Chapter 3

Zoe was rattled by that post.

After getting dumped by that trust fund kid, she started to appreciate how good Russell really was.

Unwilling to accept it, she marched straight to the boys' dorm to confront Russell.

But right before her eyes, she saw Russell climb into a sleek black Maybach.

Zoe was left completely dumbfounded.

She rushed back to the dorm with the secretly snapped photos, slamming her phone down in front of me.

She snapped, "Amanda, you idiot. You've been played.

"I always knew something was off. No broke guy looks so high-class. Russell's just some kept boy, living off someone else's money."

She got more and more worked up, like she'd just uncovered the biggest scandal ever.

I looked at the photo and couldn't help but smirk to myself.

I knew that this was as far as her imagination could go.

The whole trust fund kid slumming it storyline was way out of her mind.

I shoved her phone aside. "Russell's not that kind of guy."

Zoe let out a mocking laugh and put her phone away.

Zoe said, "Why don't we just ask him tomorrow and see for ourselves?

"Amanda, just wait. You're gonna be bawling your eyes out."

Of course, I wasn't about to ask.

But if Zoe actually went up to Russell and confronted him, with his temper, he'd snap and spill everything on the spot.

After that, I would not be able to get close to him again.

I looked at Zoe and snorted coldly.

I said, "Zoe, after the rich guy dumped you, and now life's too hard, you're crawling back to Russell?

"Is that why you cooked up this whole act, trying to stir things up between us so you can make your move?"

Zoe's face turned beet red.

"What are you even talking about? As if I'd ever be interested in some broke loser like him," she shot back.

The more riled up she got, the more I was sure I'd nailed it.

I pressed, "If you don't even like him, why are you so obsessed with whether he has a sugar daddy?

"Or is it just that you can't stand seeing me do well?"

Zoe shot me a nasty glare, but in the end, she didn't go after Russell.

Russell's birthday came up before I knew it.

I drained my savings and maxed out my credit card, scraping together ten grand, then marched straight to that fancy watch store I'd been eyeing for ages.

If I wanted to catch a big fish, I had to use big bait.

On Russell's birthday, Zoe announced she was dating another rich kid, George Wilkinson.

"I'm not like some people, who'd even go for a sugar baby," she sneered.

I ignored her and headed downstairs with my plastic bag.

Russell was waiting for me under an old tree.

Zoe said, lifting her chin with an air of superiority, "Russell, waiting for Amanda, huh? You two are perfect for each other. You two smell like poverty all around."

George wrapped his arm around her waist and gave Russell a disdainful look.

"Hey, kid, I heard you used to pursue Zoe. From now on, stay away from her. If you are poor, act like one," he sneered.

Russell just smiled. "Wishing you two a lifetime of happiness together."

Zoe didn't expect him to be so unfazed. She paused for a moment, then snorted dismissively and climbed into her Porsche.

Russell stayed put, and I walked over, standing silently behind him.

He turned around, his gaze falling on the black plastic bag I was holding.

"Am I embarrassing you?" he asked.

I didn't say a word. With a magician's flourish, I pulled a small box out from behind my back.

I opened it up and placed a candle on it.

The wind was a bit strong, so I shielded the flame with my hand.

The orange glow lit up my face as I looked up and managed a smile.

I said, "Russell, happy birthday."

Russell's gaze shifted from the cake to the band-aid on my hand.

He stared at me, and the usual teasing, cold look in his eyes slowly faded away.

I sniffled and held the cake out to him. "Make a wish!"

The wind blew out the candle.

For the first time, I caught a hint of guilt in the eyes of this trust fund kid.

Even if it was just for a split second, that was enough for me.

I handed him the fancy watch I'd blown all my savings on.

He opened the box, arched his brow, looking a bit surprised, but didn't say much.

All those sweet lines I'd rehearsed in my head were totally useless now.

Russell followed me back to my rented place.

I went into the kitchen to wash my hands, carefully doing the math on what I'd just spent.

Thirty grand for the price of admission was a good investment.

Russell walked into the kitchen, wrapped his arms around me from behind, and buried his face in the crook of my neck.

I turned and kissed him, melting into his arms.

He kissed me deeply, then suddenly pulled away. "Hold on a sec."

I watched him head into the bathroom, his chiseled silhouette visible through the frosted glass door.

Suddenly, his phone lit up on the nightstand. A bank alert flashed across the screen.

[Your savings account just got a deposit of 3 million dollars. You currently have 4 million dollars.]

My heart was pounding out of my chest.

Almost without thinking, my hand reached out.

Thanks to all those times I'd sneakily peeked at his password, I managed to unlock Russell's phone with shaking hands.

I instantly tapped into his bank app.

When those insane numbers stared back at me, I nearly burst out laughing.

Pure, unfiltered joy hit me like a tidal wave.

I'd won. My gamble had finally paid off.

From today on, my life was never going to be the same.

I was set for life and then some.

But greed never had an end.

I wasn't content with just knowing about his money. I wanted a taste of his world.

The social circle of the richest man in Malyr was the place I'd been dying to get into.

This was my golden ticket to mingling with the high society from here on out.