Chapter 4
“Wow, look who
moment I entered the party hall, the familiar mocking voice rang out.
Looking up, saw Camila at the center of an admiring crowd. Clearly, Bryan had arranged for her to be dressed to perfection. She wore a pale pink gown whose fitted de
That
Camila
A cold
I
had
accentuated her impossibly slender waist. Staffed by her lackey, Raina.
cyes
Ose in
Raina crossed her arms
her chin subtly raised as a faint smirk played at her lips.
I bet
Raina was just acting on Camila’s orders.
s and sneered, her voice carrying across the hall. “Some ugly ducklings can dress up all they want, but they’ll never become real swans. I always knew people just can’t wash off their country bumpkin roots. Look, their true colors are finally showing.”
A chorus of mocking laughter erupted
me, sharp and grating on my ears.
I felt a chill run through my chest as I took in the smirks around me. Of course, people always loved watching the mighty fall from grace—it was their way to ease their own insecurities.
Even the mighty get kicked when they’re down,” Melissa sneered as she picked up her glass of red wine and walked to the long dining table.
Her voice was low, but every word cut clearly through the flowing violin music.
Raina’s face turned grim, but she held her tongue.
I showed a smile and accepted the champagne from the waiter. Taking a delicate sip, I casually responded, “Can’t agree more.”
Just as the tense atmosphere peaked, a commotion erupted at the entrance, sparking waves of whispers throughout the crowd.
Someone in the crowd gasped, “Is that Shane? I can’t believe he actually showed up to the party!”
“How do I look? Pretty, right?” another girl asked.
“Shane is the campus tyrant–he’s notorious for his temper. Whatever you do, don’t provoke him tonight,” someone warned.
I gave my champagne glass a gentle swirl, the liquid shimmering with golden light.
I glanced toward the entrance. Shane showed up in a plain T–shirt, standing out from everyone else, yet his effortlessly rebellious vibe was impossible to miss. But be honest, it was all thanks to that handsome face.
I couldn’t help but sigh that the Hunter family genes were truly exceptional.
A girl whispered, “Shane was specially admitted this year. Can you believe he got into a fight during orientation week and still got away with it?”
Someone asked in surprise, “I heard he doesn’t even have any connections, and he still daked to start a fight at Welles?”
17
Not far away, a senior was eagerly gossiping to a group of freshmen girls about Shane. As I overheard them, I couldn’t help but sigh. Shane must have caused the Hunter family plenty of trouble.
Shane spotted me at the entrance to the hall, but he deliberately averted his gaze.
He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me.
144
UG
The whispers faded to a hush as he walked in with an air of indifference. I took a slow sip of champagne, trying to appear calm. Just then, his figure stopped right in front of me.
Shane said in an indifferent voice, “Remember, we’re not familiar.”
He strode right past me without a glance, making a beeline for Camila.
“Shane?” Camila’s eyes sparkled in surprise. “What a surprise you actually came.”
The crowd instinctively parted, making way
for Shane.
He naturally ruffled Camila’s hair, his voice softening. “You’re here, so of course I had to come.”
VILUKA
W
on Shane, yet his affection was Camila’s alone.
A drama
unfolded before everyone’s eyes, and the whispers started bubbling up again from all corners.
1/3
Someone spoke up. “Why do they seem so close? Wait, isn’t Dennis the only male heir in the Dyson family?”
Another girl asked, “Isn’t that a son from the Hunter family where Camila used to stay with? I heard that family actually has three sons.”
“So Shane is actually Ashley’s real brother? But they don’t seem close at all, do they?” a man commented.
“No kidding. It’s obvious he can’t stand her. Didn’t you see? Shane didn’t even spare Ashley a single glance,” another girl scoffed.
Their voices weren’t even properly hushed, as if deliberately spoken to my ears.
Then came a voice I’d known for years. “You’re too noisy. Shut up.”
The chatter died instantly as Dennis approached with a frown. He took his place by my side without saying anything.
I nodded my thanks, barely paying Dennis any mind. My gaze drifted over to where Camila was. The way Shane treated us differently didn’t matter to me, yet…
I still remembered what Shane told me on my first night back home. “Mila said you refused to come back and even kicked her out.”
Honestly, I genuinely didn’t recall ever kicking Camila out. If anything, after I decisively agreed to acknowledge our relationship, she was the one clinging to me with crocodile tears and apologizing to me.
Who else but Camila could come up with something like that?
hat? Just
“What? Just one trip back to the Hunters’s house and you’re playing the victim?” Dennis asked.
Dennis passed me a glass of red wine. His fingers showed an unnaturally pale hue when he held the glass, and it betrayed his frail health.
After I took the glass, Dennis produced his handkerchief and began slowly wiping his fingers.
He was still as fastidious as ever.
