Chapter 3

After we finished our drinks, Nathan asked me to have dinner with him.

We talked about more than just the project. The longer we talked, the more I realized how well we got along. Somehow, that only made me feel more inadequate.

I sighed to myself and promised that once I made something of myself, I'd find a way to make it up to him.

After dinner, Nathan offered to drive me back to campus.

I was about to accept when the comments suddenly appeared in front of me again.

[The villainess is definitely going to say yes! In the original story, she lets the male lead drive her back, then shows off on campus. That's when the heroine exposes her!]

[Doesn't the villainess have a horrible ending? The male lead and the other three guys all turn against her. She gets expelled and blacklisted from the industry. Then she ends up homeless and eventually dies in a car accident.]

[Well, she stole the heroine's man! She deserved it! She even stole the heroine's project! Serves her right! I hate women who fight over men like that!]

Expelled?

I'd worked myself to the bone to get into this school. I'd spent countless days and nights studying just to earn my place here!

And I wouldn't just get expelled. I'd be blacklisted and eventually die too?

A chill ran down my spine. I quickly shook my head. "No, thanks. I can get back on my own."

I had no idea when I'd supposedly stolen Chloe's project. But as for stealing her identity...

Chloe might have been the one who asked me to take her place, but to everyone else, I really did look like the one pretending to be her.

I quickly made up an excuse and left the restaurant while Nathan watched me with a puzzled look.

It wasn't even time for the dorms to close yet. The autumn wind was cold, and I sniffled as I looked up at the moon, my heart heavy.

I wiped the corners of my eyes. For a moment, I wished I were Chloe or that I'd met Nathan before she did.

When I returned to the dorm, Chloe immediately started showing off her new designer bag.

"Look! Ryan bought me this. It's the newest Chanel bag. Isn't it gorgeous?"

My mind was somewhere else. "It's nice," I replied without much interest.

Chloe continued, "Oh, and Lucas sent me $15,000 today. He even said I could join his project."

She leaned closer and asked as if she didn't really care, "Which one of them is the better match?"

Before I could answer, she waved me off. "Forget it. Why am I even asking you? You wouldn't understand anyway!"

Hannah quickly joined in. "How could Ivy compare to you, Chloe? She's so broke she's never even had a boyfriend. What advice could she possibly give you?"

Megan laughed. "Ivy doesn't know anything about the good life. She's on financial aid. She was born to struggle."

Chloe laughed and waved them off. "Oh, stop it. You're being dramatic. Ivy is much prettier than I am."

As she spoke, a hint of jealousy flashed in her eyes before disappearing. Then, as if she'd only just remembered, she asked, "Oh, right. Ivy, how did your date go today?"

Warning bells immediately went off in my head, but I kept my expression calm. "It was fine."

Chloe immediately became interested and kept asking questions. When she learned that Q hadn't driven me back, she burst out laughing. "I don't even know what to say, Ivy. Did you make such a bad impression that he couldn't even be bothered to drive you home? Or is Q really just some broke loser who doesn't even own a car, so he made you walk back by yourself?"

I didn't answer.

Chloe didn't actually care what had happened. She just wanted an excuse to look down on me and make fun of me.

She hadn't always been like this. But after dating several guys online, she'd become more and more obsessed with money and status.

I had no interest in arguing with her. Instead, I spent every spare moment preparing for the competition.

During that time, Nathan occasionally texted me and gave me advice on the project.

Every now and then, he'd also ask me out.

But I felt too guilty to face him, so I always made up an excuse to turn him down.