Chapter 2

From that day on, my college life suddenly became much more exciting. Everywhere I went, I kept running into Lucas. He'd stand behind me in the cafeteria line and insist on paying for my meal. "Hey, fate brought us together. Let me treat you," he said. He'd sit across from me at the library. When I frowned over a problem, he'd slide over a note filled with solutions, accompanied by a charming smile. I went to the bubble tea shop my dad had specifically opened for me near the campus and decided to learn how to make drinks on a whim. Lucas assumed I was working a part-time job, so he bought out the entire shop's inventory and gave the drinks away to passersby just so I could leave early. "Don't work so hard. Pretty hands like yours shouldn't be making bubble tea." I could barely stop myself from rolling my eyes right out of my head. Within a week, the entire Ashford University was buzzing with the news that the student council president was madly pursuing a student from a poor family. As a result, I became the target of every female student's envy and resentment. Every time I returned to the dorm, Natalie stared at me as if I were some wayward woman. "Sienna, didn't I tell you to stay away from him?" I shrugged helplessly and replied, "I don't know what happened either. He just keeps showing up out of nowhere." "Whatever you do, don't fall for him," she reminded me, stamping her foot anxiously. "They're just playing around." I nodded and reassured her, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." I really did know what I was doing. Every time Lucas performed his romantic acts for me, I'd catch glimpses of Bella and her friends holding up their phones in the distance, filming. It didn't bother me, since my beauty was flawless from every angle anyway. That day, Bella was throwing a birthday party at the Golden Era Club. Lucas texted me, asking me to be his date. I deliberately replied, "That place is too expensive. I don't have anything appropriate to wear." Ten minutes later, he appeared downstairs at my dorm with a luxury shopping bag. Inside was a midnight blue evening dress worth six figures. "Put this on," he said. "Tonight, you'll be a princess." Gasps of amazement rose from the crowd below. "Oh my god! Isn't that a haute couture piece from Devereaux? A dress costs more than our annual tuition fee," someone said. "Sienna is so lucky," another chimed in. I was so moved, I almost cried. The price was almost as much as my pajamas cost. I changed into the dress and walked into the club with Lucas. The Golden Era Club was my 18th birthday gift from Dad and one of my least valuable assets. As soon as we entered, the club's general manager spotted me. His eyes lit up, and he hurried over to greet me. I gave him a warning glance. The shrewd manager smoothly pivoted and attended to other guests as if nothing had happened. Bella couldn't hide the jealousy in her eyes when she saw me. "Sienna, you look beautiful tonight. Lucas has such good taste." She paused, lowering her voice to say, "But since the dress is rented, you should be careful. You can't afford to damage it." I smiled but said nothing. At the party, Lucas was incredibly attentive to me. He cut my steak and intercepted others when they tried to make me drink. When I felt cold, he draped his suit jacket over my shoulders. Every gesture was perfect, like something out of a romantic drama. He brought me over to his friends and introduced me with a possessive tone. "This is my girlfriend, Sienna Torres." All his friends congratulated him, their eyes full of contempt and amusement. I played along like a well-dressed puppet. Midway through, I went to the restroom. Just as I reached the corner, I overheard Bella talking to her friend. "Bella, Lucas really went all out this time, huh? He even gave her a Devereaux's haute couture piece. Is he actually serious about her?" Bella snorted. "Are you kidding? That dress was a gift from my brother. Lucas just borrowed it from me. Once he's done playing with her, that woman will have to strip it off and return it to me," she said. She continued, "It's just like fishing. The more expensive the bait, the more satisfying it is when they bite, right?" Another lady chimed in flatteringly, "You're brilliant, Bella. Letting that charity case wear the glass slipper, just to smash it to pieces yourself. It feels exhilarating just thinking about it." Bella's voice dripped with malicious glee. "Just wait. There are only a few days left in the month. When the time comes, I'm going to make her cry in front of the entire campus as she strips off that dress." In the corner, I pressed the stop button on my phone's recording app.