Chapter 3

"Hey, did you hear that Joan came back?" a guy in the row ahead of Nydia and me asked.

"Joan? Which Joan?" another guy asked.

"The one Lawrence's always liked. She studied abroad for two years, and now she's back. Lawrence confessed to her before she left, but she turned him down. As soon as she got back, she went straight to him."

"But doesn't Lawrence already have a girlfriend? That rich girl, Shirley—"

"They broke up. Lawrence dumped her. I heard Shirley even tried to win him back with a Ferrari, but it didn't work."

"Damn! Lawrence is tough."

It was an elective class. Their voices were loud enough for everyone to hear.

Nydia rolled her eyes and sneered, "Pathetic."

I forced a cold smile. "Pretty pathetic, yeah."

Right then, Lawrence walked into the classroom with a girl.

I'd seen her before—on Lawrence's phone wallpaper.

So this was Joan.

But back then, what did Lawrence tell me? He said it was just some random internet celebrity.

So while he was dating me, he was thinking about her.

I frowned, my stomach turning.

"Lawrence, over here," one of the guys in front called out.

Lawrence spotted me and hesitated, just for a second.

Then he smiled, grabbed Joan's hand, and sat down right in front of me.

"Disgusting," Nydia muttered, pulling at my arm to leave.

But I told her calmly, "We worked hard for these seats. I'm fine. Don't worry."

Only then did Nydia stay put.

But the guys in front started again.

"Lawrence, is this your new girlfriend? She's gorgeous," one of them said.

Joan ducked her head, blushing, but didn't deny it.

Lawrence looked back at me first, then said, "Joan hasn't agreed to be with me yet."

Joan immediately answered, "That's not it. You just haven't explained what happened these past two years."

Lawrence froze for a moment.

Joan continued, "When you confessed to me, I told you to wait two years. But you went and took another girl's pursuit instead. I haven't let that go. Since your friends are here, think carefully about how you're going to make it up to me."

Lawrence raised an eyebrow. "So what do you want me to do?"

Joan blinked at him playfully. "Who's prettier—your ex or me?"

"You, of course," Lawrence said without hesitation.

"I heard your ex is rich, with connections that could save you twenty years of struggle. Are you really giving that up?"

"Yes, I am."

"Did you throw out all the gifts she gave you?"

"I threw them all away."

Joan tossed out question after question, and Lawrence gave her the answers she wanted.

But every single one of them made my stomach churn.

Lawrence's friends, knowing full well I was sitting there, piled it on.

"That rich girl was awful, dramatic, and clueless. Besides her family's money, she had nothing. After she broke up with Lawrence, she even ruined our project base."

"Yeah, all our hard work is gone. Lawrence had to put up with her for two years. No wonder he was exhausted."

"Now that Joan is back, Lawrence is finally free."

Hearing that, Joan gasped in fake shock. "Was that girl really that horrible? She actually did something so nasty, huh?"

"Totally. We just pretend she doesn't exist when we see her," one of the guys said.

"Lawrence, if she comes bothering you again, just call us. We'll back you up," another promised.

Right then, I slammed my textbook down on the desk. The entire front row finally turned around to look at me.

The class bell rang, and the noisy classroom instantly went quiet.

The teacher strolled in.

I stood tall, looking down at the row of people in front of me.

Nydia's face was twisted with anger, carrying all of my fury along with it.