Maybe it was the relief of finishing the college entrance exams, but that night, I came down with a high fever. It wasn't until the night before I was supposed to pick up my acceptance letter that I finally started feeling better.

The moment the exam results were released online, I checked my score. Out of a total of 750 points, I scored 713.5. That was over 30 points above the cutoff for St. Nicholas University.

I was very satisfied with the result. After nights of being plagued by nightmares, I finally had a good dream.

The next morning, I got up early to get ready to go to school.

Lyla had gone abroad with her parents for a trip right after the exams, so it had been over ten days since we last saw each other. We met up at the school gate.

Lyla had cut her long hair short and dyed it chestnut brown. Since we had already graduated, she was dressed more casually. She looked like a b

Six months ago, a girl at Silverwood High School was viciously slandered after she turned down a boy's confession. 

The boy spread malicious rumors about her, and soon, she was the target of everyone's gossip and judgment. In the end, she was driven to suicide. 

The incident was fresh in everyone's minds, yet many had already chosen to forget it.

Lyla glared at Leah. "And how is that any of your business? You're always poking your nose into everything."

Leah was taken aback by Lyla's hostility and quickly put on a pitiful expression. "I didn't mean anything by it. Why are you so mean to me?"

Her indignant tone made me laugh. "Because you're spreading baseless rumors," I said as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Do you realize that making up lies about someone is grounds for a defamation lawsuit?"

Leah's hands clenched at her sides as she stared at me. I didn't pay her

I had just finished counting my savings and sorting through some luxury items I didn't need when the maid called me down for dinner. I responded and set my things aside, then got up to leave my room.

I thought that after spending so much time upstairs, Liam would have already left. But when I walked into the dining room, there he was, sitting like a lord at the head of the table, with Jack seated beside him.

I couldn't help but find it amusing. Normally, Jack would go on and on about respecting the elderly when he was around me and Elene.

As soon as he saw me, Jack called out eagerly. "Evelyn, come over here! Have a chat with Mr. Tyler. I'm getting old, and I know you young people aren't interested in what I have to say."

I leaned against the banister, holding up my phone, and silently mouthed a number to Jack. The next second, I heard the notification sound of a transfer hitting my account.

I walked toward them slowly, checking my phone to see the amount—five thousand dollars. I couldn't help but smirk and stop in my tracks. 

"Mr. Wiley, your bribe is a bit stingy, don't you think? Or perhaps..." I glanced deliberately at Liam as I spoke.

Liam was sharp. He met my gaze and seemed to immediately understand the silent exchange between Jack and me.

He chuckled and adjusted his posture to lean back more comfortably in his chair. "Mr. Wiley, have you been skimping on Evelyn's allowance?"

Jack quickly denied it and laughed nervously. "Mr. Tyler, you misunderstand. I've just been busy this month and was a couple of days late transferring her allowance. That's why she's upset."

Then he turned to me, smiling through gritted teeth. "Come over and eat. I'll have Ivy transfer another 10 thousand dollars later."

My eyes lit up. I hadn't expected to get this much money out of just one meal. Thinking quickly, I decided to push my luck. 

"Dad, 10 thousand dollars isn't enough. The exams are over, and I've made plans to go out with friends.

"Once the admission letters come in, there will be lots of graduation parties to attend. Could you increase my allowance a bit more?"

Jack was practically grinding his teeth as he asked, "How much do you want?"

I held up my hand, spreading my fingers wide, and then closed them. "50 thousand dollars."

Jack's face darkened as he forced out a "Fine". Then, he added, "Now will you come eat?"

I nodded happily, but just before sitting down, I threw in one last request. "Dad, don't forget the five sets of Galaxy outfits you promised me."

"Mm." Jack was so fed up that he could barely speak.

Nevertheless, I was thrilled. Even Liam, who had been watching the scene with amusement, seemed more pleasant to me. 

I picked up the soup in front of me and asked, "Mr. Tyler, why aren't you having any soup? Is the food here not to your taste?"

Liam's eyes were filled with a playful mockery. He glanced at the pumpkin soup in front of him but didn't touch it. "I'm afraid drinking the soup will make me miss out on a good show."

