Chapter 4

I left the model kit Ethan had given me untouched in my locker. The note that said "Sorry" was crumpled up and tossed into the trash, but after class, I secretly fished it out, smoothed it, and tucked it into my textbook.

I hated myself for being like this.

"Charlotte, have you lost your mind?" Maggie yelled over the phone. "He slandered you, and you're still hanging onto that stupid note?"

"I just can't stand wasting stuff," I muttered.

"You're torturing yourself," Maggie sighed. "Sarah's telling everyone you're some kind of bully, and Ethan's backing her up. Doesn't that piss you off?"

I stared at the crumpled note tucked in my textbook, my chest tight. "Is there any point in getting mad?" I said.

"At least don't let them walk all over you," Maggie snapped. "Julian's got the security footage, right? Post it on the school forum and let everyone see what that fake angel is really like."

"Forget it," I said, shutting my textbook. "I don't have the energy for their drama."

That was the truth. Last night, my dad suddenly told me I had to get involved in a new project, to get ready to take over his company someday. Now, besides studies, I'd have to carve out time to learn all this business stuff.

The next morning, as soon as I walked through the college gates, I could feel the stares. A bunch of girls were huddled together, whispering, and scattered the moment they saw me. When I reached the bulletin board, I finally got it. Someone had posted a photo of Julian and me leaving campus last night, with the caption: Looks like Miss Williamson's got a new crush.

I reached out to rip it down, but a fair hand slapped over the photo before I could touch it.

"Hey, don't get mad, Charlotte," Sarah chirped, popping up next to me with a fake smile. "Everyone's dying to know what's up with you and Julian."

I shot back coldly, "Why do you care?"

"Just looking out for you," she said, batting her big, innocent eyes. "Ethan's super curious too, you know."

"What's Ethan so interested in?" I couldn't help asking.

Sarah leaned in close, dropping her voice to a whisper. "He's just wondering why you haven't pissed off."

I stumbled back, crashing into someone behind me. Spinning around, I found myself face-to-face with Ethan, his eyes as dark and unreadable as ever.

"Charlotte, are you bullying Sarah again?" Ethan frowned at me.

I stared at him in disbelief. "And just when did you see me bullying her?"

"Ethan, it's not Charlotte's fault," Sarah said, putting on her most pitiful look. "I just asked her about Julian, that's all."

Ethan's gaze turned icy. "You were talking about Julian?"

"Yeah, Charlotte and Julian are always together, and people are saying..." Sarah trailed off, acting all hesitant.

"Saying what?" Ethan's voice was taut.

"They're saying Charlotte's finally moved on," Sarah said hesitantly. "And that she's chasing Julian even harder than she ever did you."

"Enough," I snapped, cutting her off. "Sarah, with your talent for spinning tales, you should be writing fiction."

"I'm just repeating what everyone says," Sarah sniffled, her eyes going red again.

Ethan stepped between us, blocking me from Sarah. "Charlotte, apologize to Sarah."

"Me? Apologize?" I was shaking with rage. "Ethan, get this straight. She's the one spreading rumors."

"Apologize," he interrupted coldly. "Now."

By now, a crowd of students had gathered, hungry for drama. I could feel their stares stabbing into my back, some mocking, some sympathetic, but most just waiting for a show.

"Why should I apologize?" I lifted my chin, refusing to back down. "Just because you say so?"

"Because you're throwing your family name around to bully people," Ethan said, his words clipped and cold. "Apologize to Sarah, or—"

"Or what?" A clear voice broke through the crowd. Julian strode over, standing right beside me. "Ethan, are you planning to mess with my girlfriend?"

The whole place went wild. I gaped at Julian in shock, and he squeezed my hand, calm as ever.

"Girlfriend?" Ethan froze, his face stiffening.

"That's right," Julian said, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "So tell your little sidekick to quit spreading rumors, or I'll get the lawyers involved."

Sarah's face turned ghostly pale. "Julian, I didn't..."

"You didn't?" Julian snorted, pulling out his phone and tapping a video. "Then what's this?"

The video clearly showed Sarah knocking coffee onto my project and smearing it around to make sure it was ruined. The crowd gasped, and students started whispering and pointing fingers at her.

"This is fake," Sarah stammered, panicking as she looked to Ethan. "Ethan, they're framing me."

Ethan stared at the video, his frown growing deeper and deeper. Finally, he looked up at me. "Charlotte, I..."

"Don't bother," I cut him off. "I don't want your apology or your explanations. Ethan, open your eyes and see who's really the bully here."

With that, I turned and walked away. Julian quickly caught up, leaving Ethan standing there, his expression dark and conflicted.

"Thanks," I murmured to Julian once we were alone. "But you really shouldn't have said I was your girlfriend."

"Just turning her own tricks against her," Julian shrugged. "Sarah's been spreading rumors everywhere, so I figured it was time she got a taste of her own medicine."

I shook my head. "She's only going to double down."

"Don't sweat it," Julian said, ruffling my hair. "I've got your back."

Looking at that confident grin of his, a wave of nostalgia hit me. Back when I was a kid getting picked on, Julian always stepped up for me like this. Ten years later, nothing had changed at all.

I didn't see Ethan at all during the afternoon. Rumor had it that a professor roped him into helping with something. After class, just as I finished packing my bag, he appeared in the doorway.

"We need to talk," he said.

I acted like I didn't hear him, busying myself with my books.

"Charlotte," he said, stepping up to my desk. "About today..."

"The video's clear enough. There's nothing to discuss," I shot back, not bothering to look up.

"I apologize," he said stiffly. "I was wrong."

I stopped what I was doing and looked up at him. "That's it?"

Ethan pressed his lips and said, "Sarah already admitted she accidentally ruined your project. She was just scared, so..."

"Accident?" I cut him off. "She looked anything but 'accidental' in that video."

"She just transferred here. She's still adjusting." Ethan insisted, stubbornly defending Sarah. "You don't know what she's dealing with."

"Why should I have to understand her?" I stood up. "Do you really think the whole world should revolve around your precious angel?"

"That's not what I meant," he said, frowning. "I just hope you could be a bit more forgiving."

"Forgiving?" I let out a cold laugh. "Where was her forgiveness when she was spreading rumors? Where was yours when you accused me?"