Chapter 4

My counselor, Ms. Carter, turned a stack of papers around and pushed it toward me. It was a printout of the message board posts, with several long sections of comments highlighted.

She frowned and tapped the post. "The whole university is talking about this. Trying to one-up other students, flaunting your wealth, and bullying someone on financial aid have made the department look terrible. The administration is already asking questions. How about this… Apologize to Viola, and we can put this behind us."

I repeated the word. "Apologize? She threw a bloodstained bedsheet into my washbasin, spread lies on the message board that my father worked for the Lane family, that I was their servant, and turned the entire university against me. And you want me to apologize to her?"

Ms. Carter's expression darkened. "Watch your attitude. Are you trying to make this even worse?"

I stood up straight, and the chair legs screeched against the tile. "Ms. Carter, you don't have to worry about this. When my parents return to Central City, you can speak to them yourself."

Her frown deepened. "Then bring them here! I want to see what kind of parents could spoil a child this badly!"

"My father's name is Torben Lane. Would you like me to call him for you?" I said with a smile.

Her pen slipped from her hand and hit the desk. Her lips moved without a sound as she searched the directory and stopped at one name. The anger was instantly drained from her face, leaving her pale, with an unreadable expression on it. "You're... The daughter of Lane Group's chairman of the board? Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

I did not answer as I simply opened the door and left.

Before I reached the dorm, two figures approached from the far end of the tree-lined path.

Viola had linked her arm through Aaron's and pressed close against him. Her swollen eyes made it look as though she had just been crying. Aaron leaned toward her as he spoke, his expression gentle.

Then they saw me. Viola paused and clung to him even tighter while Aaron's expression turned cold, but Viola spoke first. "Eve, I didn't mean to do it. I honestly didn't know the post would turn into such a big problem. I only complained once in our dorm group chat. I don't know who took a screenshot and posted it. Please don't be angry with me. I'm sorry, alright?"

Tears welled up in her red eyes as she spoke while Aaron put an arm around her shoulders. The way they did that so easily grossed me out.

I suddenly laughed. "Are you done putting on this act? You've had your eyes on Aaron for a long time, haven't you? When he was my boyfriend, all you could do was play the weak and helpless damsel in front of him."

Aaron pulled her behind him and snapped at me. "Eve!"

I ignored him and kept smiling at Viola. "Let me make this clear today. You went to all this trouble to steal a piece of trash like Aaron? You shouldn't have bothered. You can have a loser like him for free."

Everything went silent for a moment, then Aaron raised his hand. My head rang, and I had no time to dodge as he slapped me hard on the left cheek.

It felt as though a hammer had struck my head. I staggered two steps sideways, and my knee hit the stairs, sending pain burning through it. My cheek was on fire. My ears rang, and stars burst in my vision.

Aaron stood over me on the steps, his chest heaving and his right hand clenched into a fist. "Eve, don't think I won't do it again. I've been too easy on you! Apologize to Viola now, or I'll make you do it!"

I raised my head and looked at him, then at Viola behind him. She pretended to be frightened, but she looked delighted.

There was no avoiding it now.

I pulled out my phone.

I blinked until my eyes watered and let my voice shake. "Dad, my boyfriend hit me. He said he would force me to apologize too..."

Laughter spread through the crowd. "Is your servant father coming along to apologize with you?"

Then, at that moment, the thundering sound of a helicopter surrounded the university. It was not long until a helicopter descended.