Chapter 1

I had my driver, Joanna, deliver a weekly living allowance to Sean Scott, the low-income student.

For the sake of my late mentor, Edwin Smith, I'd been funding him for three years.

One day, on a whim, I decided to tag along and see for myself.

When I opened the car door, I saw a piece of paper taped to the back seat: [No Unauthorized or Strays Allowed.]

Sean's roommate, Luke Ford, was sitting in the passenger seat. He shot me a scornful look. "What are you staring at? Yeah, you. Always hitching rides from Sean, and now you even want a ride to school?

"Just some poor country bumpkin, so shameless and clinging. You're a total embarrassment to your family."

I looked at Sean, but he looked down and quietly told Joanna, "Take Luke back first, and then come back for her later."

With that, he closed the door of my Rolls-Royce and left.

I stood there and quietly called the principal of Sean's college. "Mr. Ward, did your school really take care when selecting this year's quota for low-income student grants, or was it just done carelessly?"

*****

Luke snapped, "What are you staring at? Yeah, you. Always hitching rides from Sean, and now you even want a ride to school?"

When I opened the Rolls-Royce's door, I saw a piece of paper taped to the back seat: "[No Unauthorized or Strays Allowed.]

Sean's roommate, Luke Ford, was sitting in the passenger seat. He turned to snort. "Just some poor country bumpkin, so shameless and clinging. You're a total embarrassment to your family."

My hand, holding the thermos, froze in midair.

Joanna, sitting in the driver's seat, whipped her head around.

Just as she was about to say something, Sean reached out from the back seat and held her seat back down hard.

"Joanna, you're just a driver," Sean said, his voice low but full of warning. "Stick to your job, or you'll be fired tomorrow."

Joanna's chest heaved sharply as she turned to look at me.

I ignored Luke's taunts, my gaze drifting past the leather seat and locking right onto Sean.

He was dressed in the custom suit I'd spent 20,000 dollars on, and wore the designer watch I'd given him for his 18th birthday. But right now, he deliberately avoided my gaze, turning his head toward the window.

"Sean, why is your poor relative still sticking around?" Luke tapped impatiently on the car window. "Honestly, you should directly kick this kind of leech out."

Sean finally turned his head.

He didn't look at me, but at Joanna. "Take me and Luke back to school first, and then come back for... her."

He paused for a few seconds, not even calling me by my name.

"Sean," I said, my voice hoarse. "I spent four hours making this soup for you."

I offered the thermos to him.

Edwin was always most concerned about this talented student.

I promised Edwin I'd protect him and make sure he'd never lack for anything.

Sean frowned impatiently and shoved it away. "Take it away. I don't eat this cheap junk."

The stainless steel thermos slammed against the car door. Scalding soup splashed out, drenching the back of my right hand.

My skin instantly flared an angry red, the burn searing right through me.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Sean froze, panic flickering in his eyes for a moment.

Luke snickered from the side. "Wow, pulling the pity act already? Trying to get some sympathy?

"What, hoping to scam Sean out of some medical money?"

Sean sat up straight and opened the door at once. "Don't embarrass me at the school gate."

With a loud bang, the heavy Rolls-Royce door slammed shut right in my face.

The tires screeched against the pavement, kicking up a cloud of dust. Exhaust fumes sprayed all over me.

All the students passing by stopped and stared, pointing and gossiping nonstop.

"Look at that. Another one trying to hook up with wealthy guys."

"She's got the looks, but she just has to play the victim with some trust fund kid."

"Totally deserved to get kicked out. No shame at all."

I stood there, staring down at the blisters swelling up fast on the back of my hand.

My phone buzzed. I tapped open the social media.

Sean had just posted a minute ago. The photo was of the Rolls-Royce's star-lit ceiling.

The caption: [Another day getting chauffeured in a luxury ride. Some broke relatives just love to make drama.]

Luke instantly liked and commented: [Poor people are like clingy gum you can't get rid of.]

I stared at that comment for a few seconds.

When Edwin was dying, his frail hand gripped mine tightly. "Susan, Sean is a good kid. He's just poor. Help him out, will you?"

I remembered that for three years, and I indulged Sean for three years.

To spare his fragile pride, I hid my dozen-billion-dollar fortune. I pretended to be a driver's relative, tiptoeing around to protect his dignity. And all I got in return was being called clingy gum.

I pulled out a tissue and carefully dabbed the soup off the back of my hand.

Then I took out my phone and called Cheney Ward, the principal of Riverdale University.

"Ms. Miles? What a surprise to hear from you," Cheney's voice was full of flattery.

"Mr. Ward," I said, my tone flat. "Did your school really take care when selecting this year's quota for low-income student grants, or was it just done carelessly?"

There was a sudden silence on the other end.

After a few seconds, Cheney stammered, "M-Ms. Miles, what do you mean? Are you saying someone faked their status?"

"He drives a luxury car and wears a designer watch and a custom suit," I said, watching the soup dry on the pavement. "Is that what passes for a low-income student at your school?"

"I'll investigate immediately." Cheney's voice shot up at once. "If this is true, I won't tolerate it."

After I hung up, a new message from Sean popped up on my phone. [Don't show up at school for me again. You're embarrassing me.]

I typed back: [Alright. As you wish.]