Chapter 3

"Vivian, this is an order! I'm the student council president, which gives me the authority to correct this kind of toxic behavior!"

Damien doesn't relent at my resistance. Instead, he adopts an official tone and tries to force the heavy stack of books into my arms.

I shake off his hand and rub my reddened wrist, letting out a cold laugh without holding back.

"Student council president? Damien, do you really think you became president on your own merit?"

"If my dad hadn't spoken to the administration and donated fifty million dollars, how could someone with your abilities back then have beaten all those more qualified candidates for the position?"

Damien's face turns deathly pale, as if he's been slapped in public. His lips tremble but before he can respond—

Lydia suddenly rushes forward like she's lost her mind.

"Shut up! Don't you dare slander him like that!"

Before I can react, she shoves me hard.

Completely unprepared and standing in stilettos, I lose my balance and fall heavily onto the concrete.

"Ah—"

A burning pain shoots through my palms instantly.

Looking down, I see my hands scraped raw against the rough pavement, blood and grit oozing out—it hurts like hell.

The sapphire necklace falls to the ground, and Lydia steps on it.

Before I can get up, she's already spoken first.

Looking down at me from above, a flash of gloating crosses her eyes, but her voice carries a sob as she shouts.

"Vivian! How can you do this? You're the one who changed your heart, yet you're publicly destroying his reputation!"

She points at my pink sports car and designer outfit behind me, her voice shrill and piercing, as if passing righteous judgment on me.

"Everyone, judge for yourselves! Vivian used to only eat the cheapest food in the cafeteria—how could she suddenly afford a sports car worth hundreds of thousands overnight?"

"Where did this money come from? Don't you know in your heart? Do I need to tell everyone that you found yourself a sugar daddy?"

"Damien just doesn't want to watch you fall into degradation. He's been trying to bring you back to the right path, but not only are you ungrateful—you're biting back for the sake of temporary vanity!"

This information bomb makes the crowd of onlookers explode instantly.

Those curious gazes immediately turn to contempt, and whispers buzz in my ears like flies.

"Oh my god, so she's being kept..."

"I knew it. How could someone who normally wears thrift store clothes suddenly get rich? She went that route."

"So shameless, showing off at the school gate. Her parents must be mortified."

Public opinion instantly shifts. Everyone believes Lydia's lies.

I'm shaking with anger, my nails digging into my flesh, but I can't feel the pain. I can only stare at Damien.

He's the only person here who knows my true identity.

Even if we've broken up, even if he hates me, as long as he tells the truth, this ridiculous rumor will fall apart.

"Damien, say something!"

I demand through clenched teeth, my eyes reddening. "Tell them—is my money dirty or not? Did I become like this for vanity?"

Damien looks at me sitting disheveled on the ground, a flash of complicated struggle in his eyes.

But he glances at the watching students around us, then at Lydia, who "defended him" by stepping forward.

In the end, the shame of being exposed for riding a woman's coattails defeats his conscience.

He supports the "swaying" Lydia and sighs with seeming heartbreak, looking utterly disappointed in me.

"Vivian, Lydia's words may be crude, but she's not wrong. Vanity is the most terrible poison in this world."

"Although we've broken up, I really don't want to see you selling your soul and body for material things, making yourself so dirty."

"Take my advice—return the car, break it off with that person. It's not too late to turn back now."