All Chapters of Under a Borrowed Name: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I stared at the word "angel" on my screen and swallowed guiltily."Really? Rich people are the worst. What did she do to you?"Elliot Pierce answered almost immediately."She drove through a puddle on purpose and soaked me. It's fine. The shirt will wash."I pouted and typed furiously. "You're way too patient. I'd have taken the shirt off and thrown it in her face.""She's not worth arguing with. Money is all she has. Honestly, she's kind of pathetic."Pathetic?I stared at the word until I nearly crushed my phone.I was beautiful, wealthy, and had enough admirers to fill the entire Brightwater campus. How dare he call me pathetic?I fought the urge to throw my phone across the room."You're right. We may be broke, but at least we have dignity.""By the way, Molly, you moved into college today too, right? How is it?""Great! Brightwater University's library is enormous. It's way bigger than the one back in my little hometown."The moment I sent it, I froze.My fake backst

Chapter 2

"Your hair...""It's naturally difficult. Really dry." I hurriedly pressed a hand over the edge of my wig.He didn't question me further. "Come on. I'll get you something to eat."Elliot led me into a narrow lane behind campus filled with steam and food carts.Grease and smoke hung in the air, making me cough."Two spicy chowders," he told the vendor. "No cilantro in one."He guided me to a stained folding table.I stared at the dark smears on its surface and refused to put my hands down."Too dirty?" He took out a packet of tissues and wiped the table twice."No. Not at all." I shook my head quickly.Soon, the vendor carried over two enormous bowls.The broth was bright red, crowded with vegetables and processed bites I couldn't identify.I poked a pale strip with my disposable fork."What's this?""Imitation crab.""What kind of crab? North-coast king crab?" I blurted.Elliot's fork stopped halfway to his mouth.He looked up and studied me sharply.My stomach droppe

Chapter 3

September in Brightwater was still brutally hot.I stood beneath a sun umbrella in the shade while Elliot carried the mats back and forth, sweat soaking his shirt and clinging to his back.Students passing by whispered about how badly I was bullying him.I already regretted it, but my pride wouldn't let me tell him to stop.By the time he moved the last mat, his face had gone pale.He walked over, his voice rough."They're all outside, Ms. Wilde. Anything else?"His cracked lips made something twist inside my chest."N-no. Get lost." I looked away guiltily.That night, I tossed in bed and couldn't sleep.Elliot's pale face kept replaying in my mind.I grabbed my phone and switched to Molly's account."Are you awake?"Much later, he replied, "Yes.""Are you exhausted? You're answering more slowly than usual.""A little. I had a difficult day."I asked the question even though I knew the answer. "Did that rich girl bully you again?""Yes. She made me carry every mat from

Chapter 4

I didn't stop until we were two blocks away, both of us gasping for breath.I was doomed.Had I acted too arrogant? No struggling student would react like that.I turned guiltily toward Elliot.He leaned against a wall, his chest rising and falling as he watched me."Um... I'm sorry. I made you lose your job."I lowered my head and forced tears into my eyes, trying to look pitiful."Aren't you angry? You really need the money."Elliot walked over and rubbed the top of my awful wig."Why would I blame you? I'll find another job. And... thank you for standing up for me."His expression softened, and my heart skipped.Whenever I caused trouble, my father usually told me I had embarrassed the family.No one had ever thanked me for causing a scene on their behalf.I stared at Elliot's face, rose onto my toes without thinking, and kissed his cheek.The moment I did it, my mind went blank.Elliot froze too. His ears turned visibly red."That... that's the highest form of grati

