Chapter 2
Sure enough, he sabotaged Sophia’s campaign, then worked shifts with her, lasting life’s hardships.]
Anyone who bullying her got hospitalized.]
I kept studying, working, doing homework for pay.]
Thought our lives were finally diverging.]
Then I walked into class and heard audio playing.
“Luna, you need money bad, right? How much do you charge?“||
“Fifty for quick, five hundred for slow.““]
My voice.[]
Some people screamed. Others laughed.
Camden stood right in the middle.
He delivered it casually.
“Told you she’s cheap. Fifty for quick, five hundred for slow.”
The room erupted.]
Disgusting stares landed on me.
I froze.]
The audio was edited.
Back in high school, I did others‘ homework for money.]
The person was asking about homework prices.
I’d answered honestly, though it felt weird.
Now it was being broadcast to everyone.
Sophia threw herself into Camden’s arms, horrified.[]
“Why would you play that?”
Camden ruffled her hair. “She stole your scholarship spot.“]
1 sat down quietly and opened my phone.
Found all my transaction records with context, posted them to the class group.
Then switched all my classes to other sections.
They could enjoy college life or mess with people for fun.
I couldn’t.
I owed the Morales family ten grand a month-
No time for their witch hunts–including ones targeting me.
When I did
didn’t react further, Camden slid into the seat in front of me after class.
He smiled lazily. “Luna, I was drumming up business for
- :0
“Shouldn’t you thank me?”
I looked at him.]
Cruel, defiant, twisted.[
The sunny, genuine Foster family golden boy seemed to have died in that accident.]
Along with the optimistic, confident Lana Voss.[]
I looked down, voice hoarse. “Thanks.“||
His face darkened. He forced a smile. “Don’t thank me.”
Camden quickly discovered I’d switched classes.]
He brought Sophia to my coffee shop job.
Sophia “accidentally bumped into me, spilling hot coffee all over.]]
My arms turned bright red from the burns.
She frowned and stepped back. “Do you even know how to carry coffee?”
“You got it on me! You couldn’t afford this outfit working here your whole lifer
I paused mid–crouch while cleaning up.
Looked her over.
All designer, latest season.]
Definitely expensive
The coffee stains on her clothes were barely visible.]
I stood up. “Call the cops. Security cameras caught everything.”
Especially her deliberately shoving me:[]
She choked, tugging Camden’s hand. “The clothes you bought me are r
Camden glanced at her, patting her head soothingly. “I’ll buy you more.“]]
Sophia smiled. “Let’s go.“]
She hummed as they left arm in arm.]
Leaving me with the mess.[]
I stared at the spilled coffee for a long moment, then crouched down to clean.
Someone delivered burn cream with a note: “Switch back”
I ignored it.
But two weeks later during group project assignments, classmates looked away the moment they made eye contact with me.[]
A girl I’d talked to a few times told me, “Someone’s telling us not to team up with you.“]
The professor messaged back: “Miss. Voss, midterm projects require groups of 2-3 students.“]
I stared blankly at my computer.
Camden texted two words:
“Come back“]
Same moment, someone sat beside me.
Thaddeus Morales.
Top of our class.
“Want to team up?”
