I'm Done Being Your Backup

Natalie didn't reply all night.Early the next morning, she appeared in front of Wesley looking haggard.She pulled a small bright-yellow cloth pouch from her bag and handed it to him.The words "Ravenmoor Abbey" were printed on it in faded gold letters. Inside was something hard—a blessing medal."I went to Ravenmoor Abbey for your grandmother. I started up the mountain at eight last night, knelt through the whole night vigil, and made it in time for the first prayers at dawn. I got the first medal they blessed today. They say that one's the luckiest."Wesley put the medal away without a word, then asked, "Did you see the message I sent you yesterday?"Natalie looked blank."There's no signal up on the mountain. I'll check when I get back to my dorm."Ten minutes later, Wesley still had no reply, but Natalie's social media had updated: a mountaintop sunrise, orange-red light flooding the whole frame.The first photo was of Derek alone, squinting in the morning light, his hair

Wesley signed it without even looking.Derek withdrew the complaint without hesitation.The next day was his grandmother's funeral.Wesley shoveled in the last of the earth, then knelt with his forehead against the headstone, begging her to forgive him.Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the cemetery."Wesley North, the plagiarist, belongs in jail!""You bullied a poor student for four years! Why don't you just die?""You drove your own grandmother to her death! You should've been buried right next to her!"Wesley was shocked and furious. "What are you talking about?"Someone held up a phone. "You signed it yourself! You admitted you bullied Derek Sloan all through college and that he did all your research for you. It's in black and white. You still want to deny it?"Wesley thought of the paper he hadn't bothered to read.He scrambled for his phone.Derek had posted a scan of the document publicly.It wasn't a withdrawal at all. The title on the cover page read: "Stat

The server asked three times whether to bring out the appetizers. Natalie glanced at the seat she'd saved for Wesley. "Let's wait a little. Someone's not here yet."The others laughed and teased her. "Waiting for Derek, huh? You two are the guests of honor tonight—and you just went official."Natalie typed another text to Wesley."Stop sulking. We can still be friends."The door to the private room opened."Sorry I'm late. The line to pay took half an hour." Derek set the iced lattes down at the edge of the table. "Nat, hand these out for me."Natalie hesitated.Derek had never let her lift a finger before.At every group dinner, he'd have her drink waiting with the straw already in. He'd unwrap her utensils and set them in front of her, and wipe her glass down three times.When she told him it was too much fuss, he'd said, "You're delicate, Nat. You have allergies. You take care of me all the time on campus. The least I can do is take care of you when we go out."Natalie pus

Charles's voice was harsh."Derek's no poor kid. His family's had a business out in Redmont for decades—every bit as big as ours. He's the only son. He's got a bright future ahead of him."And get this. His father, Victor Sloan, is the con man who rigged that contract fifteen years ago and nearly destroyed our family. When we sued, the Sloans retaliated. They rear-ended your mother on the freeway. She lost the baby, and she can never have children again."And you? You throw away a good kid like Wesley and throw yourself at Derek like you've got no self-respect."Natalie's fingers trembled.She remembered that afternoon freshman year, when Derek had curled up sobbing on the roof of the lab building, saying his student loan had been denied and he didn't know how he'd pay next semester's tuition. Her heart had gone soft, and she'd covered it for him.After that, she'd helped him place in competitions, organized his notes, and tutored him. When he couldn't afford food, she'd invited

After signing the engagement agreement, Natalie locked herself in her bedroom.The first day, she didn't eat. The housekeeper, trying to copy Evelyn's recipe, made her favorite braised chicken drumsticks and knocked on the door for half an hour. When Natalie opened it and saw the drumsticks, she smashed the plate and cut her own wrist.Her eyes were bloodshot."Don't you dare act like Mrs. North and pretend to be nice to me. It's disgusting."On the second day, no one dared push her to eat again.Derek sat outside her bedroom door, speaking gently."The trending posts are gone. People will forget all about this soon."I talked to the university, too. Your disciplinary action's been reversed, and your recommendation letter came through. We're about to start grad school at the same place. All our friends are jealous."I brought you your favorite iced latte. Want to come out and try it?"Natalie lay in bed, rolled over, and buried her face in the blanket, clutching a photo of her