Chapter 3

“Can you please ask the admin to delete that post?”

The moment I sent it, the screen immediately flashed typing...

I waited for what felt like an eternity before his short reply came through.

“Done. It's deleted.”

I let out a shaky sigh of relief and locked my screen.

He didn't send another text, and I didn't bother asking why he was trying to find the dining hall girl in the first place.

Compared to that stranger, my mind was consumed by Austin. Was any of his love real? How many lies had he fed me?

Still feeling weak from cramps, I clocked out of my shift early and headed back toward the dorms.

And that was when I ran into him and Chloe walking side-by-side along the quad.

"I heard Van Cleef is dropping a new necklace. If you like it, I'll buy it for you."

A few moments later, Chloe checked her phone and threw her arms around his neck in sheer delight.

"You are literally the best! I can't believe you're doing so well lately!"

As far as I knew, Austin came from an average middle-class family. A luxury piece from Van Cleef would cost him several months’ worth of allowance.

I wanted to confront him right then and there, but a sudden distraction cut me off.

Looking at the time, I realized his afternoon lecture was ending in half an hour. I threw my hair up and hurried straight to the humanities hall.

In the sea of dispersing students, I caught sight of them instantly—arms linked near the stairwell landing.

My lips trembled as I called out softly,

"Austin. What are you doing?"

My sudden appearance didn't rattle him in the slightest.

Instead, he tightened his grip around Chloe’s hand. "She twisted her ankle."

"What? Am I not allowed to help a friend now?"

"Then how do you explain promising to buy her a luxury necklace?"

My eyes burned with tears. My chest felt suffocated, aching with every beat.

"Austin, we've been together for six months, and the only thing you've ever given me was that one bouquet of flowers..."

He scowled with deep impatience. "Chloe's birthday is in a few days! We grew up together, what's wrong with a nice gift?"

"Besides, even if I bought you fine jewelry, you never dress up anyway. It'd just be a waste."

My throat closed up so tight I couldn't make a sound. I stared at him in utter disbelief.

I couldn't find a single trace of the boy who had treated me like gold months ago.

Chloe let out a theatrical sigh, feigning sympathy. "Scarlett, I've heard about your little arguments."

"As girls, we really should put in some effort when we go out. We have to consider our boyfriend’s reputation, right?"

"Maybe you just find looking nice too much work. Personally, I could never do that to Austin."

Before I could unleash my rage, Tiffany dashed over from behind and slapped my shoulder.

"Scarlett! The department dean wants you in her office right now! It's about hosting the Arts Gala!"

The second those words dropped, Chloe’s smug grin froze on her face.

Seeing her expression falter, Austin stepped forward aggressively to defend her.

"Scarlett, I don't want my girlfriend parading on stage in front of the whole school."

"Give the host position to Chloe. She's way better suited for it than you."

Tiffany, having zero tolerance for bullshit, exploded on the spot.

"Did you take a brick to the head? It's genuinely shocking that a carbon-based life form can say something that brainless."

I watched Austin’s face turn beet-red with anger, then glanced at Chloe, who was already sniffling to play the victim.

Mimicking her exact saccharine tone, I sneered, "Maybe it's just a matter of basic decency. Personally, I would never try to steal someone else's spot."

"Austin! Look at how she's treating me!"

Chloe stamped her foot, completely dropping her graceful facade, but Austin instinctively pulled her into his arms to shield her.

"Don't cry. She probably just pulled some shady strings."

"I'll go to the dean's office with you right now. You're prettier than her anyway; the MC spot belongs to you."

I pressed my lips together, a deep, bitter chill freezing over my heart.

It wasn't that he cared about his ego.

It was that he had never, not for a single second, cared about me.