Chapter 2

2.

When I got back to the dorm, the atmosphere was suffocating.

My roommates looked at me like I was a rat in a sewer, their faces full of disgust.

"Quinn, how could you treat Lucia like that?"

"She was only looking out for you, and you dumped her over some man!"

"Choosing a guy over your best friend? Do you even have a soul?"

Lucia's eyes were red as she played the peacemaker. "Don't blame Quinn. She was just blinded by that man's money... she'll regret it when she wakes up."

The comments kept flashing.

"The female lead is so kind and generous!"

"The greedy side character thinks she can win? Just wait for the karma!"

Lucia lowered her head, looking like a saint.

But I caught the flicker of smugness in her eyes.

In my last life, I hadn't told a soul about Grayson. Yet, the rumors had spread everywhere.

Looking back, she was definitely the one pulling the strings.

The roommates grew more aggressive. "You're obsessed with money! Get out! We don't want you here!"

Lucia pretended to stop them. "Don't. It's the man's fault! Quinn, I know you're just embarrassed. Give me his number, and I'll talk sense into him for you."

Her words sounded helpful, but her eyes were burning with greed.

I smirked. "No need. I'm moving out."

Lucia froze. She never expected the girl who used to be a doormat to stand up for herself like this.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the others cut her off. "If she wants to go, let her go!"

I packed my bags without looking back.

I had one thought: I have the money now. Why would I stay here and suffer?

Soon, I moved into a luxury apartment I bought with the cash.

The comments were full of mockery.

"What a low-class girl, obsessed with shiny things!"

"How long can blood money last?"

"Just wait until the real female lead gets with the hero. You're done for!"

I glanced at the screen and laughed.

When your 'sweet female lead' actually manages to get Grayson's number, then you can laugh at me.

Right now, she's probably breaking things in the dorm out of jealousy.

That night, I sat on my balcony with a cup of tea. The wind was cool, but my mind went back to how I died in my last life.

A freezing, leaky apartment. Shivering alone. Dying with nothing.

I wrapped my blanket tighter and laughed softly.

Money really is the best thing in the world.

I opened my contact list and found his name.

I hesitated for a second before typing a short message.

"Mr. Sterling, do you have time to talk?"

The screen stayed dark.

He didn't reply.

I wasn't worried or angry.

It was exactly what I expected.

A man like him wouldn't just jump at a text.

I put my phone away and went to sleep.

I didn't know that while I was dreaming, an anonymous post was going viral on the university forum.

The title was scandalous, the content was suggestive, and the photos were blurry but incriminating.

By the next morning, my phone was buzzing like crazy.

My advisor's cold voice came through the speaker.

"Quinn Evans, get to my office right now and explain this mess!"