Chapter 2

Brandon had been entangled with Riley lately.

Grace didn't expect Brandon to suddenly take an interest in what she was doing.

Feeling drained, Grace gave a perfunctory reply. "My advisor called me out of the blue, so I came back early."

Brandon let out a sigh of relief when he heard that. He muttered, "That's good. I thought..."

"Thought what?" Grace pressed.

"It's nothing," Brandon spoke up again. "There's still some unfinished business at the coffee shop where Riley worked. I'm worried she might not be able to handle it alone, so I probably can't go shopping with you tonight."

Brandon tensed up, anxiously waiting for Grace's response.

He'd already decided this one last time. If Grace got upset, he'd promise to spend every night with her from now on.

But Grace replied coolly, "Got it."

The words Brandon had prepared to comfort her got stuck in his throat. "That's all?"

She added, "Riley's a bit too gentle. It's good you're staying to look out for her."

"Grace, I..." Brandon tried to explain.

Grace rubbed her temples, her head pounding. She cut him off. "I've got things to do, so I'm hanging up now."

Grace's voice cut off abruptly, and Brandon was left holding his phone, completely bewildered.

He couldn't help but think Grace had changed. She was suddenly so considerate, almost too understanding, in fact.

Grace had a bunch of things lined up, barely any time to catch her breath.

As soon as she hung up, she started getting her stuff together.

She carefully wrapped the delicate piano model in bubble wrap, feeling its weight in her hands.

This was supposed to be her graduation gift for Brandon.

Two months ago, they'd visited a company partnered with their school, and Brandon had immediately set his sights on the decorative piece on the manager's desk.

The exquisite piano model was handcrafted and a limited edition.

Brandon talked the manager's ear off trying to get him to part with it, but the manager wouldn't let it go, so Brandon had to give up in the end.

But Grace was determined. She brought her own work to the company and worked for free for a whole month, even helping the manager out with a small issue.

The manager asked her what kind of bonus she wanted.

Grace shook her head. "I don't want money. I want that piano model."

They'd planned to go shopping tonight. Grace was going to pick out a gift box for the piano model she meant to give Brandon.

But now Grace stared at the piano model for a few seconds, then tossed it into the box casually.

*****

The next day, everyone in the class was handing in their assignments. As soon as Grace walked into the classroom, she could tell everyone was giving her weird looks.

Brandon stormed over and slammed his phone down in front of her, his face full of anger. "Grace, what do you have to say for yourself?"

The classmates started gossiping.

"I can't believe you're like this, Grace. Even if you look down on your classmates, you don't have to kick someone when they're already down, do you?"

"Yeah, Riley's already got it tough juggling work and school. Are you out to destroy her or what?"

Grace was totally lost. "Seriously, what are you talking about? I don't get it at all."

She took the phone and saw that the school forum and everywhere else were blowing up with a video of Riley getting humiliated by a customer.

The title read: [Dumb College Girl Causes Trouble, Serves Her Right to Get Shamed.]

Riley was sobbing so hard that she could barely catch her breath. "Grace, I don't know what I did to upset you as class president, or why you'd humiliate me like this. I was trying to make a little money.

"Does that mean I deserve to be laughed at by everyone?"

Grace tried to explain, "I didn't do it."

"Stop denying it," Brandon snapped. "You're the only one who knew Riley and I went to the station, and only you saw the footage.

"I know you're jealous of how I treat Riley, but if you keep playing these shady tricks, don't blame me if I get tough with you."

Grace stood in the middle of the classroom, everyone openly pointing and whispering about her.

Brandon was scowling at her, looking furious, not giving her any chance to explain herself.

She froze for a second, then felt oddly at peace. "Alright, whatever you say. If that's what you want to believe, so be it."