Chapter 5

My whole body jolted, and the soap slipped from my hand.What had he called me?Sienna Wilde?I turned stiffly. Elliot stood several feet away, watching me with burning intensity."E-Elliot, who are you talking to?"He looked at me for several seconds, then turned his head."My mistake. I thought I saw Sienna Wilde walk past."I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and seized the excuse."You must have been mistaken. Why would an heiress like her come all the way out here?"That night, my uneasiness grew worse.Gathering my courage, I messaged him from Molly's account."Are you tired today?"More than an hour passed before he replied."I'm fine. Molly, what would you do if someone you trusted had been lying to you the entire time?"My hand jerked, and the phone dropped onto the bridge of my nose.What did that mean? Had he figured it out?I forced down my panic and typed back."It would depend on why they lied. If they were trying to protect someone, maybe I could for

Chapter 6

The air seemed to freeze.I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.Elliot walked over and picked up the wig."Molly Reed?" His voice was quiet, but the words struck like a hammer.I stared at the wig in his hand, my mind empty."Elliot, let me explain." I reached for it in panic, but he pulled it away.He looked at the thick glasses on the floor, then at the designer handbag I carried every day. A bitter smile crossed his face."Explain what? That the great Sienna Wilde dressed up as a poor student because humiliating me sounded entertaining?"His voice grew colder, anger pressed beneath every word."No. At first, I only wanted to..."I wanted to say I had been searching for dirt on him. Spoken aloud, that sounded even uglier."Wanted to what? Watch a broke student work himself sick for a few hundred dollars? Watch him trust you like an idiot?"Elliot moved closer, his gaze sharp enough to cut.I retreated until my back struck the cold wall.Tears filled my eyes, but pri

Chapter 7

The blow I expected never came.A heavy thud sounded instead, followed by the attacker's scream as he hit the ground.I opened my eyes. Under the dim streetlight, I saw a familiar back.Elliot stood in front of me holding a broken broom handle, his body taut with fury."Don't touch her."The other men pulled folding knives from their pockets."Who asked you to play hero? Get him."Elliot was tall, but there were too many of them, and they were armed.He kept himself between us, blocking their attacks with the wooden handle."Elliot, leave me. Run." I grabbed at his shirt, crying."Be quiet. Stay behind me." He didn't turn around.In the confusion, one man circled to our side and thrust his knife toward me."Watch out!"Elliot spun and pulled me into his arms.I heard the blade tear through fabric. A second later, warm liquid spread beneath my hands.Elliot grunted, his body jerking hard."The police are coming!" someone shouted from the mouth of the alley.The men pani

Chapter 8

"Anything I ask?" His voice was hoarse but amused.I stared at him and forgot to wipe my tears."When did you wake up?""Around the part where you said you never hated me." The corner of his mouth lifted.My face burned. I jumped up to escape, but he caught my wrist."Where are you going? You just promised me anything."He tugged lightly. I lost my balance and dropped onto the edge of the bed.Our faces were suddenly close enough that I felt his breath against my skin."I only said that because you looked pitiful." I clung stubbornly to the lie.He sighed and pinched my cheek."You are a terrible actress. I knew who you were at the pet shop.""I chose not to expose you because I wanted to see how far you would take it."I stared at him.So I had been the fool all along?"Then why did you block me and say I disgusted you?" I struck his chest before remembering his injuries.He groaned, and I snatched my hand back."Because I wanted to believe Molly wasn't Sienna Wilde.

Chapter 9

"Sienna, did you skip your major class again? Get to the third floor of the library. I'm waiting.""Sienna, no iced coffee. Your cramps are due soon. I made you cinnamon tea.""Sienna, if you submit another paper written by an AI tool, I'm listing last month's handbag on SecondLoop."He managed every part of my life, and somehow I loved it.Tessa looked at me as if I had joined a cult."Sienna, did Elliot put you under a spell? What happened to the woman who used to declare war on the entire world?"I rolled my eyes and took another sip of the tea Elliot had made."You wouldn't understand. This is what being loved looks like."Even so, I sometimes missed my painfully unfashionable Molly Reed disguise.One night, I dug out the straight black wig and thick glasses, put them on, and paraded in front of Elliot."Do you remember poor Molly Reed from Pine Hollow?"Elliot looked up from his book, a wicked smile forming."Of course. The fool who didn't know how to use the city bus.

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