Chapter 2

When Derek tried to reach me from a different number, I just took the battery out of my phone.

After the holidays, we seniors had to head back to school.

Derek shamelessly confronted me right at the school gate and demanded, "Why are you ignoring me?"

I didn't want everyone at the gate laughing at me, so I walked off as fast as I could.

My ignoring him really pissed him off.

He grabbed my wrist, and I stumbled, dropping all my books on the ground. People around us started staring.

I didn't want to get mad or make a scene, but he just pushed me over the edge.

Without thinking, I swung my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The slap echoed through the air, and my hand stung a little.

Joyce rushed over with that fake-sweet voice, shrilling, "Why did you hit him? Are you crazy?"

I couldn't care less about them. I just squatted down and started picking my books up from the ground, one by one.

Derek took a deep breath, trying to act all magnanimous. "I won't hold this slap against you. Just tell me, are we really over?"

Shameless people truly were unreasonable.

Back when all the rumors exploded, he vanished without a trace. He didn't even have the decency to say a single comforting word. It was as if he were terrified I'd tarnish his precious reputation.

But after everything calmed down, he dared to shamelessly crawl back like nothing happened.

I felt sorry for my past blindness.

"Quit the melodrama. Don't act like a tragic male lead. Get lost!" I snapped.

After that outburst, I scooped up my books and got ready to walk away.

Just as I was about to walk off, Joyce yelled out behind me, "I know you hate me! I never should've recorded that thing with you and your adoptive dad. It was all my fault. But Derek is genuinely into you, so how can you do this to him?"

Her words hit me like a sucker punch, slicing right into my chest.

Everyone around whipped their heads to stare.

Every gaze landed on me, full of shock and judgment.

My last shred of self-control snapped. I just launched my book right at her.

Derek shielded Joyce, taking the brunt of the book, while Joyce, peeking out from behind him, flashed me that cocky, winner's stare.

It was as if she was screaming, "See? You're nothing but a loser."

I was so pissed off that I just lost it and lunged at her like a total lunatic.

Suddenly, a tall figure blocked my way, and I slammed right into his chest. My nose smarted, and for a second, I almost started crying.

"Don't let yourself fall apart, even when things get tough," he said.

His voice was gentle, like a fresh breeze drifting through, softly brushing past my ears.

I took a deep breath and slowly calmed down, looking up at him. He exuded a calm, sophisticated warmth, his handsome face carrying an air of maturity. He was a stranger, but he made me feel inexplicably safe.

"Isn't that Gideon Bolton, our new school doctor? He's so hot!" one girl whispered.

"He's not just hot. I heard his family's loaded. He's only working here as a stepping stone before he moves on to a big hospital," another girl added.

The three girls nearby were whispering, totally smitten as they stared at Gideon.

Seeing me fighting back tears, Gideon slipped off his thin jacket and gently pulled it over my head.

Wrapped up in that small cocoon, I finally felt safe. I took a deep breath, pushing myself to calm down as fast as I could.

"You two don't even go to this school. Leave now, and don't cause any more trouble," Gideon warned sternly.

Maybe because Gideon only looked a few years older than us, Derek just sneered, not bothered at all. "This is between me and her. None of your business," he shot back.

Gideon glanced at Derek, his expression calm. "I've already called your principal. If you're still here in five minutes, he'll come and escort you out himself."

With the SAT exams just around the corner, no senior wanted to risk getting into trouble right now.

Derek clenched his jaw, shooting me a resentful glare before storming off.

By now, I'd pulled myself together. I took off the jacket and yelled for everyone to hear.

"Joyce, you deliberately recorded the video of me and my father to smear me and drive me out of school. You can go back to Derek if you want, but I'm warning you. Watch your back. Retribution will come!"

Joyce obviously never thought I'd call her out head-on. Her face went red, and after a long struggle, she finally managed to choke out, "Your adoptive dad killed himself just to cover up your dirty secret..."

I didn't let her finish. "Go ahead, I'll get tested at the hospital if I have to. Are you brave enough to admit you're the one making up lies? Slander like that gets you three to seven years behind bars. You won't be able to weasel out of this!"

Joyce's face turned pale. She stammered for ages, but couldn't get a single word out.

Derek, being protective of Joyce, shot me a glare. "Enough! Are you trying to make Joyce jump off the building again? Can't you be kind for once?"

Kind? He wanted me to be kind? How blind-hearted I had been, thinking Derek was someone with depth and ambition.

I wished I could go back in time and slap some sense into my old self.

I didn't give Derek a second glance. I didn't even pick up my books on the ground and walked away.

Derek had always been full of himself, and my ignoring him got under his skin way more than any slap ever could.

Seeing me freeze him out, Derek stormed over in fury.

Gideon stepped smoothly in front of me, cutting him off. The ever-gentle guy just let out one word, cold as ice, "Get lost!"

What a beautiful command. I loved hearing it.

Derek, refusing to give up, called out after me, "I'll wait for you at our old spot tonight. Don't leave me hanging."

I didn't even bother to look back. I just kept walking.

*****

After all that drama, I became even more well-known at this lousy school.

People were already dying to know why I'd ditched an elite high school for this dump. After this morning's chaos, the rumor mill went into overdrive.

I never joined their gossip or cared what they said behind my back.

My time was packed, and I only focused on the exams.

I was dead set on getting into a good university. This was my adoptive dad's wish, and my first move in getting revenge.