turned it sharply behind his back.

The man grunted in pain and doubled over.

During the years I spent studying abroad, I had specifically trained in self-defense. Against ordinary bodyguards whose main job was to put on a show of strength for some rich girl, I had more than enough skill.

The other bodyguard saw what happened and swung his fist straight at my face.

“Stop!” A hurried voice came from outside the crowd.