Plot Twists Romance Short Stories & Poor Student Regret Novels

On the very night Ansel Halberg is in another woman's arms, Odessa Montclair meets a tragic end. The Grim Reaper gives her seven days to return to the world of the living and make one final request. Her only wish is to divorce Ansel and erase every trace of their shared past. She's determined never to cross his path again—neither in this life, nor the next.

My son just had surgery. I'm sitting by his bedside in the hospital when I come across a post online. "What's the worst thing you've ever done?" One anonymous comment stands out. "I used the upperclassman who funded me as a stepping stone. My sponsor was rich but clueless. After she paid for my entire college, I slept with her husband and got pregnant. "The craziest part? My son and her son were born on the same day, but my husband swapped the babies. Now, she treats my son like he's her whole world, working day and night to give him a better life. "But her own son lives with me, wearing hand-me-downs and eating leftovers. Today, my son had surgery. I was worried sick, so I slapped her son hard a few times. "Oh, and her family just got a three-million-dollar payout for relocation. My husband is going to the hospital later. He's going to use the excuse of buying a house near the schools to get the money. "Once we have the money, I'm buying a villa. Then I'll get my son back and kick her out!" The post includes a blurry photo of a boy begging on his knees. My breath catches because the charm on his wrist is the same lucky charm I gave my son the day he was born. Just then, my husband pushes open the door to the ward and walks in. "Honey, Sean's starting elementary school soon. Let's use that relocation money your mom received to buy a house near the schools."

My fiancé of eight years moved in with the junior he was mentoring. She was young, pretty, knew how to play helpless, and knew exactly what she was doing. He'd down every toast meant for her—the same nights he let me get talked into drinking until I nearly died. He sat with her through her depression, fetched her water, fed her by hand. And me? I was alone in a hospital bed, burning with a 104-degree fever. He set her up on a pedestal and never noticed I'd been ground into the dirt. The day they discharged me, I didn't scream. I didn't fall apart. I went home, quietly packed a suitcase, and burned every memory that had his name on it. Later I heard the famous CEO of Washington Group showed up at his fiancée's door with millions of dollars in gifts. He found an empty apartment. And he lost his mind.

Before going to bed, I stumbled onto a love confession livestream. A young man was on screen, talking about his past. "Actually, I was sponsored through college. The guy who supported me was really kind. The summer after my freshman year, I stayed at his place for a while. One night, I went to the kitchen in just a tank top and shorts to get some water, and I ran into his wife. "He thought I was still studying out of state, but the truth is, I've been living in a villa in the same city, kept by his wife. She's pregnant with my twins, so I've already taken a leave from school to take care of her. "I know I've wronged him, but she and I are truly in love. He's always been so lofty—she and I are the ones who belong to the same world." A chill of disgust ran through me. I almost blocked him on the spot, but when I tapped into his profile, I realized he had already blocked me. Curiosity got the better of me. I switched to an alternate account and searched for his ID. What filled the screen were countless photos. Photos of the poor student I had sponsored. And my wife.

I was a sucker for pretty faces. The only reason I agreed to date Isabelle was because she was passable-looking as partner material. It had only been a few days since junior year started when my roommate came over to me and awkwardly said, "Damian, I just spotted your girlfriend getting pretty close to that well-known broke pretty boy by the campus lake." I immediately rolled up my sleeves and rushed toward the lake. From a distance, I saw Isabelle standing very close to a slim young man. But the moment I got a good look at his face, I froze. "Damn! This guy was insanely handsome!" He was so good-looking that even I, as another guy, was jealous. Isabelle frowned and stepped in front of me. She said impatiently, "His grandma was rushed to the hospital after a heart attack. I was only trying to comfort him. Don't give him a hard time for no reason, okay?" I pulled her aside, then walked over and gave the handsome guy a firm pat on the shoulder. "Bro, if you're in trouble, you can come to me!"

The day the Sterling family came to honor an old marriage agreement, my adopted younger sister suddenly confessed. "I used Sophie's photo to date a scholarship kid online. He's coming here today to propose, and someone that low is the kind of person I deserve. "Mom, Dad, I don't deserve the Sterling marriage. Send me away." Her eyes swam with tears. She looked stubborn and self-sacrificing, the perfect brave little martyr. My parents, who'd always favored Ava, made their decision immediately. They pointed at me, standing off to the side, watching the whole performance. "Ava grew up with us. She understands our world better than you do. She's the one who should marry into the Sterling family. "Since she used your photo for that online relationship, you can marry the poor boy in her place." I was about to refuse when translucent lines of text appeared in the air in front of me. [No! Don't hand the hero over to that awful sister! The scholarship kid is actually the Sterling heir in disguise! The Sterling guy showing up today is only from a side branch!] [Exactly! He pretended to be poor because he wanted someone who'd love him for himself, and now she's giving him away with her own hands? The villain will absolutely say yes. Her type grabs everything.] [Don't panic! He's never met the villain. He only came because of the photo. A few days around her and he'll know something's wrong, and then she's finished. Everybody watch closely so we can help.] I stared at the floating comments for three seconds. So that was the story. I changed my mind, and lifted my chin a little. "Fine. If he's poor, he's poor. I'll marry him."