Chapter 1

Tanner Rosenbloom, a financially needy student, also happened to be my one-sided love. Feeling sorry for his thin frame, I always left class early to buy his favorite pork chops from the school cafeteria. Despite that, he gave me the cold shoulder. He only showed affection to the campus belle. "Maisie, it's lunchtime!" When Tanner was close to being kicked out for failing to pay his school fees, I begged my dad to sponsor Tanner's education. Even so, Tanner viewed me in disgust. "I'll take the money, but stay away from me. Don't be delusional; I'll never fall for you!" Wearing the limited edition sports shoes and expensive watch I bought him, he started dating Maisie Sanders, the campus belle. As such, rumors had it that he hailed from a wealthy family, but I did not expose him to protect his ego. Tanner was a generous spender when he treated his classmates to meals. When he realized he only had 200 dollars left on his card, he called me up to yell at me. "Pearl Rosenbloom, I know you look down on me, but you don't have to go this far!" As I loved Tanner with my entire being, I pleaded with Dad to set up a company for Tanner upon our graduation. With that, Tanner became a glamorous CEO and threw a 200-million-dollar dream wedding for Maisie. After that, he forced me onto a rooftop, where he barked at me, "Pearl Rosenbloom, you appall me whenever you send me money! You never truly know me. All you do is humiliate me with money. I wouldn't have made it through those years without Maisie's support!" As I plunged into despair, Tanner pushed me off the rooftop. When I stirred awake again, I saw Tanner's annoyed face looming in front of me. He criticized me, "What took you so long? Give me my lunch now!" I slammed the tray of food onto his head and snapped, "Are you a beggar? Why would you ask me for food? Go to your mom if you want a good lunch! Don't plead like a dog for food!" … I realized I was reborn when I hurried back to the classroom with the lunches. I looked at the tray of food that I carefully carried. Then, I silently chastised myself, "Ugh! You're a loser. No wonder Tanner steps all over you!" Back in the classroom, Tanner was explaining a homework problem to Maisie in a gentle tone that he had never used with me. He frowned irritably upon seeing me. "Why did it take you so long to get the lunches? Don't you know Maisie has gastritis?" Maisie quickly jumped in to pacify him. "Tanner, don't speak to Pearl in that way! I know the others are back from getting their lunches, but Pearl takes longer because she's grown up sheltered and pampered. Of course, she'll take longer to buy our lunches." Maisie's words deepened Tanner's dislike of me. Always sensitive, he thought I was emotionally blackmailing him with my status as the daughter of the prominent Rosenbloom family. Too naive in my past life, I mistakenly thought Maisie spoke up for me, and I foolishly took her as my friend. Thinking back, I badly wanted to slap my old self awake! "Pearl, don't be mad. Tanner's just worried about me!" Maisie smiled at me before shooting Tanner a glare. Tanner caressed her head with a doting and helpless expression. "You're kind to a fault!" I nearly barfed when Maisie cheekily put her tongue out at him. I coldly watched them flirt before my eyes. "Since Maisie said all that, I'll forgive you. Hand us the lunches!" Tanner said to me as though he was being charitable. I observed his shameless behavior while reflecting on my naivete in my past life. When I didn't budge, I seemed to trigger something within him. Rage crossed his face. "Did you not buy the borscht for Maisie again? I told you many times that she needs the soup to cleanse her palate after the pork chops! Pearl Rosenbloom, you're such a wretched woman!" After he criticized me, his stomach growled in hunger at the wrong time. He glowered at me before pulling out a chair for Maisie. "Maisie, please bear with her this time." Maisie beamed at him and took her seat. Tanner sat beside her and extended a hand to me. "Hand it over!" I stared at him incredulously. "Are you a beggar or what?"