Chapter 1 · Finally Done Loving You

The school decided the new project leader based on the final amount of sponsorship raised.

I had worked tirelessly, running all over the city, bowing and scraping, pleading with countless people. I was just 3,000 bucks ahead of the second-place bidder and was about to secure the project.

But my wealthy boyfriend, behind my back, invested 170,000 into the second-place contestant.

He said, "The second-place person is a student from a poor background. She needs this project more than you do."

Well, if that was the case, then I didn't need either him or the project.

*****

When the project leader was announced, everyone looked at me with pity and sympathy.

Some of my friends even had banners ready, planning to congratulate me.

But in the end, they ended up popping the champagne way too early.

Evelyn Richardson, the poor student, stood up in shock, her face full of disbelief, like she never expected this big opportunity to land in her lap.

But soon, she was blinking back tears and said to me, "Caroline, you're not mad, right? I didn't mean to take it. I just wanted the project, but I didn't think Charles would actually give it to me. If you want it, I'll give it back to you."

I could see the challenge in her eyes, clear as day.

My best friend Sarah Barrett was livid on my behalf and cursed her out. "You're such a bitch. What are you so smug about? Charles is blind. He thinks you're poor and pitiful, so he handed you the project. It's just a project, we don't care about it."

She new how much this project meant to me. I had already applied to top universities abroad, acing everything. This project was the last piece of my resume puzzle, the key to securing a full scholarship.

But now, the project was gone. Still, I couldn't let my confidence slip.

Otherwise, I'd just be a joke as Charles' so-called "official girlfriend."

Evelyn, feeling wronged, tried to explain, "I wasn't trying to take it from her. If I really wanted to compete, I would've started asking for sponsors a month ago.

"I know I'm not as capable as Caroline, so from the beginning, I never thought about competing with her. It's just fate. I didn't fight for it, and yet, I got it."

Honestly, her words were just asking to get slapped.

Pretty much everyone here had fought for this project, but for one reason or another, none of them made it.

Now, out of nowhere, Evelyn came along, without a single plan, without asking anyone for help, and just with Charles' backing, she took the project that we had all worked so hard for.

Someone couldn't take it anymore and shot back at her, "Not fighting for it? What a perfect little saint. The real girlfriend didn't get a penny of sponsorship, but you just opened your mouth, and Charles handed you hundreds of thousands! Who knows what kind of deal you made."

Evelyn widened her eyes, looking as innocent as a deer caught in headlights. "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything."

I didn't have the patience to sit through her little act. Just as I turned to walk away, Evelyn grabbed my arm and shouted, "Don't go, explain yourself. Otherwise, they'll think something happened between me and Charles."

I was just too drained to care anymore, so I blurted out, "Even if you slept with him, that's got nothing to do with me."

The crowd gasped.

Sarah stepped forward and pushed Evelyn away. "Don't you dare touch her—"

But before Sarah even finished speaking, Evelyn suddenly fell to the ground.

Sarah stared at her in shock. "Are you seriously faking it right now?"

Evelyn started crying, her face drenched in tears, playing the role of the helpless heroine, as if we were the cruel villains bullying her.

At that moment, a tall figure rushed through the crowd. When he saw Evelyn on the floor, he pushed me hard, and if Sarah hadn't grabbed me in time, I would've slammed right into a table.

Evelyn saw Charles and immediately threw herself into his arms, crying, "I don't want this project anymore. I was just joking before. You should give the investment to Caroline instead. Otherwise, she's really going to hate me."

Charles glanced up and noticed me for the first time, realizing that I was the one he'd pushed.

His face showed instant regret, and he quickly stepped back from Evelyn and rushed over to me, his eyes filled with apology. "I was too hasty earlier. I didn't see you. Are you okay?"

Chapter 1

The school decided the new project leader based on the final amount of sponsorship raised.

I had worked tirelessly, running all over the city, bowing and scraping, pleading with countless people. I was just 3,000 bucks ahead of the second-place bidder and was about to secure the project.

But my wealthy boyfriend, behind my back, invested 170,000 into the second-place contestant.

He said, "The second-place person is a student from a poor background. She needs this project more than you do."

Well, if that was the case, then I didn't need either him or the project.

*****

When the project leader was announced, everyone looked at me with pity and sympathy.

Some of my friends even had banners ready, planning to congratulate me.

But in the end, they ended up popping the champagne way too early.

Evelyn Richardson, the poor student, stood up in shock, her face full of disbelief, like she never expected this big opportunity to land in her lap.

I could see the challenge in her eyes, clear as day.

But now, the project was gone. Still, I couldn't let my confidence slip.

Otherwise, I'd just be a joke as Charles' so-called "official girlfriend."

Evelyn, feeling wronged, tried to explain, "I wasn't trying to take it from her. If I really wanted to compete, I would've started asking for sponsors a month ago.

"I know I'm not as capable as Caroline, so from the beginning, I never thought about competing with her. It's just fate. I didn't fight for it, and yet, I got it."

Honestly, her words were just asking to get slapped.

Pretty much everyone here had fought for this project, but for one reason or another, none of them made it.

Now, out of nowhere, Evelyn came along, without a single plan, without asking anyone for help, and just with Charles' backing, she took the project that we had all worked so hard for.

Evelyn widened her eyes, looking as innocent as a deer caught in headlights. "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything."

I was just too drained to care anymore, so I blurted out, "Even if you slept with him, that's got nothing to do with me."

The crowd gasped.

Sarah stepped forward and pushed Evelyn away. "Don't you dare touch her—"

But before Sarah even finished speaking, Evelyn suddenly fell to the ground.

Sarah stared at her in shock. "Are you seriously faking it right now?"

Evelyn started crying, her face drenched in tears, playing the role of the helpless heroine, as if we were the cruel villains bullying her.

At that moment, a tall figure rushed through the crowd. When he saw Evelyn on the floor, he pushed me hard, and if Sarah hadn't grabbed me in time, I would've slammed right into a table.

Charles glanced up and noticed me for the first time, realizing that I was the one he'd pushed.

His face showed instant regret, and he quickly stepped back from Evelyn and rushed over to me, his eyes filled with apology. "I was too hasty earlier. I didn't see you. Are you okay?"