Chapter 3

After Bailey's birthday party, Lucy's pursuit of me intensified.

Every morning, she'd be downstairs promptly, holding a beautifully packaged breakfast.

She skipped her own major classes to accompany me to my incredibly boring general education lectures.

When I dozed off, she'd discreetly draw a tiny cartoon pig on my palm.

On a random birthday I'd casually made up, she presented me with a limited-edition luxury watch, right in front of my roommates.

Liam's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

He dragged me onto the balcony, his face full of worry.

"Asher, be honest with me, are you really falling for her?"

My fingertip traced the watch on my wrist. I gave him a reassuring smile.

"Why would I?"

"Then why are you accepting such expensive gifts from her?!"

Liam's voice was sharp with urgency.

"People like them, anything they give you, you'll have to pay back with interest later! How are you ever going to repay that?"

I patted Liam's shoulder.

"Don't worry."

"Oh, she's going to regret it, big time."

The next day, Liam and I were eating in the dining hall.

Bailey, with a few other guys, passed by my table, trays in hand.

He angled his wrist, and a steaming bowl of spicy noodles tipped over, spilling onto me.

Even though I dodged quickly, some of the broth still splashed onto my arm.

"Ah!"

Liam shrieked, frantically pulling out napkins to wipe it.

Bailey looked down at me, sneering.

"Oops, my bad, my hand slipped."

His gaze swept over my T-shirt.

"What, did you grab that shirt for ten bucks at a thrift store? Here, I'll give you a hundred. That's enough for ten more."

God, he was infuriating!

This blind idiot! This 'cheap' tee alone could probably buy his entire outfit, car included!

I'd gone through my entire closet of custom-made clothes to pick out the most unassuming T-shirt, and he just ruined it.

He pulled three hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and threw them in front of me, like I was a beggar.

Dad, seriously, the things I do for your grand plan!

Just then, a figure rushed over.

Lucy shoved Bailey hard, sending him stumbling backward a few steps.

Her face was etched with concern as she scanned me from head to toe.

"Are you okay? Did you get burned? How bad is it?"

"Bailey, are you insane? Apologize to Asher!"

Bailey's eyes instantly reddened.

"Lucy, I didn't mean to."

"I said apologize!"

Bailey, startled by her intensity, grudgingly mumbled, "I'm sorry."

The words had barely left his mouth when Lucy, supporting me, quickly led me toward the campus clinic, all eyes in the dining hall on us.

"I'm so sorry, Asher."

"I failed to protect you."

I lowered my gaze, my shoulders trembling.

"It's not your fault."

My voice was thick with a feigned sob.

Lucy hugged me tighter.

"Asher, trust me, no one will ever dare to bully you again."

I leaned against her, the overpowering perfume mixing with the spicy noodles was truly awful.

If my dad found out I'd gotten hurt putting on this act for them today, what would he say?

Good thing the assessment period was almost over.