Chapter 1

I hauled two massive boxes of luxury imported cherries back to my dorm for the weekend.

Just as I washed a bowl of them and sat down to enjoy, my roommate Hailey stared daggers at me.

"Hailey, they're washed. Help yourself," I said, pushing the bowl slightly toward her.

She didn't move an inch.

Instead, she rolled her eyes so hard they nearly fell out of her head.

"I'm not some spoiled princess like you. I can't afford to burn through money like trash."

If she didn't want any, I wasn't about to beg her.

I pulled the bowl back and happily munched away.

Right as I was down to the last few cherries, Hailey suddenly slammed both palms down on the desk.

"How can you be so damn selfish! Those berries cost hundreds of dollars, and you just shoved them all down your throat!"

"You don't know how to save a single dime for my brother, do you? You haven't even officially moved in with him, and you're already blowing through cash like this! How the hell are you going to run a home?!"

I choked on a pit and nearly died right there.

I hadn't even held a guy's hand yet.

When the hell did I sign up to move in with her family?

She was practically screeching, while I just stared back in pure disgust.

"I bought these cherries with my own damn money. It has nothing to do with your brother. Stop acting like a lunatic in my face!"

I popped the last cherry into my mouth and spat the pit into the trash can.

Hailey glared at me, her chest heaving.

"Chloe, are you even listening to me?!"

"My brother busts his ass in a manufacturing plant, barely bringing home three thousand a month, and you just ate half his paycheck in a single day!"

"If you have zero self-control, how are you two supposed to survive once you marry him?!"

I wiped my fingers with a wet wipe and shoved the bowl aside.

"Hailey, are you clinically delusional?"

"My parents bought these for me, with my own allowance."

"Whether your brother makes three thousand or thirty thousand has absolutely zero to do with me."

That shut her mouth, her face turning beet red.

Our other two roommates sat on their bunks, keeping their noise-canceling headphones firmly over their ears. They pretend to be deaf, though their eyes flicked over to our corner every few seconds.

We were all freshmen. Nobody wanted drama right at the start of the semester.

Seeing that nobody was jumping in to back her up, Hailey lost half her steam.

"Fine, you're spending your parents' money now, but you're going to settle down eventually!"

"My brother is a great catch. The fact that he's even willing to overlook your reckless spending is a miracle."

"If you don't learn how to manage a budget right now, no decent man will ever want you!"

I curled my lip into a smirk.

"If your brother is such a prize, keep him for yourself and build him a shrine."

"Don't try to push your trad-wife agenda on me."

Hailey froze, stunned into silence. After hovering awkwardly for a moment, she stomped up the ladder to her bunk.

I cleaned out the bowl in the communal bathroom sink.

Classes had only started a month ago, and I had honestly looked forward to the whole college dorm experience.

My parents had originally wanted me to live in an off-campus luxury condo. They had purchased a penthouse for me nearby, but it was still undergoing custom renovations. I was the one who had insisted on experiencing dorm life with peers.

Now, it seemed that dorm life was nothing short of a nightmare.

The next morning, right after I finished washing up, Hailey cornered me again.

The fury from the night before was completely gone, replaced by a patronizing, sisterly expression.

"Chloe, I was just speaking out of concern last night. Don't take it the wrong way."

"I'm just looking out for your future! Look at your vanity table—all those skincare serums are high-end designer brands."

"Do you have any idea how much money you'd save if you cut all this unnecessary crap out?"

I glanced at her sideways.

"Save for what? Does buying my own happiness not count?"

Choked by my response, Hailey forced a tight smile and pressed on.

"Trevor always says that women who obsess over their looks only attract toxic men."

"He likes girls who are simple, natural, and know how to stretch a dollar. You really need to fix your spending habits."

"Tell you what—to help you build discipline, just transfer your monthly allowance to me from now on."

"I'll give you five hundred a month for groceries, and I'll invest the rest into a savings account for you."

"By the time we graduate, that money will be the perfect down payment on a house for you and Trevor. My brother will love how mature and practical you are."

My hand stopped mid-motion. I turned around to stare directly into her eyes.

"Hailey, did you skip your meds this morning?"

"Do you even know how much my monthly allowance is?"

Her eyes instantly sparkled with naked greed.

"How much? Two or three thousand, right? Don't worry, I won't touch a penny. I'll save every cent for you and my brother."