Chapter 2

The students around us looked at me wide-eyed, still trying to wrap their heads around what I'd just said.

Estelle jumped in, trying to cover herself, stammering, "I-I just wanted to do something nice. That old lady is really struggling."

I let out a cold laugh. "Oh please, is that old lady really worse off than you? Your dad's a convict, your mom's a streetwalker, and your brothers just waste their days skirting the law, waiting for you to show up at my house every month, begging for some living expenses to keep them afloat.

"At least the old lady works and gets government support. You can't even cover your own food or tuition without my family's help, and now you're trying to act all generous and noble? Stop pretending. You're just a charity case."

Estelle's whole body trembled.

The students started gossiping among themselves.

"What? Estelle's family is really that complicated?"

"Seriously? She always looks and lives like a rich girl. I can't believe it."

"So Beatrice is the actual heiress, and Estelle's just a charity case getting support from Beatrice's family?"

"Damn! I totally thought she was a kind, beautiful heiress. Was she just faking it this whole time? She really played the part well."

Estelle watched helplessly as her carefully crafted rich girl persona crumbled right before everyone's eyes.

She didn't bother hiding her anger anymore and threatened me, "Beatrice, are you really going to push things this far?"

Far? I didn't think so. I'd intended to go even further.

Deon Gibson cut through the crowd and stood between me and Estelle, blocking her from view.

"Beatrice, you're too much," he shot back, glaring at me like I was the villain here. "Come on, it's only 3 thousand dollars. Why are you giving Estelle such a hard time over it?"

Estelle's eyes filled with tears as she clung to Deon's sleeve, looking up at him pitifully. "Deon, I-I..."

Deon gently patted her shoulder, trying to comfort her. "Don't be scared."

Then he shot me a vicious glare. "Estelle wanted you to donate, and you wouldn't. Fine. But you had to go and mock her too? Do you have any decency at all?"

Decency? Being too nice was exactly what got me killed in my last life. Estelle was a total predator.

I snorted. "If you're so decent, then put your money where your mouth is. You donate 3 thousand dollars, and I'll throw in 6 thousand. If you give 15 thousand, I'll drop 30 thousand.

"Let's see who's really decent. You don't want to spend a single cent yourself, but you want to use other people's cash to make yourself look good? Isn't that just classic moral blackmail?"

Both Estelle and Deon were left speechless by my words.

The room buzzed with skeptical whispers as everyone started questioning what was really going on.

Just then, the waiter dropped the bill right in front of Estelle for everyone to see.

"Alright, that'll be 6 thousand dollars. Card or cash?" the waiter asked.

Estelle bit down hard on her lip, and Deon's face went stiff for a second.

I raised my voice so everyone could hear. "Come on, time to pay up! Didn't you just say you'd cover everyone's bill?

"What, you don't even have enough to pay? And you still want to act all generous and kind? Seriously, how can you be so shameless?"

Deon was still making excuses for Estelle. "She just forgot to bring any money."

I scoffed. "So she invites everyone out to eat and forgets to bring cash? Wow. That's interesting."

Estelle tugged at Deon's sleeve, her voice trembling. "Deon, I-I..."

It was obvious she was looking to Deon for help.

Deon wanted to help her, but he didn't have the means.

6 thousand dollars wasn't pocket change. No one could simply whip out that kind of cash.

Besides, Deon had probably racked up a ton of online loans just trying to impress Estelle. He was already drowning in debt, and he still wanted to play the hero? What an idiot!

Deon pressed his lips together, looking like he was about to choke on his pride. He turned to me. "Just pay the 6 thousand dollars for now. I'll pay you back later."

He looked like he'd rather eat glass than admit he needed my help. It was like he was the one doing me a favor, not the other way around.

I shot back, not even blinking, "No way."

He froze, jaw clenched. "Beatrice, don't go overboard."

I nearly burst out laughing. "Me? You really think a girl who couldn't even hurt a fly could push around a guy nearly 6 feet tall?"

Estelle pressed her lips together, her gaze turning sharp and threatening. "Beatrice, if your parents hear about this, you know they'll be devastated.

"And your brother is always telling you to take care of me, isn't he? Are you really going to let them down?"