Chapter 2 · The Girl Who Stopped Paying

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"Seriously? No matter how fancy that truffle is, Ginny can't possibly ask for that much. How does she even dare to say that?"

"I bet she totally lost her mind after getting turned down. Does she even know what 900 thousand dollars means?"

"Poor Joseph. Getting stuck with someone like her is just annoying."

I didn't bother explaining. I ignored the mocking and pulled out my phone, taking screenshots of everything I'd spent on Joseph over the past two years.

I wanted him to pay me back every dollar he owed.

Once I had everything organized, I shoved my phone right in Joseph's face.

I said, "Take a good look and think about it. What school aid gives you a card with a 6-thousand-dollar monthly limit? And why would top tutors pick someone so average and teach for free?"

Before I could finish, Joseph's face suddenly twisted in pain, and he fell straight toward me.

I quickly moved out of the way, but Chloe came charging over and shoved me hard.

I lost my balance and hit the floor, while Chloe and the others caught Joseph as he fainted.

Chloe, her voice shaking with tears, pointed at me and yelled, "Ginny, what did you do to Joseph? If anything happens to him, I'll make you pay."

With that, they hauled Joseph off to the hospital.

Completely baffled, I stood up, planning to go home and deal with Kelly's theft first, only to be surrounded by several of Chloe's dormmates.

One of them said, "Do you think you can just walk away after hurting someone? You're coming with us to the hospital. Since you're the one responsible for this mess, you'd better pay for Joseph's treatment."

They dragged me toward the hospital.

I kept messaging Cohen, informing him about Kelly's thefts, instructing him to investigate immediately and report it to the police.

Just as I sent the message, one of the girls, a tall and chubby one named Monica, snatched my phone right out of my hand.

She said, "Are you trying to call for backup? Not a chance. You're paying for what you've done."

I saw her pocket my phone and knew deep down my chance of getting it back was zero.

Knowing I had no chance, I reluctantly followed them to the hospital.

By the time we arrived, Joseph was already awake. He looked pale, biting his lips, silent, with sweat on his forehead, obviously hurting a lot.

Chloe was crying out of worry for him.

As soon as Chloe saw me, she stormed over and raised her hand in anger, aiming a slap at my face.

"What did you do to Joseph? Tell me. He just doesn't like you. What's your problem? Why would you hurt him?" she said.

I freaked out and tried to duck away, but the crowd behind me wouldn't let me.

Her slap was almost there when the doctor finally said something. "Joseph is suffering from acute gastroenteritis caused by something he ate. It's serious, and he needs to go to a bigger hospital right away."

"Something he ate?" Chloe muttered, frowning as she tried to figure it out. Then she turned to me. "What did you give Joseph?"

Seeing her clueless expression, I rolled my eyes and kindly reminded her, "Wasn't it that expired cake you insisted he eat? What does that have to do with me?"

Chloe's face went ghostly pale in an instant.

Come on. Did she really not know cakes expire?

The next second, Chloe rushed over to Joseph, sobbing her heart out.

She said, "I'm so sorry, Joseph. My mom brought it all the way from abroad. I thought it was good, so I left you a piece. I didn't notice it had gone bad."

Joseph, wincing from the pain, reached out and gently rubbed her head. "It's okay, Chloe. This isn't your fault.

"It's all Ginny's fault. Her face said it all. She knew the cake was bad, but she didn't stop me from eating it. She meant to harm me, and you were just too naive. That's why you fell for her trap."

As soon as Joseph finished, everyone glared at me, acting like I was the evil one he had warned them about.

Chloe jabbed a finger at me. "You're coming with us to the hospital, right now. You're paying for Joseph's treatment and all the mental damage you caused."

Chapter 2

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"Seriously? No matter how fancy that truffle is, Ginny can't possibly ask for that much. How does she even dare to say that?"

"I bet she totally lost her mind after getting turned down. Does she even know what 900 thousand dollars means?"

"Poor Joseph. Getting stuck with someone like her is just annoying."

I didn't bother explaining. I ignored the mocking and pulled out my phone, taking screenshots of everything I'd spent on Joseph over the past two years.

I wanted him to pay me back every dollar he owed.

Once I had everything organized, I shoved my phone right in Joseph's face.

I said, "Take a good look and think about it. What school aid gives you a card with a 6-thousand-dollar monthly limit? And why would top tutors pick someone so average and teach for free?"

Before I could finish, Joseph's face suddenly twisted in pain, and he fell straight toward me.

I quickly moved out of the way, but Chloe came charging over and shoved me hard.

I lost my balance and hit the floor, while Chloe and the others caught Joseph as he fainted.

Chloe, her voice shaking with tears, pointed at me and yelled, "Ginny, what did you do to Joseph? If anything happens to him, I'll make you pay."

With that, they hauled Joseph off to the hospital.

Completely baffled, I stood up, planning to go home and deal with Kelly's theft first, only to be surrounded by several of Chloe's dormmates.

They dragged me toward the hospital.

I kept messaging Cohen, informing him about Kelly's thefts, instructing him to investigate immediately and report it to the police.

Just as I sent the message, one of the girls, a tall and chubby one named Monica, snatched my phone right out of my hand.

She said, "Are you trying to call for backup? Not a chance. You're paying for what you've done."

I saw her pocket my phone and knew deep down my chance of getting it back was zero.

Knowing I had no chance, I reluctantly followed them to the hospital.

By the time we arrived, Joseph was already awake. He looked pale, biting his lips, silent, with sweat on his forehead, obviously hurting a lot.

Chloe was crying out of worry for him.

As soon as Chloe saw me, she stormed over and raised her hand in anger, aiming a slap at my face.

"What did you do to Joseph? Tell me. He just doesn't like you. What's your problem? Why would you hurt him?" she said.

I freaked out and tried to duck away, but the crowd behind me wouldn't let me.

"Something he ate?" Chloe muttered, frowning as she tried to figure it out. Then she turned to me. "What did you give Joseph?"

Seeing her clueless expression, I rolled my eyes and kindly reminded her, "Wasn't it that expired cake you insisted he eat? What does that have to do with me?"

Chloe's face went ghostly pale in an instant.

Come on. Did she really not know cakes expire?

The next second, Chloe rushed over to Joseph, sobbing her heart out.

She said, "I'm so sorry, Joseph. My mom brought it all the way from abroad. I thought it was good, so I left you a piece. I didn't notice it had gone bad."

Joseph, wincing from the pain, reached out and gently rubbed her head. "It's okay, Chloe. This isn't your fault.

"It's all Ginny's fault. Her face said it all. She knew the cake was bad, but she didn't stop me from eating it. She meant to harm me, and you were just too naive. That's why you fell for her trap."

As soon as Joseph finished, everyone glared at me, acting like I was the evil one he had warned them about.

Chloe jabbed a finger at me. "You're coming with us to the hospital, right now. You're paying for Joseph's treatment and all the mental damage you caused."