Chapter 2
I sat by the window in the campus coffee shop, idly stirring my iced latte.
The glass perfectly reflected my current self.
A tight black crop top highlighted my toned abs.
Fitted jeans hugged my legs.
The round, chubby chin I used to hate was gone, replaced by a sharp jawline.
The shop door swung open, the bell chiming overhead.
Liam walked in wearing a simple white T-shirt, scanning the room.
I raised my hand and gave a small wave.
Liam turned. The moment his eyes landed on me, he froze dead in his tracks.
His casual demeanor vanished. His breath hitched.
In his deep eyes, there was a flash of undisguised awe.
And utter, absolute shock.
His Adam's apple bobbed.
"Chloe, you... you look different."
Seeing him so completely spellbound, disgust churned in my stomach.
Frat boys were all the same—superficial bastards who only cared about looks.
"Liam?"
I plastered on a flawless fake smile, letting my voice drop into a bored, sultry drawl.
He snapped out of it, striding over to pull out the chair across from me.
"Sorry, I... I just didn't expect..."
His voice was hoarse, his gaze locked on my face.
"Didn't expect what?"
I rested my chin on my hand, leaning forward slightly, revealing a patch of pale skin at my neckline.
"Didn't expect me to look like this?"
Didn't expect your fifty-dollar mystery box to not be a pathetic fat girl?
Liam's eyes flickered. He looked like he wanted to explain, but just lowered his gaze.
"You're beautiful," he said softly. The heavy earnestness in his tone almost sounded real.
I took a sip of my coffee to hide my sneer.
I ignored the compliment, casually spinning the silver bracelet on my wrist.
"I heard your frat's welcome party tomorrow night is going to be wild. Do I get an invite?"
Liam looked up, a complex emotion swirling in his eyes.
"It's tomorrow at eight. At the chapter house."
He paused, his jaw tightening.
"But... it gets chaotic. If you go, you need to stick close to me."
The protective act only deepened my disgust.
What a performance.
I stood up, letting my fingertips brush lightly against the back of his hand.
"See you tomorrow night, Liam."
I didn't look back, my heels clicking sharply as I walked out of the shop.
The prey had taken the bait.
The hypocrite who bought me for fifty bucks was officially target number two.