Chapter 2

Madison sent a voice message to the group, her voice thick with tears.

"Everyone, stop. I know Constance has never liked me because she thinks I stole her boyfriend. But this is about everyone's future." She sniffled, sounding even more wounded now.

"Jake Fulton's mom works at an electronics factory, assembling thousands of parts every day until the strain leaves her cervical spine severely damaged. Yet, she still can't afford treatment.

"Christina Roth's parents are up before dawn every single day selling fish, waiting for her to make something of herself so she can support the whole family.

"Constance, you can hate me all you want. But just this once, could you maybe set aside your petty personal grudge and stand with us?" She paused, then dealt the final blow. "Or is it just that you can't stand seeing other people succeed?"

That set the entire class off, especially the people whose names she'd dropped.

"Constance, you're disgusting, you know that? No wonder Raul chose Madison over you. You're just a bitter, jealous chick who can't handle watching anyone else win."

"You want to stay broke? Fine. But don't drag the rest of us down with you. What gives you the right to do that anyway?"

"Do I need to remind you that this is five million dollars we're talking about? Are you blind or just heartless?"

Madison immediately put on her peacemaking voice again.

"Guys, stop attacking Constance. She's probably shocked by the five million dollars because she's never seen that kind of money before. Please, whatever you do, don't go to her house and pressure her to sign the agreement.

"And definitely don't bother her family. I just want all of us to stick together, like we're the closest of friends—forever."

I almost laughed out of sheer disbelief. She was basically telling everyone to stir up trouble at my house.

As expected, the messages started pouring in the second her voice message finished playing.

"Raul, let's all go to Constance's place. We'll hold her hand down and make her sign if we have to."

"You got it. I'll pick you up on my bike. Be there in five," Raul replied without hesitation.

They were actually going to come after me.

I considered calling the police, but it was already late. Calling them now would mean dragging this entire incident out until the middle of the night, which would seriously mess up my performance in tomorrow's exam.

Just then, my mom, Trina Kane, knocked on my bedroom door.

"Constance, why are you still up? Your exam is tomorrow. Don't study too late."

I replied to her and immediately turned off the light.

They just wanted me to sign the agreement with Luna AI, right?

"You don't need to come over. I'll sign it," I messaged the group chat.

I figured that it was better to back down than to fight a losing battle.

Following the guide Madison posted in the group chat, I screen-recorded the entire process and signed the agreement with Luna AI, which stipulated a five-million-dollar compensation for missing the exam.

"Constance Nichol—signed."

I completed the final chain message.

"That's more like it," Raul texted sarcastically in the group chat. "You just had to be difficult by making us all beg you. You think you're all that, don't you?"

"Let's all meet at Millennium Mall at 8:00 am tomorrow and buy whatever we want."

"Yeah, we're about to have five million dollars anyway. No way we can spend it all."

"Constance, don't even think about sneaking into the exam hall. If I don't see you shopping with us tomorrow, I'm really calling off our engagement! I mean it!" Raul threatened.

"If you dare take the exam, we'll expel you from this class!" The class president, Mitch Fletcher, also sent a stern message, followed by an angry emoji. "Our class doesn't need a traitor like you."

I turned off my phone.

As if I would care! They were all a bunch of idiots anyway.