Chapter 1

Katelyn Perkins, the most popular girl on campus, enjoyed playing hunting games.

She declared that whoever could win my affections would be her boyfriend.

Seeing how poor and timid I was, Katelyn's devoted followers eagerly closed in.

First up was Francis Russell, a wealthy heir, who believed money could win my affections.

Next was Julius Alvarez, hailing from an academic elite family, who intended to wow me with philosophy and make me swoon over his intellect.

Then there was Nelson Hernandez, the platinum-blond bad boy, who set out to make me head over heels for him in a week.

The campus served as their hunting ground.

And students like me, from humble backgrounds, were prey for their amusement.

But they didn't know.

The most skilled hunters often appear in the guise of prey.

*****

I lost my parents when I was a kid and depended entirely on my disabled grandmother. We relied on each other for everything.

But even so, I managed to score the highest marks in the entire county on the college entrance exam and got into a university in Rithol City.

But with my grandma's health getting worse, I had to put off starting school for a week so I could take care of her.

That was the first time I had ever left my county town.

Rithol City was so much more dazzling and vibrant than anything I had ever seen online. The whole place buzzed with an unfamiliar energy that made me feel like I had stepped into another world.

I dragged my suitcase along, heading to the college building to handle my registration.

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

A bunch of students full of swagger and energy came pouring out of the classrooms, but the one who really caught everyone's eye was a girl so stunning she looked almost unreal.

Her shoulders were loose and relaxed as she lazily played with her long hair, moving with effortless grace.

Trailing behind her were three guys, each with their own vibe.

Without thinking, I sidestepped and backed away, letting her and her crew go first.

But the girl noticed me.

She looked me up and down, her gaze finally settling on my beat-up canvas shoes.

I kept edging backward, wishing I could melt into the wall and disappear.

"Well, well, looks like we've got ourselves a fresh face," she said.

She gave the three guys behind her a knowing look, her voice full of anticipation.

The tallest guy, sporting a silver necklace, asked, "You must be Estelle, right? You're the only one who hasn't signed in yet."

I glanced at him, then quickly looked away, keeping my head down.

The guy with gold-rimmed glasses and a gentle vibe stepped up to introduce everyone. "That's Francis, I'm Julius, and the blond one is Nelson."

"And this," Julius said, nodding toward the girl, "is our high school classmate, Katelyn Perkins."

So they all came up together from high school. No wonder they were so close.

"We're all in business school. Let me show you where to register," Julius said.

Before we left, Nelson leaned in and whispered something to Katelyn, and the two of them burst out laughing, sharing a secret joke.

After we finished up with the registration, Julius walked me over to my dorm, and we exchanged WhatsApp contacts.

He was the class rep, so it was normal for him to connect with classmates.

Standing outside the door, I could hear muffled sobs coming from inside.

After a moment's hesitation, I pushed the door open.

It was a double dorm room, and a long-haired girl was sitting on the bed, clutching her stomach, her eyes swollen and red from crying.

As soon as I opened the door, she immediately turned away so I couldn't see her face.

Her bags were already packed, sitting on the desk.

I was about to ask if she needed help. But before I could even get the words out, she struggled to her feet, grabbed her bag, and hurried out.

I rushed to the doorway, watching her figure disappear down the hall.

Whispers drifted down the hallway.

Someone said, "She didn't even last a week before hooking up with Francis."

Another echoed, "Thought she was gonna land herself a rich guy, but then her scandalous videos blew up online and she got kicked out. Karma's a bitch."