Chapter 3

Three days after my scholarship was canceled, Edmund pushed a competition registration form in front of me. He sounded a little troubled when he said, "The registration fee for the provincial competition is 280 dollars this year. You need to pay as soon as possible."

My throat tightened as I looked down at the form. In the past, I could pay these fees even when my family refused to give me any money. However, I couldn't even produce a single penny at that moment.

…

Michelle was snacking on the couch when I returned home that night. Leon's recommendation interview was playing on the TV.

"You're amazing, Leon. You'll definitely make it big in the future."

Michelle's expression soured when she noticed me. "Why are you still bothering to attend classes when your reputation is ruined, and you've lost your scholarship? You should just start working. At least you can help reduce the family's financial burdens."

Leon padded out of his room the moment the words left her lips. He bit his lip lightly and said, "The truth is, you don't have to work so hard, Rowan. Elena said that even if you don't get into a university, she'll still let you marry into her family."

For the first time, I realized that a person could be so naturally wicked. I scoffed. "You must be very pleased with yourself right now."

Leon's eyes reddened.

I didn't say another word, turning around to head back to my room. But I froze when the door swung open. My room was in utter chaos. All the closets had been opened. The things that Mom left behind after she passed away that I stashed in a cardboard box under the bed had disappeared.

The color drained from my face in an instant. I whirled around and dashed out of my room, shouting, "Where are Mom's things?"

"Oh, that pile of junk?" Michelle asked languidly. "Some people dropped by the house to interview Leon today. It would look so bad if they actually captured that pile of junk in their footage, so I threw everything away."

I rushed out of the house and began rummaging through the trash like a lunatic. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any of Mom's things.

I left the house that same night, dragging my luggage behind me.

…

I attended classes during the day and worked part-time jobs at night starting the next day. I gave out flyers, washed dishes, and worked the night shift at a convenience store. In the end, I made enough money to rent a basement in a back alley behind the school.

I piled my textbooks next to my bed and slept only four hours a day. I spent the rest of my time studying.

Two weeks later, Elena blocked me at the convenience store's entrance. It was the first time that I had seen her since our argument. Apparently, she had left the country to take her mind off things. She had lost a lot of weight, and her eyes were bloodshot.

Her eyes widened when she spotted me. She probably hadn't expected to see me dressed in a cheap uniform with chilblains all over my fingers. Her voice was hoarse when she called out, "Rowan."

I brushed past her and tried to leave, but she grabbed my wrist. Her face twisted in the next second because my hand was as cold as ice.

"Where are you living now?" Elena demanded as she stared at me.

When I didn't answer her question, her eyes slowly reddened. "Why aren't you going home?"

I finally looked up at her. "Are you sure that's my home?"

Elena's breath hitched in her throat. A few moments later, she said in a low voice, "I've already paid the competition's registration fee for you. Stop living in that basement. I'll rent another place for you."

She pressed a bank card into my hand before she continued, "There's 100,000 dollars inside. Stop making things difficult for yourself, Rowan."

As I looked down at the bank card, I couldn't help but feel how absurd the entire situation was. I threw the card back at her and sneered, "Do you think that I'll follow you around like before just because you spent some money on me, Elena?"

The color drained from Elena's face. "That wasn't my intention."

"What is your intention then?" I asked as I stared at her. "You stole my spot from the recommendation list. You ruined my scholarship. Do you intend to decide how I live my life now too? What gives you the right to do such a thing?"

Elena's eyes reddened, but she couldn't say a single thing.