Chapter 4

Even after blocking a whole string of accounts, I still saw plenty of comments.

"What kind of person does this?"

"His family's loaded, but he runs out on a dinner bill? They should call him Mr. Penny-Pincher."

"I've seen Landon Fairchild around campus. He's good-looking, but I never knew he was such a monster."

"Having that garbage at our school is a stain on all of us."

I was furious. I'd just decided to confront Trevor when I spotted him coming straight toward me.

At his side marched our freshman academic advisor, Vivian Crane, looking ready for a fight.

She planted herself in front of me and spoke in the imperious tone of someone who expected to be obeyed.

"Landon Fairchild! You've made this university a laughingstock, and you don't even seem to care! Stop wasting time. Go pay that bill right now!"

I glanced at Trevor and caught the gleam of satisfaction he hadn't managed to hide.

So that was his plan.

He still intended to get his hands on my money. He'd simply enlisted someone with authority to do the dirty work.

Not this time.

"I wasn't the one who ate without paying," I replied calmly. "Why should I cover the bill?"

I tipped my chin toward Trevor.

"The person who damaged the university's reputation is standing right beside you. If you want someone to take responsibility, talk to him."

Trevor's eyes instantly filled with tears.

"But Landon, even if you didn't come to dinner, you looked at the pictures! You got to share the celebration and all those wonderful memories! How can you pretend you don't owe anything?"

Ms. Crane nodded as though he'd made an excellent legal argument.

"Trevor worked himself to the bone trying to bring the class together. What did he do wrong? The only person at fault here is you for dodging the bill!

"Your family has money. Paying for dinner should be nothing to you. Why are you being so stingy?

"We need this settled before the situation gets any worse!"

Her patience ran out. She seized my wrist and dragged me toward the street.

Her sharp acrylic nails broke the skin, leaving bloody scratches behind.

I didn't dare fight too hard. She was an advisor, and I knew she could turn the situation into another accusation of disrespecting university staff.

Instead, I shouted for help.

No one came.

The students and faculty we passed either watched without expression or openly enjoyed my humiliation. A few even abandoned what they were doing to follow us to the restaurant.

The tables were still covered in leftover food and dirty dishes.

My classmates sat among the mess, chatting as comfortably as if there were no looming payment deadline.

The sour smell made my stomach turn.

Before I could steady myself, Ms. Crane smacked the back of my head.

"What are you waiting for? Pay!"

My forehead struck the service counter. Stars burst across my vision, and I nearly threw up.

I clenched my teeth and forced out three words.

"I'm. Flat. Broke."

Everyone froze.

Trevor recovered first.

"Don't fall for it! Landon's the only son of the Fairchild family. Money is the one thing he's never short of!"

Then he added, apparently as an afterthought, "He always carries a black card."

Ms. Crane immediately lunged toward my pocket.

I curled up to shield the side where I kept my card, but the others rushed in to help her. Several people held me down as someone wrenched it away.

Trevor claimed his prize. Standing over me, he flashed a triumphant, challenging look.

He practically glowed with delight at my anger.

Before the watching crowd, he straightened his back and imitated the casual confidence I usually carried.

Then he held out my card.

"Dinner's on me, everyone! Run it!"

A second later, the card reader beeped.

"Transaction declined. Please try again."

Trevor's smile froze so abruptly that I almost laughed.