I took a sip of the soup. It was delicious, both savory and slightly sweet.

"Then don't drink it," I said and signaled the maid to take away Liam's soup and replace it with a glass of plain water.

We spoke softly, and Jack, who had been speaking with Ivy, noticed and gave me a questioning look. I simply replied, "Mr. Tyler doesn't like the soup," and left it at that.

After putting Elene in her place earlier, the meal went smoothly, with no one to irritate me. After lunch, Liam lingered for a while longer.

I had no idea why he had so much time to waste, but since I had just extorted so much money from Jack, it wouldn't have been polite to leave immediately.

I stayed in the living room and listened to their conversation. It became clear that the project the Tyler family had given to Jack was already underway, but Jack, insatiable as ever, wanted in on a new real estate development the Tyler family was planning.

"That's something you will have to discuss with our company's project manager," Liam said as he stood up to leave. Then, he glanced at me. "Evelyn, why don't you see me out?"

I looked at him, then at Jack, and nodded before getting up.

Although the Wiley family didn't have much money, when I was younger, Jack had bought this place from a down-and-out businessman. The property had one notable feature, it was huge, with the garden occupying over 60% of the land.

Liam had his driver pull the car up to the front gate, so we walked out along the flower-lined path.

"Evelyn, I find you really interesting. How about you become my girlfriend?"

I had just absentmindedly plucked a sprig of rosemary from the side of the path and was now fiddling with it. The scent of rosemary filled my hands as I snapped back to reality, frowning at him. 

"Are you out of your mind?"

Becoming Liam's girlfriend? What a ridiculous joke.

I remembered that in my past life, on the night I learned the truth about him, he had said to me, "Evelyn, I used to pity you for being an unloved wife, used by your parents, betrayed by your friends. But now that I look at you, I think you deserve it.

"I regret it. If I had known you were just a disposable rag to Ethan, I would never have wasted my time getting close to you."

"Friend?" Liam had sneered at me. "You're not even good enough to be my friend."

In my past life, I wasn't even worthy of being his friend. But now, he wanted me to be his girlfriend?

My response left Liam stunned for a few seconds. Then he frowned. "Am I not good enough to be your boyfriend?"

I couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. The more I thought about it, the funnier it seemed, and I laughed so hard that my stomach hurt.

Liam's face darkened as he listened to my laughter. Just as he was about to lose his temper, I managed to stop myself.

I tossed the crushed rosemary leaves aside, looked at him, and spoke calmly, "Liam, I know you and Ethan are arch-enemies.

"I don't know why you're giving Jack these projects, but let me make one thing clear. Whatever's going on between you two has nothing to do with me."

The sky, which had been clear just moments ago, suddenly grew overcast, and the wind began to whip through the blooming trees.

I looked up at the gathering clouds and then back at Liam, whose face had darkened at my words. 

"I've already cut ties with Ethan. I don't want to see him or have any connection to him, and that includes you." With that, I turned and walked away. 

As I headed back, I clenched my hands tightly. Liam's words had completely caught me off guard.

In my past life, they had repeatedly hurt me. In this life, I just wanted to stay far away from them, yet they kept intruding on my life, constantly pushing my boundaries.

I let out a cold laugh. Was that what everyone thought of me? That I was some fool who could be toyed with and discarded at will?

Maybe it was the relief of finishing the college entrance exams, but that night, I came down with a high fever. It wasn't until the night before I was supposed to pick up my acceptance letter that I finally started feeling better.

The moment the exam results were released online, I checked my score. Out of a total of 750 points, I scored 713.5. That was over 30 points above the cutoff for St. Nicholas University.

I was very satisfied with the result. After nights of being plagued by nightmares, I finally had a good dream.

The next morning, I got up early to get ready to go to school.

Lyla had gone abroad with her parents for a trip right after the exams, so it had been over ten days since we last saw each other. We met up at the school gate.

Lyla had cut her long hair short and dyed it chestnut brown. Since we had already graduated, she was dressed more casually. She looked like a beautiful girl straight out of a comic who had come to life.

Upon seeing me, Lyla was thrilled. She 

Chapter 13