Chapter 2

The next morning, I’d barely settled into my regular spot in the library when Richard stormed over.

He pulled out the chair in front of me and plopped down rudely, his brows knotted tight. His tone was laced with entitled reproach. “Bonnie, where on earth were you last night? I sent you dozens of messages asking you to help me wrap up my final report. Why didn’t you reply? Don’t you get that my application materials are due tomorrow?”

I looked up at him with a calm gaze.

He was still wearing that designer shirt I’d bought him, his hair perfectly styled. The face I once thought gentle and handsome now reeked of greed and vulgarity.

“Why should I care about your lab report?” I said flatly. My voice was soft, yet crystal clear.

Richard froze. He’d never expected me to talk to him like this. For as long as he could remember, the second he frowned, I’d drop everything to comfort him and run his errands.

“What’s your problem?” His face darkened. “Are you throwing another tantrum? I’ve been swamped with stress over this final round. Can’t you act mature? Hurry up and open your laptop. Copy over that core dataset and analysis template for me. I’m in a huge rush.”

As he spoke, he reached out to grab my notebook.

I snapped the laptop shut and swatted his hand away.

“You’ve got this all wrong, Richard.” I stared straight into his eyes, speaking slowly and firmly. “Starting today, I won’t fix a single typo for you, or lift a finger to help you ever again. Write your own application materials.”

Richard’s face turned livid. He shot to his feet and hissed in a low, furious voice. “Have you lost your mind? You promised to give me the scholarship spot! Are you bailing on me now just to ruin my life? Don’t forget — ten years ago, if it weren’t for me—”

“If it weren’t for you pulling me out of the fire, I’d be dead. Is that the line you’re going with?” I cut him off with a cold laugh. I knew that tired excuse he’d repeated for a decade by heart.

“Since you know it, you ought to realize how much you owe me!” he gritted his teeth.

“I paid you back long ago. For ten years, I waited on you hand and foot like a maid. I spent every penny of my awards on you, and I even planned to hand over the Harvard scholarship. Our debt is settled.”

I stood up and looked down at him. “I don’t owe you anything anymore, Richard. From now on, we go our separate ways.”

With that, I gathered my laptop and books, then walked out without a single backward glance.

I’d just reached the library entrance when I ran straight into Daphne, her makeup flawlessly done. She was clearly here to watch the drama unfold, a mocking smirk playing on her lips.

“Well look who it is — St. Paul’s star student. Trouble in paradise with Richard?” She blocked my path and raised her voice on purpose. “Word has it you practically gave up the Harvard spot just to hold onto him. Too bad. A stray will always be a stray. No matter how hard you pour your heart out, Richard will never settle for someone like you. Playing hard to get? That trick’s so cheap and obvious.”

Students around us stopped what they were doing and began whispering and pointing. To everyone here, I was just a desperate girl clinging onto Richard.

I met Daphne’s smug gaze, feeling utterly unfazed.

“Daphne,” I said coldly, “You’re free to take whatever scraps others discard. But do keep your trash on a tight leash. Don’t let it wander around stinking up the place for everyone else.”

“Who are you calling trash?!” Daphne shrieked, flying into a rage.

I ignored her tantrum, walked right past her, and stepped out into the morning sunlight.

I was heading to the lab to finish the final draft of my research paper.

As for them? They’d soon learn that without me propping him up, Richard is good for absolutely nothing.