Chapter 2

Nora finally returned to the cramped room she rented on the outskirts of town. The room contained only a study table, a wardrobe, a small kitchen, a refrigerator and a bathroom. Although cramped, she had been living in that room for the past three years. Now, she had finished her final exams and was just waiting for the results before continuing on to university. However, the foetus in her womb was really confusing her. What should she do now.

After returning from the restaurant earlier, Nora could only lock herself in her room. Her tears flowed again. She didn't know if she was really sad or if it was because of her unstable hormones in the early stages of pregnancy. Soon after, she fell asleep with swollen, wet eyes.

The days passed by. Nora had tried to contact Adam several times, but all her attempts were blocked. This made Nora really frustrated.

"Should I abort this pregnancy as Adam requested?" Nora touched her bulging stomach. However, for some reason, she felt reluctant in her heart. After all, the child was innocent. Besides, she had no other family besides the child in her womb.

Nora checked her phone and realised that tonight was Saturday night, when Adam would be celebrating his bet. A bet that she was easy to play with. Remembering Stella and her friends' conversation in the bathroom that day, her hands clenched into fists. She already had a plan for tonight.

Time passed quickly. Night finally arrived. Nora immediately headed to the restaurant in the southern part of the city, famous for its local specialities. However, when Nora entered, one of the waiters immediately stopped her.

“Excuse me, Miss.”

Nora stopped and looked at the waiter. She frowned.

"Our restaurant is closed tonight, it's been booked. Are you a guest of Mr Adam? Can you show me your invitation?" The waiter's smile was friendly, but not to Nora.

"I... I'm Adam's friend. There's something important I need to discuss with him." Nora forced her way in.

"Miss!" The waiter immediately blocked Nora. "Show me your invitation and you can come in!"

"I..." Nora took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly and continued, "I don't have an invitation at all. But I know Adam. I have business with him. So, let me in!" Nora was about to step inside, but her steps were immediately stopped by the waiter.

Just as she was about to say something, a voice that was not unfamiliar to Nora's ears was heard.

"Well, look who it is? Isn't this the dugong who always sticks to Adam? What is she doing here? Was she invited to this party too?" A tall woman came to the restaurant door with a man.

Several people who had started arriving at the restaurant immediately chuckled upon hearing that. They looked at Nora with contemptuous and disgusting looks. Nora's pimples and fat really bothered their eyes.

The invited guests began to arrive. In front of the restaurant door, there were already seven of Adam's classmates there. Nora recognised them all, even though she didn't know all their names.

Nora stared at the seven people coldly. She ignored them and turned her gaze back to the waiter. "Please, I have something I need to discuss with Adam. Please let me in!"

The waiter swallowed hard. He shook his head firmly. “Miss...” Although the waiter wanted to grant access, he had no authority to do so. If he did, he would lose his job. He desperately needed this job.

Seeing the hesitation in the waiter's eyes, Nora became even more enthusiastic and pleaded, "Please, I won't be long and I won't cause any trouble. I promise."

"Nora!" The woman who had been mocking Nora immediately grabbed Nora's hand and pushed her away. "What are you doing? Get out of here! This isn't your place. You weren't invited here!"

"That's right, you weren't invited, so why did you force your way in? Were you never taught manners?"

"How could she be taught manners? She grew up in an orphanage, who would teach her manners?"

"If it weren't for her scholarship quota, she wouldn't have been accepted into our school!"

The taunts and ridicule towards Nora continued. Claire was the most enthusiastic in berating Nora.

"Claire..." A gentle pat on her shoulder made Claire look away.

Claire turned her head. "Max..."

Max smiled and nodded at Claire.

Claire clenched her fists. The gentle image she had always shown Max, the boy she liked, seemed to shatter instantly. It was all because of that dugong, Nora. Her dislike for Nora skyrocketed dramatically.

"Max... you're here..." Claire was a little nervous. Her high-pitched voice suddenly became low.

Everyone's eyes were on Max and his group. Among the five new arrivals was the most eagerly awaited figure, the host of the event.

"Adam!" Nora shouted. She left the crowd and immediately grabbed Adam's hand.

Adam pushed her away with disgust. "Get away from me. Don't come near me!"

Everyone who had arrived laughed, looking at Nora with ridicule.

"Nora... Can't you see yourself? Do you think you're an angel who can make Adam pay attention to you? Has your brain been eaten by a dog that you can't tell how people feel about you?"

Everyone laughed.

"I don't know... This dugong is still dreaming she'll be Cinderella. Doesn't she look in the mirror and see what she looks like? At least if you want to be Cinderella, you have to look good and be pretty. This..."

"Her face is covered in pimples and she has fat hanging all over her body. God, she's disgusting!"

Everyone laughed, happy to see Nora suffer. It was Nora's own fault that recently the whole school had been jealous because Adam, the popular boy at school, had been paying her more attention.

Nora was used to being insulted. Although all those words were so hurtful, she had no ability to shut everyone up in front of her. She could only cover her ears from the taunts of others.

Ignoring everyone around her, Nora approached Adam. "Adam, we need to talk again!" Nora tried to pull Adam's hand to talk further, but Adam quickly pulled away.

Nora's hand reached for empty air.

"Hey, woman? Who are you? Why are you still here?! You'd better leave!!" An elegant and classy woman immediately entered the crowd, clinging to Adam's strong arm.

Adam and Rose gazed at each other softly and lovingly. Rose kissed Adam's cheek affectionately.

"Honey, I'm not late, am I? I had a photo shoot!" Rose said softly.

Adam smiled and said, "It's okay, dear!"

"Oh my God, it's Rose."

"Rose really came here. I'm her fan!"

"Rose!!!"

Adam's classmates immediately became excited. They really liked Rose Fisher, a model and actress who was currently on the rise. To them, Rose Fisher was the perfect match for young master Adam Torrence, the sole heir to the famous and renowned Crestwood Group in this city.

Rose smiled at Nora. She approached and asked, "Why haven't you left yet? Weren't you invited here? Are you here to interfere with my fiancé?"

As someone who loved Adam so much, Rose knew that the man she adored had made a bet with his friends to make an ugly girl fall in love with Adam. Who would have thought that Adam actually succeeded? Unfortunately, Rose had no idea that Adam and Nora's relationship had gone too far, to the point that Nora was carrying Adam's child.

"Fiancés!!" Everyone was in an uproar. They never expected that Rose Fisher and Adam Torrence were engaged.

"You... You're engaged?" Nora stammered. She looked at Adam and Rose alternately. "How... How is that possible!"

"This... This can't be happening!" Nora shook her head, refusing to accept this reality.

Nora's last hope was immediately shattered.

"How is it impossible, Dugong? Adam and Rose are the perfect couple! Do you think Adam would be attracted to an ugly girl like you? Don't even hope for it!" retorted Adam's classmate, Sabrina.

Everyone laughed.

Adam then called security to escort Nora out of the restaurant. Nora could only be dragged away with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Adam... Wait! Don't let me go!" Nora shouted, trying to break free from the security guard's grip.

"Adam!!!" Nora's screams grew louder.

Thud! Nora was thrown to the ground. Something warm and red flowed down her legs.