Dennis shot me a puzzled glance. “Why are you smiling?”
I raised my glass and clinked it against his with a crisp sound. “Your turn. Sibling bonding time.”
“It’s got nothing to do with me,” Dennis said coolly. I nodded in understanding.
That was classic Dennis, always so aloof and prickly.
Honestly, I couldn’t blame Dennis for resenting me. He was three years younger than I. At just sixteen, he was already a freshman at Welles. He probably wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me..
After all, even if I chose to slack off, I still made sure the Dyson family got the perfect heir.
Finance courses were challenging and plentiful, but I really enjoyed them. Somehow, I had this gut feeling there was real potential around the Hunter family’s house.
I had just gotten my hands on the urban planning map for the northern district of Beverllie when someone suddenly blocked my path.
Raina sneered, “Ashley, what’s the point of you taking all these courses anyway?”
“Raina, please…” Camila pulled at her sleeve in show of restraint.
“Mila, you’re just too soft–hearted.” Raina defended her. “Ashley kicked you out of your home before. She was obviously trying to steal your spot as the real heiress, but she failed. And now, you’re still defending her?”
Camila’s lackeys quickly chimed in, eager to back her up.
Camila played the good cop, while her gang played the bad cop. What a performance.
I said coldly, “Camila, when did I ever kick you out of the Dyson family?”
Camila trembled, taking two steps back as tears welled up in her eyes. ‘N–No, nothing like that ever happened.”
“Ashley.” Raina stepped protectively in front of Camila and threatened. “Don’t push your luck.”
My phone buzzed. I looked down and saw a message from Kane. He said he was almost at the school gate. He came to pick me up.
My heart leaped with joy. I was about to reply when a sudden, searing pain shot through my hand. Before I could react, my phone flew in a perfect arc, plummeting six stories down from the corridor.
2/3
I froze and reached out–but caught only air.
My brows furrowed as I turned to glare at the culprit.
“Just a stupid phone. I’ll pay you back,” Raina sneered, her eyes flashing with defiance.
Standing behind her, Camila also showed a faint, barely perceptible smirk
I swore to myself–no
1 grabbed Raina by the collar and yan
with?”
let anyone trample on me today.
1 yanked her against the railin
Locking
a
frosty glare, I sneered, “Did you forget who you’re dealing
Watching the defiance
in her
eyes tu
Cor. I shoved her
I
further
the railing. A cold gust swept by, sending her hair flying wildly.
She struggled, but my well–placed grip left her no room to break free.
Camila took two steps forward, her eyes reddening. “Ash, don’t do this. Let’s talk it out, okay? You can’t just act out because of your jealousy…”
“No jealousy involved here,” I cut heroff. “Let me tell you–the Hunter
Camila froze for a moment but didn’t step forward again.
Raina was still struggling against my grip, and her face flushed crimson Ashle
suits me far better than the Dyson family ever did.”
wanna get expelled, huh? Let me go-”
Leaning close to her ear, I smirked and whispered, “It’s only the sixth floor. Care to
Raina went rigid with fear. Not of Camila’s lackeys dared step in.
if that’s fatal?”
1 arched my brows and taunted, “Don’t mess with me again. I’ve got nothing to lose, you know?”
“Ash, don’t do anything reckless.” Camila remained motionless, her tone dripping with false concern.
Honestly, I couldn’t stand Camila’s hypocritical face.
I saw right through her scheme. Even if I did push Raina over the railing, she wouldn’t bat an eye–she might even secretly delight in it.
She was the only girl left between the two families. With blood ties on one side and over a decade of emotional bonds on the other, she’d definitely laugh the last laugh.
Honestly, she made me sic
I nodded in mock agreement, pausing deliberately for two seconds. “Well then, Camila, why don’t you do your dear friend a favor and write an apology letter for her? Once it’s done, I’ll let her go.”
The air hung heavily for a moment. Feigning surprise, I taunted, “You’re such close friends, Camila, yet you won’t even write her a simple apology letter? How strange, considering she’s always the one standing
up for you.”
“Mila…” Raina’s voice broke, choked with emotion.
After all, Raina and I hung out for rages. I knew her fear of heights inside
out, and I’d got her right where I wanted her.
We
pale, and
Camila heard her name called; her face
I smirked at Camila and asked, “Are you writing it or not?” I’d make sure she paid back today’s humiliation.
Trembled slightly,
as if utterly humiliated.
Seemingly resolved, Camila finally
her gaze toward the
of the corridor. Tears suddenly streamed down her face as she sobbed, “Kane…”
Kane arrived?
Kane arrived?
My heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, I looked toward the end of the corridor–there stood a man in a perfectly tailored suit.
Kane pressed his lips together as he looked down at Camila sobbing in his arms, the light flickering ambiguously across his glasses. his arms, the light flickering ambiguously across his glasses.
