Chapter 2
Just as I was about to crash into bed, my bestie sent me a link on WhatsApp.
[Isn't that you in this post? Holy crap, these book-smart idiots are so nasty!]
I clicked the link. It was Westbridge University's anonymous forum.
Right at the top, a pinned, featured post caught my eye.
[Are boy-crazy girls invading the lab now? Exposing a gold-digger who treats our research sanctuary like her personal runway]
The post had a photo of me standing outside the lab earlier that afternoon.
Even though my face was blurred, anyone who knew me could tell it was me.
The OP went all out, picking apart my outfit, my posture, and even my gaze, all in a snarky, self-satisfied tone.
[Check out her stance, weight on one leg, hips tilted forward. Total thirst trap vibes, always angling for a guy's gaze.]
[And that bag, gotta flash the logo, like she's dying for everyone to know she's rich. Probably fake or a sugar daddy paid for it.]
[Word is, she totally lost it after getting called out in front of everyone. What a joke! Do these gold-diggers really have such a short fuse these days?]
The comments were even more brutal.
[She broke down hard! You can tell she's the kind who needs a guy just to feel alive. Classic leech behavior.]
[So gross. She's contaminating the academic vibe. Security should really crack down and keep outsiders out.]
[Heard she's the girlfriend of Andrew, our School of Life Sciences star. Did he get hexed?]
Among them, one ID was especially active: "Awakened Independent Queen".
She liked every comment trashing me and kept chiming in with her own "facts."
[I was right there! She was on the phone flexing to her sugar daddy about some 100 million dollars. Cracked me up so bad I almost dropped my test tube.]
It was obvious who it was.
My grip on my phone tightened.
Andrew, my boyfriend, practically lived on that forum. No way he missed this.
I clicked into Andrew's profile.
He'd just posted something five minutes ago.
Not a clarification, not a defense.
Instead, it was a photo of the lab late at night, with a caption:
[True beauty lies in seeking truth amid tedious data. Salute to every female researcher on the frontlines. You look most beautiful with your natural look. @Claire]
The photo showed Claire asleep at the desk, her profile visible as she dozed off.
Claire replied right away: [Oh no, Andrew, you snapped a pic of me while I was sleeping? I look terrible. Delete it!]
[But hey, as long as I can help you out, it's worth it, even if I look a mess. Not like some people who only know how to stir up trouble.]
Andrew replied with a head-pat emoji.
My heart went cold.
So in his eyes, my patience and dignity were just me stirring up trouble.
But when people talked trash about me and spread lies, that was what he called being "real."
If he was so into "truth," then I would show him what real truth looked like in the world of money.
The following day was the milestone presentation for Andrew's project, which would be held at the Hilton Grand Ballroom under my name.
This presentation would directly determine whether they could secure the next round of multi‑million‑dollar funding.
Usually, I'd show up as his girlfriend, keep things low-key, and help him score some points with the big shots.
But since they thought I was just eye candy, there was no way I was giving them what they wanted.
Honestly, being the giant hammer that smashes their rice bowls sounds way more fun.
As soon as I walked into the hotel lobby, I spotted Andrew and his crew.
Claire was right by his side, dressed in formal attire, but her skirt was so short it barely covered anything. A bend over would make quite a show for the whole lobby.
She was fixing Andrew's tie for him, all touchy-feely and close, acting like they were practically glued together.
The two of them were laughing and chatting, like they were starring in some rom-com, all smiles and chemistry.
As soon as Andrew saw me walk in, his smile disappeared in a flash.
He marched right over and started tearing into me without missing a beat.
"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to stir things up? Today's huge. All the big shots from academia and the investors are here. Don't throw your diva tantrum in front of everyone," Andrew said.
Claire followed, hiding a smirk behind her hand, dripping with sarcasm.
"Andrew, check out Sophia's getup. She looks like she's here to close a business deal. But this kind of high-end event isn't something you can crash just by dressing like some insurance agent," Claire scoffed.
"Hey Sophia, if you're really dying to get a taste of the big leagues, I could maybe ask if they'll squeeze you in, but you'd have to sit way in the back," Claire added, her tone full of fake concern.
The other grad students nearby were trying not to crack up.
I stared at Andrew, expressionless.