Chapter 4

The security guard twisted my arm harder. "Don't try to scare us. Ms. Zaslow makes the rules around here."

Hearing that, I found it almost laughable.

This university was a place countless students had spent years studying and working themselves to the bone just to earn a spot. It was supposed to be a place that valued knowledge, rules, and fairness.

Since when had a vice president become the law around here?

Harvey walked up to me and slapped my cheek lightly. "Didn't you seem pretty tough a minute ago? Go ahead. Try touching me again."

I turned my head away from his hand. "Harvey, leave yourself a way out. If you're really capable, then stop hiding behind empty threats."

Harvey snatched the cup of coffee John was holding and threw it all over me. The cold, sticky liquid ran through my hair and down my face.

My white shirt was stained with large brown patches instantly.

The crowd gasped. A few people instinctively tried to step forward, but the counsellors stopped them.

Harvey tossed aside the empty paper cup and grinned smugly. "Now we're not wearing matching outfits anymore. Mine still looks better since it's the real thing."

I closed my eyes briefly and wiped the coffee from my eyelashes. "This suit is worth 4.8 million dollars. You'd better be able to afford the damages."

The entire crowd fell silent for a moment. Then, even louder laughter erupted all over.

John was practically doubled over. "4.8 million dollars? You might as well claim it's 48 million dollars for more dramatic effect. The authentic suit Harvey's wearing costs a little over 600 thousand dollars. You think you can charge 4.8 million for a knockoff?"

The materials in my suit were indeed worth only a few hundred thousand dollars. However, the rest of its value came from Anna's original design and craftsmanship. After all, she had announced her retirement three years earlier and stopped accepting private commissions.

Faye's expression darkened as she said with disdain, "You spout nothing but lies. Clearly, you have no sense of decency. If you were truly a student here, we would expel you immediately."

Harvey still wasn't satisfied. He grabbed my collar and yanked it hard. The fabric gave a faint tearing sound. Two buttons popped off. My collarbone became exposed.

Several people nearby gasped. A few of the students instinctively looked away.

I broke free from the security guards and slapped Harvey across the face.

The crisp slap carried through the entire crowd. His head snapped to the side, and five distinct fingerprints quickly appeared on his cheek.

He covered his face and stared at me in disbelief. "You hit me?"

I replied, "That slap was to teach you to respect other people."

He screamed and lunged at me. "I'll kill you!"

I caught his arm and shoved him back. The two bodyguards and the security guards rushed forward at the same time.

Faye shouted furiously, "Hold him down!"

All four men charged me at once. The guards pinned both my arms, and my shoulder slammed hard against the bulletin board beside us.

A shard of broken glass sliced across my arm. Blood immediately spilled from the wound.

When Harvey saw me bleeding, a twisted satisfaction appeared in his eyes. He picked up the stack of cash from the ground and slapped it against my wound.

He seethed, "You bastard! My parents have never even laid a hand on me. How dare you hit me?"

Then, he grabbed my hair and forced my face upward. "Kneel and apologize!"

"Never."

"Then I'll make sure you crawl out of this university today!" Harvey shrieked, raising his dress shoe and stomping hard on the top of my foot.

His hard sole ground against my bone, sending pain shooting through me and bringing a sheen of cold sweat to my forehead.

Harvey pressed, "Will you kneel now?"

"No."

He drove his foot down harder. "Let's see how long you can keep that attitude!"

John grabbed a bucket of red paint from the orientation booth. It was meant for the welcome wall where the art school's freshmen could sign their names on.

John urged, "Harvey, since he loves wearing knockoffs, you should add more color to it to distinguish it from your authentic suit."

Harvey took the bucket and looked at me with a vicious grin. "Last chance. Will you kneel or not?"

I glanced toward the road in the distance. There were only three minutes left until the inauguration ceremony.

I said solemnly, "Harvey, you're going to regret this."