Chapter 44

"Eugene!" Ellie collapsed to the ground, her voice cracked with raw desperation as she bawled her eyes out. "Please... don't treat me like this!" She used to live a cushy life when she was little, but everything crumbled in middle school after her dad went bankrupt. Overnight, she went from high society to nobody. Her so—called friends all vanished, all except Clara—always smiling like the perfect friend, never judging. But Ellie knew better. Clara wasn't kind, just showy—that girl always needed to be the star. There's no such thing as genuine kindness in this world. It's all for show. Later, she found out Clara liked Eugene. That realization lit a fire of jealousy in her. Especially on Clara's 18th birthday, when she pushed her into a pool—and Eugene jumped in without a second thought to save her. That scene was like rubbing salt in her feelings. So she came up with a plan. She started acting sweet in front of Eugene, slowly warming her way into his heart. Making Clara look like the b