Chapter 6

With graduation approaching, everyone else in Quinn's class was busy looking for jobs.

Quinn, however, had no such worries. As the daughter of the wealthiest family in Southhaven, the Sawyers, she had no need to look for a job. Instead, she devoted her time to packing for her return home.

Her classmates knew nothing about her background, of course, and whispered about her behind her back.

"Have you noticed Quinn hasn't even started looking for a job? Bet she's still devastated because Xavier dumped her."

"Well, that's what she gets for playing hard to get. She had herself a rich boyfriend and blew it. Now she can go cry about it all she wants!"

Quinn overheard them but couldn't be bothered to respond.

Shortly before she was due to leave Bellridge, she received an invitation to the College Film Festival.

As an advertising major, Quinn enjoyed making short films in her spare time and posting them online. With social media becoming increasingly popular, she'd managed to build a following of tens of thousands.

Although she hadn't entered the competition that year, the organizers had still invited her to attend.

But when she arrived at the festival and saw the film that had won the Gold Award, she was stunned.

The winning film, Mother, was hers!

She hadn't even finished editing it. The unfinished footage was still sitting in her cloud storage, so how could it possibly have been entered into the competition?

Before Quinn could make sense of it, the presenter stepped onto the stage and announced, "Congratulations to this year's College Film Festival Gold Award winner, Natalie Shaw!"

Thunderous applause filled the venue as Natalie appeared onstage in a flowing white gown, looking breathtakingly beautiful.

The audience erupted in excited whispers.

"Oh my God, the winner is gorgeous! With a face like that, she could be a movie star herself!"

"And she's talented too! She's definitely going places!"

Countless spotlights shone down on Natalie, and a faint smile finally touched her usually cool, reserved face.

That smile faded, however, when she went backstage and found Quinn waiting for her.

"Natalie." Quinn's face was dark with anger as she confronted her. "What's going on? How did my film end up under your name? Where did you even get it?"

Natalie's expression cooled.

"Quinn Sawyer, watch your tone."

Her voice was calm, but there was unmistakable arrogance beneath it.

"You should be thanking me. The College Film Festival has been around for years, and nobody's ever paid much attention to it. But this year, because I won, everyone's talking online about the beautiful college student who's also a talented director.

"And that's not all. Someone already approached me about arranging a special theatrical release for Mother. Do you honestly think any of that would have happened if you'd been the one accepting the award?"

The sheer condescension in her voice made Quinn laugh in disbelief.

"You stole my work, and somehow you think you're the one doing me a favor?"

Natalie's composure shattered.

Without warning, she lunged forward and wrapped both hands around Quinn's throat.

"Stole?" she shrieked. "How dare you accuse me of stealing anything? You're the thief, Quinn Sawyer! You're the one who stole Xavier from me!"

Quinn struggled to breathe, staring at Natalie in shock. The beautiful girl who always seemed so cool and aloof now had a wild, almost crazed look in her eyes.

Suddenly, Quinn remembered what the man by the lake had told her.

Natalie had been relentlessly harassed because of Xavier. The torment had driven her into depression, forcing her to take a year off school.

Now Natalie raised one arm, exposing the countless scars covering her wrist. A strange smile twisted her lips.

"Do you see these, Quinn? Do you have any idea how many times I've tried to die because of Xavier? How could you ever compare to me? All I did was take one little film from you, but you stole Xavier away from me!"

Quinn could barely draw a breath under the pressure of Natalie's hands. Desperate to explain, she managed to choke out, "No, that's not true. Xavier was only with me because..."

Bang!

The dressing room door flew open with a violent kick.

Xavier stormed inside.

"Natalie!"

His expression changed instantly, and he rushed forward in alarm, grabbing hold of her.