Chapter 3

The way he talked about investing in talented students was a pretty smooth way to save my dignity.

Maybe I was just flat-out broke, or maybe it was because William really wasn't like everyone else, so I stopped refusing his breakfast offer.

I knew college was my only shot at a better life, so I hit the books hard every single day.

William never came looking for me when I was studying. He'd just drop by at lunch, trading the meat from his tray for the pickled veggies my dad made.

I wasn't clueless. I could tell he was way too into me.

But our families were worlds apart. I never let myself even go there.

I was even ready to reject him on the spot if he ever confessed.

But he never said a word about it. He just kept being nice to me, quietly.

If I ever pointed it out, I'd just look like I was full of myself.

Then, the day before the SAT, my mom suddenly got seriously ill and had to be hospitalized. The huge cost of her surgery hit my dad hard.

Even though my dad told me he'd handle everything and wanted me to just focus on the exam, I was already planning to skip the test and start working to help pay for her surgery.

William somehow found out and rushed over that night. I'd never seen him so upset before.

He grabbed me by the shoulders, his voice shaking as he shouted.

He said, "Emily, you've worked so hard for so long. You're finally about to get into college. Are you really going to throw it all away?"

I broke down in tears, telling him I didn't want to give up, but what else could I do?

But when he heard I didn't want to give up, he calmed down right away and looked me straight in the eye, totally serious.

"You've got me, Emily. I'll lend you the money for your mom's surgery, but only if you promise to take the exam seriously and pay me back yourself," he said, his voice steady.

Right then, staring into his determined eyes, I felt my heart flutter. I could literally feel it.

I nodded, said "Okay," went home to rest, and gave it my all on the exam the next day.

During SAT, thanks to the money William gave me for my mom's surgery, she pulled through.

He was always there, encouraging me to become a better version of myself, telling me I deserved a great life.

But then, the same guy who once cared so much about me was the one putting me right in the line of fire, without a shred of mercy.

The gap between the past and now was just too much to take. I gave him a bitter smile and said, "Don't bother."

He'd already done all the messed-up things. What was the use of trying to fix it?

"William, I haven't forgotten a single way you helped me over the years," I said, my voice steady.

"After today, we're even. We owe each other nothing," I added.

I said calmly, "From then on, I hope we can just go our separate ways and never cross paths again."

Even though the way William was acting now made me feel sick, I couldn't deny that he'd truly been there for me in the past.

If it hadn't been for him, I probably wouldn't have even gone to college.

So, I wouldn't hold it against him for pushing me out to take the hit for Lily.

At that moment, all I wanted was to end things.

Maybe he could tell I was really serious about breaking up, because for once, William actually looked a little panicked.

He crouched down, grabbed my arm, and stared at me with those intense eyes of his.

"Emily, you know how much I care about you.

"I just asked you to step aside for Lily. Why are you making this into such a big deal? Do we really have to break up over this?

"I don't want to break up with you. We're supposed to get married, remember?"

I gave him a cold stare. "William, you're being so selfish. It's honestly disgusting.

"I told you, I'll back off, but only if we break up."

Taking the hit for Lily was just me paying William back for all he had done for me.

But breaking up was about taking control of my own future.

Even if William was good to me once, that was all in the past.

I was not going to keep putting up with him just because of what he did for me before.

William was clearly upset, his brows knitted as he asked, voice tight, "Why do you have to break up with me?

"Have I not treated you well all this time?"

His questions made my stomach churn. I couldn't hold it in anymore, and through gritted teeth, I snapped, "Because you make me sick.

"You got involved with Lily, and now you're just gross. Just seeing you makes me sick to my stomach."

Just thinking about his being all lovey-dovey with Lily and doing all that couple stuff, I was seriously grossed out. I couldn't even stand him being close to me.

William recoiled at the disgust in my eyes and shot to his feet.

"Emily, what gives you the right to call me disgusting?

"You wouldn't be living this well if it weren't for me."

I gave him a bitter, mocking look. "So, you finally said what you really thought.

"You openly took Lily to a hotel because you figured you'd done so much for me that I'd never leave you, even if I knew everything.

"William, that's exactly why you're so disgusting."

Back then, William always made sure not to hurt my pride and went out of his way to look out for me.

But at that moment, he was throwing all that old kindness in my face, acting like it meant I should love him enough to let him get away with anything.

After I got everything off my chest, I couldn't even look at him anymore.

"If you still want to protect your sweetheart, just agree to the breakup now. That way, at least things won't get too ugly," I said coldly.

William's face was thunderous as he stared me down. "Emily, don't even think about breaking up.

"Yeah, I admit I messed up and gave in to temptation, but it wasn't a big deal. I don't see why we have to break up over this."

That night, Lily was drugged and wouldn't let go of him. He lost control and screwed up.

The moment he came to his senses, he instantly regretted it and felt guilty towards me.

If the media hadn't exposed everything and made it go viral, he would've already gone back home.

He would've just treated me even better, acted like nothing ever happened, and our relationship would've gone on without a hitch.

After all these years, I never thought William would be so stubborn and hard to talk to.

I'm not the kind of person who causes drama. He said he wanted to protect Lily, and I was fine with it, as long as we broke up.

But no matter what I said, he just wouldn't agree.

He was ready to put me in the line of fire and let everyone else tear me apart, but at the same time, he refused to let me go.

Anger boiled up inside me, and I shot back.

I said, "If you don't agree to break up, I'll blast her on social media and call her out as the homewrecker."

William's eyes turned icy, and he looked downright fed up.

"The phone's right here. Go ahead, post whatever you want. But trust me, you won't survive the fallout," he said, his voice low and dripping with menace.

He slid the phone over so I could reach it, making sure I caught the threat in his tone.

Suddenly, I realized what he meant, and my face went pale.

"What if I really do it?" I asked, my voice shaky with fear.

William didn't even look at me, his eyes glinting with ice.

"If you refuse to step aside for Lily and keep insisting on breaking up, then your dad's treatment stops here," he said, his voice icy and threatening.