5
I asked Professor Albright if we could possibly leave early, but he warmly insisted we stay.
“There’s an important networking session this evening. You both must attend. It’s a rare gathering.”
I could only suppress my unease and agree.
After the afternoon sessions, there was a dinner and a social hour.
After dinner, everyone retired to their rooms.
Marcus and I were assigned two adjacent single rooms on the second floor.
Out of respect for the academics, single rooms were the default, but couples were free to adjust.
We had just put our bags down in my room and were discussing whether to go for a walk or just relax wher
there was a knock at the door.
I opened it, and of course, it was Ivy again.
She stood in the doorway, her eyes quickly darting into my room. When she saw Marcus was there, a swee
smile bloomed on her face.
“Marcus, Mary, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Her voice was soft and cloying.
“Professor Albright said we could form teams for a game of Mafia in the lounge downstairs. Are you sur
you don’t want to come play?”
Since our “coincidental” meeting, she had been sticking to us like glue, constantly finding excuses to talk.
I pushed down my revulsion and managed a weak smile.
“We’re a bit tired. We were thinking of resting for a bit. You guys go have fun.”
Seeing my cold attitude, Ivy immediately put on a hurt expression and stepped forward, reaching for my
hand.
“Mary, are you still mad at me? I know I was being thoughtless before, bothering you… I won’t do it again, promise. Please don’t be angry with me, okay?”
Her eyes quickly welled up with tears. A masterful performance.
I pulled my hand back. I was sneering on the inside, but I couldn’t be too harsh on the surface.
“I’m not angry. I’m just really tired.”
Ivy studied my expression. Seeing that I hadn’t immediately shut the door, she took it as a sign of softening and pressed her advantage.
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23:52
Chapter 2
“Well… since you’re not mad at me… tonight, could I… could I sleep in your room?”
Fearing my refusal, she quickly explained.
23:52
“My room… the air conditioning is acting up, it’s freezing. And… I’m a little scared of the dark. I can never sleep alone in a strange room… Please? Just let me stay for one night?”
In that instant, the latest forum post I’d seen in the restroom flashed through my mind.
The user advising her had written in a new comment:
[If getting him drunk won’t work, play the victim! Find an excuse to sleep in her room! After she’s asleep, you sneak out! There will be plenty of opportunities!]
Ivy had replied with a “Got it!” sticker.
So, here it was.
First, she feigns remorse to lower my guard, then she makes her move, proposing to share a room to execu
te her plan.
Meeting Ivy’s eyes, which were filled with “innocence” and “pleading,” an idea began to form in my mind.
Since she was so determined to trample on our kindness and destroy her own future, step by painstakin
step…
Then I would let her have a taste of the “result” she was so desperately scheming for.
My heart was a block of ice, but my face showed a hint of reluctance. Finally, as if I couldn’t refuse her, I le
out a soft sigh.
“Alright, alright. I can’t say no to you. You can come over later tonight.”
“Really?! Thank you, Mary! You’re the best!”
Ivy was overjoyed, not expecting me to agree so easily. She chattered on with a few more flattering word: before leaving, her steps light and satisfied.
Watching her disappear down the hall, the smile on my face turned cold.
I took out my phone and scrolled through the salon’s temporary group chat.
Earlier that afternoon, a chubby student who had come with his professor had been complaining in the chat that his room’s water heater was broken. He’d asked if anyone was willing to switch rooms or let him use
their shower.
I’d heard this particular student, Nathan, had a bit of a thing for Ivy, but she despised him, having privately complained to me about how creepy he was.
No one had responded to him then.
4/13
23.52
Chapter 2
But now…
It was time to let the scumbag deal with the snake.
23.53
I was quite curious to see the look on Ivy’s face when she crept out in the middle of the night, all dolled up, and slipped into what she thought was her “brother-in-law’s” room, only to find the one person she found most repulsive.
I found Nathan’s contact and sent him a message:
“Hi, Nathan. My husband’s room has plenty of hot water. Would you like to come check it out? Or… perhaps
we could switch rooms? My husband is a light sleeper and was hoping for a room with a different orientati
on.”
