Chapter 4

That afternoon, on the day of the disciplinary hearing, I received a text from an unknown number.

[Daphne's old injury has flared up. She's been taken to the rehabilitation center on the outskirts of town. Her emergency contact must arrive as soon as possible to sign the necessary paperwork.]

The message also included Daphne's competition number and details of her previous injury.

Ordinary students wouldn't have access to that kind of information. But just a few days earlier, Lucas had helped the student council organize the basketball team's records.

I stared at the message for several seconds. I knew it could be a trap, but I couldn't afford to take chances with Daphne's leg. After all, our father had beaten her so badly over a night of clubbing two years ago that he'd injured that very leg.

She had a mouth foul enough to make you question whether she was even human, but she was still my sister.

…

I rushed to the rehabilitation center on the outskirts of town.

The staff searched the entire registration system, but there was no record of Daphne anywhere.

Outside, the rain was coming down in torrents.

The ride-hailing app showed more than 200 people ahead of me in the queue. With no other choice, I set off on foot toward the nearest bus stop.

Just then, a truck barreled through a puddle.

I dodged to the side, lost my footing, and tumbled into a roadside drainage ditch. The skin on my palm was scraped raw, my knee was bleeding, and my ankle soon began to swell.

In the end, I had to hitch a ride back to school in a vegetable delivery truck.

…

By the time I pushed open the gym doors, Richard was already onstage, announcing, "Dominic Harris' failure to appear proves that he still refuses to acknowledge his mistakes."

Hundreds of pairs of eyes immediately turned toward me.

Richard took one look at my mud-soaked clothes and frowned. "You knew exactly when the disciplinary hearing was scheduled, yet you deliberately showed up late. And now look at the state of you.

"Harris, do you think playing the victim will get you out of your punishment?"

He pointed at the giant screen.

[School Investigation and Disciplinary Hearing on Financial Bullying]

[Victim: Daphne Wilson]

[Bully: Dominic Harris]

Daphne hadn't even arrived, yet my alleged offenses were already on display for everyone to see.

"After a preliminary review, the school has decided to issue Dominic Harris a formal demerit." Richard thrust a written confession into my hands. "Read it."

I glanced down at the page.

[I exploited Daphne Wilson's feelings for me and used money to coerce her into fulfilling my personal demands.]

They'd even invented a secret crush on Daphne for me.

I crumpled the paper into a ball.

Richard slammed his hand on the table. "Daphne doesn't like you, so you use money to force her to spend time with you. You're a grown man harassing a girl. Have you no shame?"

Lucas hurried forward and made a show of calming him down. "Please don't yell at him, Mr. Lewis. He just can't accept that Daphne is finally about to break free from his control."

With that, Lucas stepped onto the stage and opened the campus gig platform. The 350 dollars that Daphne had earned from her completed orders was still frozen in her account.

In front of the entire school, Lucas clicked the refund button.

[Refund successful.]

Then he terminated the exclusive work arrangement between Daphne and me.

[Partnership permanently terminated.]

Once he'd finished, Lucas let out a long sigh of relief. "Starting today, Daphne won't have to bow her head to anyone just to cover her living expenses. Even if life gets a little harder, at least she'll be able to hold her head high."

I pressed a hand against my bleeding palm and asked, "Did she agree to let you refund her money?"

Lucas met my gaze without hesitation. "People who've been controlled for a long time often can't bring themselves to admit they've been hurt. She doesn't dare say no to you, so I'll say it for her."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sudden burst of cheers erupted from the back of the gym. The basketball team had returned earlier than expected.

Daphne walked in wearing her black team uniform, with a medal hanging from her shoulder and a suitcase rolling behind her.

Their coach had confiscated everyone's phones for the duration of the training camp. Until that moment, Daphne had no idea what had happened at school.

First, she saw the word "Victim" on the giant screen. Then she noticed the 350 dollars marked as successfully refunded. Finally, her gaze settled on me.

My school uniform was soaked through, my knee was bleeding, and I could barely put any weight on my right foot.

Daphne's expression darkened instantly. "Dominic, who did this to you?"

Before I could answer, Lucas hurried over with the pledge clutched in his arms. "Daphne, you're finally back! You don't have to be afraid of him anymore.

"I've already made sure the school punishes Dominic. He won't be able to use money to boss you around anymore. And I've refunded the money he used to humiliate you."

Daphne frowned. "What money?"

"The 350 dollars in your account." Lucas tried to reassure her, "Things might be a little harder without that money, but starting today, you're free."

Daphne stared at the refund confirmation, so furious she nearly fainted. She had earned every last cent through the jobs she'd completed for me.

"Where's my money?" she demanded.

I jerked my chin toward Lucas. "He took it upon himself to protect your dignity."

Lucas looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. "Daphne, he's humiliated you so much. Why do you still want his dirty money?"

Daphne snatched the pledge straight out of his hands. "He's my younger brother! I'm the one who begged him to give me work and feed me! Who the hell are you to turn down that money on my behalf?"