The room fell silent as we all thought it over.
After a long pause, I spoke up again. “Fighting against them might be impossible. But we can
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Chapter S
avold falling into their trap. The best thing we can do is refuse Xavier’s pursuit. That’s something we can control.”
When Sophie returned to the dorm the next day, she started testing the waters, gauging our feelings toward Xavier.
Claire quickly deflected the situation with a photo of her and her cousin, pretending it was something more.
“Actually, I already have a boyfriend!” she said, flashing the picture. “We’re high school classmates, and he goes to the school next door. The reason I didn’t come back last weekend was that I was with him.”
The same excuse couldn’t be used twice, so Zoey spoke vaguely, “Xavier and I? We’re from completely different worlds. If it wasn’t for your coming–of–age ceremony, I’d never have had the chance to meet someone from his social circle.”
I chimed in with a smile. “Sophie, you and Jonathan are perfect together. You two standing side by side–it’s like something straight out of a wealthy family’s romance novel. Too bad there’s only one of you. If you also had a twin sister, she would be the perfect match for Xavier.
11
It seemed our indifferent responses threw her off, and nothing else happened for the next few days. Xavier didn’t try the public confession stunt at the bottom of the dorm building like in my previous life. After all, as the second son of the Lewis family, his pride wouldn’t allow him to risk embarrassing himself with a failed public proposal. The last thing he wanted was to become the subject of jokes.
But soon, I found myself facing a much worse situation.
With the holiday approaching, I felt much lighter, but I still stuck to my routine of studying in the library. That day, as I walked out of the library, a man in his forties suddenly stepped in front of me.
He shouted loudly, “Bianca! I’m your dad!”
I froze, unsure of how to react.
“I heard you got into Jadebrook College,” the man continued, his voice tinged with desperation.
“I need money for travel expenses. I’m in debt, being chased by creditors, and I need someone to guarantee a loan for me. Out of everyone I know, you’re the most successful. You’re not just the top scorer on the college entrance exam, but also a high achiever at Jadebrook College.
dad!” Please, help me, Bianca! You’ve got to save your
Before I could react, he grabbed my arm with a firm grip, holding me tight. The more I struggled, the harder it was to break free. As I struggled, a crowd began to gather, watching the scene unfold.
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Chapter 5
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I felt trapped at the center of the chaos, humiliated beyond measure.
This had never happened in my previous life.
While I was still trying to process the situation, I caught a glimpse of someone in the crowd- Sophie and Xavier. But why would Xavier be here? He was a typical rich kid and had never set foot in the library before.
That was when it clicked.
This must be a setup–something Sophie had orchestrated behind the scenes. She was trying to stage a “heroic rescue” for Xavier to win my heart.
The moment I saw Xavier in the crowd, he stepped forward. He pushed his way through the onlookers and came to my side as though to support me.
“Bianca is my friend,” Xavier said. “The Lewis family isn’t short on money. We sponsored the entire library here in Jadebrook College.”
He turned to the man claiming to be my father. “How much do you owe? I’ll pay it off for you.” The man, who had been gripping my arm, immediately let go. “You’ll pay my debts? Are you her friend or her boyfriend?”
you, the
He smiled flatteringly at Xavier. “I owe 50 thousand dollars, but compared to a library donation, that’s nothing, really. For Bianca to have such a wealthy boyfriend like Ziegler family must be incredibly lucky.”
The Ziegler family?
That was it!
I had never known my father. My mother had died giving birth to me, and this man had walked away and never looked back. His name wasn’t even on my birth certificate. In my hometown, sons had always been favored over daughters. A couple would only be able to register their marriage if they had a son.
So, my mother and this man–legally–weren’t even husband and wife.
I, along with my mother and aunt, carried the surname Sinclair, and we were all listed under my grandmother’s family records.
So, legally speaking, I had no connection to this man at all.
