Chapter 3

Noah still refused to give up and kept pressing me with questions.

But just then, the bell rang.

Back in the classroom, I went straight to the teacher and requested a change of seats.

Under Noah's dark, brooding stare, I moved my things and sat next to my best friend.

Not long ago, I had gone to great lengths to sit beside him.

Our class seating was arranged according to academic ranking. I not only had to control my scores but also my rank, which I had carefully calibrated every step of the way.

After much effort, I had finally achieved my goal.

Yet, in just a few short days, I had already requested to switch seats.

Thankfully, the teacher didn't give it much thought. She was too busy tutoring me and Carla for the upcoming academic competition next week.

Only the two of us in our class had qualified for it.

In my past life, I missed that competition because Noah got into a car accident. The moment he called, I rushed to the hospital to see him. By the time I got to the competition venue, it was too late. I missed the competition and forfeited my place.

That year, Carla won the gold medal and was granted early admission to one of the country's top universities.

No one ever knew how envious I had been of her, especially after I overheard a conversation between her and Noah that made me sick with regret.

Noah had boasted smugly, "That car accident? I planned it. Just a few scrapes, but it was enough to make Tiffany lose all interest in the competition."

I had confronted him afterward, furious and heartbroken.

When I questioned him, he responded with nothing but cold impatience.

"Tiffany, I'm your boyfriend. Wasn't it perfectly normal for me to expect you to come see me when I got hurt? Are you really that heartless? Am I worth less to you than some competition?"

I was rendered speechless. I couldn't come up with a single word to argue back.

But this time, we weren't a couple anymore. And all those so-called obligations that came with being boyfriend and girlfriend no longer applied to me.

The day before the competition came quickly.

As expected, I received a call from Noah. His voice on the other end was hoarse, laced with pain.

"Tiffany… I got into a car crash. Can you come see me?"

Before I could even respond, he rushed to give me the hospital's address, confident I would show up just like before.

In my past life, I had. But this time, I replied coldly, "Sorry. I can't."

The line went silent. Only his heavy breathing remained.

Then, as if snapping out of his shock, he flew into a rage.

"Tiffany, I order you to come see me right now! If you don't, then don't ever expect me to speak to you again!"

I didn't wait for him to finish. I hung up.

Then I powered off my phone and slept soundly.

The next day, I showed up at the competition in perfect form, well-rested and clear-headed.

When Carla saw me, a flash of surprise flickered across her face.

Then she sneered. "Tiffany, you really are cold-blooded. Noah got into an accident, and you didn't even bother to visit him."

I glanced at the hairclip she wore—a gift from Noah—and said blandly, "You've accepted so many things from him. Why didn't you go visit him?"

My question caught her off guard. Her expression darkened with anger.

"Tiffany, you'll regret this."

I didn't let her words get to me. I stayed composed and focused, completing the questions with a calm, steady mind.

But when I stepped outside, I saw Noah waiting with a cane, leaning on it like some tragic hero.

The moment he spotted me, he began to cry loudly and dramatically, like a man who had just been abandoned.

Right there in front of everyone, he accused me of being cold and heartless, of turning my back on him.

He told the crowd how well he had treated me, how deeply he'd loved me, only for me to now ignore him completely.

In an instant, judgmental stares fell upon me from all directions—some from those who knew the truth, but mostly from those who didn't.

Even a teacher nearby murmured something about my "character."

I stood frozen in place, caught off guard.

Noah leaned in close and whispered smugly in my ear, "Tiffany, so what if you made it to the competition? Soon, everyone will know what kind of ungrateful, heartless person you really are."

A chill ran down my spine.

He wanted to ruin me!