Chapter 3

Shawn's mother, Laura Moore, sounded elated. She burst into tears of joy.

"That's wonderful, Shawn," she said. "You've finally come to your senses. I talked it over with your father. We were too eager before.

"After finally finding you, we wanted to give you the very best, which is why we offered to send you to Harvon University.

"But we never stopped to consider what you wanted instead. That's on us."

Laura's voice caught. "So we won't interfere with your decisions anymore. Go wherever you want for college.

"We're the richest family in Harborton. We can support you for the rest of your life!"

Shawn looked down and gently interrupted her. "Mom, you were right. The college I choose will affect my future. I was too immature before, and I took everything you did for me for granted.

"I want to go to Harvon University."

Laura's face lit up. "Okay, Shawn. I'll send the acceptance letter to your email right away.

"Oh, do you remember Richard Lindon? His daughter, Hilary, was accepted to Harvon University too. She's leaving in a week. I'll have her come to Harborton to pick you up, and you can go together.

"That way, you'll have someone to look out for you, and I'll feel better too."

In the past, Shawn would have hung up in anger the moment he heard an arrangement like this.

He knew exactly what Laura was trying to do. She wanted him to spend more time with Hilary Lindon and develop a relationship with her, hoping they would eventually get married.

He had always resisted the idea because of Jenna.

But this time, he didn't object.

-

After completing his discharge paperwork, Shawn returned to his dorm and started packing.

Although he had lived here for three years, he didn't have much.

He had grown up with his grandmother, Beatrice Porter, in a poor neighborhood. Everything they bought was cheap.

His clothes and shoes were all cheap, poorly made bargain goods.

Shawn threw away the clothes that had fallen apart after only a few wears and pulled out the clothes Laura had specifically bought for him.

Now that he and Jenna had broken up, he had no reason to worry about her pride anymore.

Besides, she had only been pretending to be poor.

Why would he keep sacrificing himself for her?

When Shawn opened the metal locker in his dorm, he saw all the things he had carefully saved from his relationship with Jenna. There were cheap matching scarves, gloves, and ceramic mugs.

She had never once used any of the things he had treasured as symbols of their love.

Without showing any emotion, Shawn swept everything into the trash. He was also throwing away the love Jenna had dismissed as pathetic devotion.

He wanted none of it anymore.

Just then, the dorm room door opened.

Leonard rushed in with red-rimmed eyes. He froze when he saw Shawn, then his expression turned sour.

"Shawn, I thought you were my best friend. Why would you do this to me?" he asked.

Leonard's accusation caught Shawn off guard.

Worried about Leonard, Jenna followed him into the men's dorm and happened to walk in on the scene.

Her expression darkened as she hurried to Leonard's side and glared at Shawn.

"You can't stand seeing Leonard do well, can you? Do you have to ruin him before you'll be satisfied?" she snarled. "How could you be this vicious?"

As she spoke, she hurled what she was holding at Shawn.

The sharp edge of the paper sliced Shawn's skin, leaving a thin line of blood.

He saw what was on the poster.

It was meant to celebrate Leonard's acceptance into Velmont University. But someone had cut up his face with scissors and painted "Boy Toy" across it in bright red.

When Jenna spoke, her tone was icy. "You didn't just destroy this poster. You also posted private details about Leonard anonymously on the school's confession page and forum.

"You accused him of breaking up someone else's relationship and being the other man."

Shawn's head snapped up. His voice was hoarse. "It wasn't me. I didn't do it."

"Who else could it have been?" The distrust in Jenna's eyes cut Shawn to the core. "What a dirty, underhanded move.

"I guess a family with no class is bound to raise a piece of trash like you."

Shawn went pale.

Leonard suddenly exclaimed, "Shawn, these things… And your clothes!"

He pointed at the clothes in the trash, his voice carrying a hint of hurt.

"I felt awful about signing the agreement for you by accident. I was already beating myself up over it. When Jenna told me you had willingly put your thumbprint on the papers, I didn't believe her.

"But I never thought you would spend the scholarship money on luxury goods!

"Those gifts may be cheap, but that doesn't give you the right to treat someone's sincerity like trash!"

Jenna's gaze shifted from Shawn's designer clothes to the trash can.

When she recognized what was inside, her expression darkened further. Her eyes were filled with anger and disgust.

"You kept saying you loved me, but you're nothing but a shallow gold digger at heart," she growled. "Looks like getting close to you while pretending to be poor was the right choice.

"Otherwise, I never would've seen you for who you really are!"

A look of smug understanding crossed her face, along with even more contempt. "You're playing the victim after getting what you wanted? How disgusting.

"What wouldn't someone like you do for your own benefit?"