Chapter 80

As she spoke, two silent tears slid down Mara’s cheeks. Her shoulders trembled slightly, making her look especially delicate and pitiful. Guys always have a soft spot for girls who appear helpless—the kind that makes you want to step up and shield her from the world. And Mara? She played that card perfectly. Add her emotional intelligence into the mix—knowing exactly when to step forward and when to pull back—it was no surprise Ethan was wrapped around her finger. "You know I never cared about your background," Ethan said, his gaze soft and filled with emotion. "Your 18th birthday means something to you. I’ll make sure the party is exactly what you hoped for.” Friday morning. The entrance exam results had just been released. Out of over four thousand freshmen, Cassandra had landed in the top thirty. She even scored higher than Vera—that part really threw Vera off. She hadn’t expected it and definitely couldn’t accept it. During break, Vera acted like she just happened to run into Cassa