Chapter 3

Two months later on the Ivy League campus, an early autumn breeze rustled through the oak leaves, carrying a crisp chill in the air.

I had gathered my emotions and was trying my best to adjust to college life.

That afternoon, I was standing in the lobby of the century-old business school, studying the massive glass trophy display along the hallway.

My eyes landed on the gold-plated trophy in the very center and a photograph resting inside a solid wood frame beside it.

The man in the picture wore a dark bespoke suit, his facial features striking and defined.

The nameplate beneath the photo clearly bore his name: Sebastian.

"That's Mr. Sebastian, our school's most generous board member and a legend in the business world."

A friendly student passing by followed my gaze and lowered his voice to fill me in. "Rumor has it he’s canceled several overseas conferences just to return and serve as a guest professor for the advanced business strategy course this semester. The waiting list for his class is absolute madness."

I was just about to nod in agreement when an infuriating voice from behind interrupted my thoughts.

"Chloe, have you been dodging my texts for days just so you can stand here staring at someone else's trophies?"

Liam, dressed in a casual suit, was striding toward me with a deep scowl.

Sloane, per usual, was trailing obediently by his side.

Liam stopped in front of me, irritation written all over his face.

He clearly took my flight from the prom and my recent avoidance as nothing more than a dramatic stunt for attention.

"There's a limit to throwing tantrums, Chloe," Liam started, using that condescending tone reserved for reprimanding a subordinate. "You pushed me away and ran off in front of everyone, making me the laughingstock of our circle. I came all the way to your school today to give you an out. Apologize to me right now, end this childish college roleplay, and come home with me."

Staring at the two people who had conspired to destroy my past life, I dug my nails into my palms, forcing down the nausea churning in my stomach.

I cut off his self-righteous speech.

"I think you're mistaken about something, Liam. I'm not throwing a tantrum." I took a deep breath and, in front of the students passing through the hallway, announced loudly, "I have decided to break up with you. We are completely done."

My voice wasn't overly loud, but it rang with absolute clarity in the echoing lobby.

Standing beside him, Sloane took her cue and immediately jumped in.

Feigning concern, she reached out to grab my arm, though her tone hid a sharp wedge. "Chloe, don't be ungrateful. Liam has been worried sick about you these past few days. How can you break his heart with words like breaking up? Everyone is trying to be patient with you; you’re being way too stubborn."

"Break up?" Liam found it so absurd he actually let out a scoff, looking me up and down with disdain. "Look at yourself, Chloe. Other than agonizing over what color bag to buy every day, you offer absolutely nothing. And now you've run off to a business school to find a sense of relevance?"

"I was accepted here legitimately. I have every right to take classes here," I replied.

He gave a cold snort, emboldened by his own twisted logic. "You're just a helpless vase who can barely take care of herself. Without me, no one would tolerate your spoiled princess attitude. You really think anyone else would want you?"

His entitled contempt made me want to call security and have him thrown out on the spot.

Just to quickly rid myself of their harassment, I gave a cold laugh and blurted out, "Well, you're dead wrong. I'm not lacking in caretakers. Not only do I have a new boyfriend, but he's much wealthier and treats me infinitely better than you ever did."

Liam froze for a second before staring at me like I were a walking joke. He stepped closer, relentless. "Oh, really? Then I'd love to meet this 'perfect' boyfriend of yours. Where is he? Point him out to me."

Faced with his interrogation, panic seized my chest, and cold sweat pricked my back, but I forced myself to look fiercely unapologetic.

I glanced toward a slight commotion near the lobby entrance, where a large group of people was heading our way.

Gritting my teeth, I threw caution to the wind. To save face, I randomly pointed a finger straight at the edge of that approaching crowd.

"See him? That's him!"

Following the direction of my finger, the dense crowd miraculously parted to the sides, falling into a hushed silence.

A mature, imposing man in a tailored dark overcoat stopped in his tracks.

His gaze cut straight through the parting crowd and landed directly on me.

When I saw his face clearly, my breath hitched in my throat.

That face perfectly matched the one in the photograph displayed inside the glass case beside me. The man I had just pointed at randomly was none other than the professor from the photo—Sebastian.

I felt like my life was officially over.

Someone with his status and sharp intuition would undoubtedly humiliate me and expose my pathetic lie right in front of everyone.

Liam clearly recognized him, too. He stared blankly for two seconds before bursting into loud, mocking laughter. "Chloe, even if you’re going to drag some random guy off the street to play your fake boyfriend, you shouldn't aim so ridiculously high. You really think Mr. Sebastian would play along with a moron’s little charade?"

However, before Liam's laughter could fully die down, Sebastian moved.

Under the shocked gazes of everyone in the lobby, he walked straight toward us.

He stopped right beside me. He first looked down, holding my gaze for a few seconds, before casually sweeping his eyes over Liam. His tone was impeccably polite, yet it carried an oppressive, undeniable weight:

"Excuse me, do you two have a problem with my girlfriend?"

In that instant, the air in the room completely froze.