3
“She actually refused! What do I do, everyone?! The plan is stalled!”
“I have to get close to the husband! Please, I need ideas!!!”
Aside from the usual crowd of gawkers, the original user who had provided the detailed “strategy” reappear-
“Why are you so obsessed with this one guy?”
“Can’t you just find a different target? It’s not like he’s the only rich man in the world.”
Ivy’s reply was immediate and agitated: “No! I want him! It will only hurt her the most if I take what’s hers!”
“You should have seen her at dinner, with that condescending, holier-than-thou attitude, the way she gloated when she talked about her husband. It was disgusting!”
“I am going to crush her.”
I stared at every word Ivy typed, the last embers of responsibility and warmth I felt for her completely extin- guished.
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Chapter 1
After that, the user didn’t reply publicly. Their conversation moved to private messages.
After my shower, I checked the post again and saw that Ivy had updated her status, her tone now jubilant:
“All set! Thanks to the master for the private message! This weekend is a go!”
Seeing this, I was confused.
Had she taken the advice and switched targets?
As I was pondering this, I noticed over a dozen missed calls and several text messages on my phone, al
from Marcus.
I had been so engrossed in the post that I’d completely missed them.
I opened the messages, and my heart sank.
Marcus: “Honey, what’s going on? Ivy just added me on social media. She said you wanted her to come ove this weekend to get help with a class project and needed to use the computer in the study. She’s asking if it’
okay.”
Marcus: “Why aren’t you answering your phone? She seems pretty insistent.”
Marcus: “Look, I know she’s the student you sponsor, and she’s been over before, so I didn’t think much of it I replied and told her ‘Whatever works for you is fine…””
I was furious. I couldn’t believe Ivy’s audacity-going behind my back to contact my husband directly an daring to lie about my intentions.
I was about to call him back when he walked through the door.
In the living room, I struggled to contain my anger as I asked him why he would agree without checking with
me first.
Marcus looked utterly innocent and confused. “Weren’t you the one who always told me how sensible and hardworking she is, and that we should help her out? She said it was your idea, and she sounded urgent. couldn’t reach you, and it didn’t seem like a big deal, so I just said yes…”
Hearing him, a mix of emotions churned inside me.
For years, I had indeed painted a picture of Ivy as a diligent, grateful student.
Whenever she needed a textbook or study materials, I had Marcus find the best ones for her. Whenever she needed a “parent” to handle minor issues at the university, I often had Marcus take care of it.
Looking back, my unconditional trust and support had probably given her the confidence to be so brazen.
I took a deep breath and told him everything-about the forum post and everything I had discovered.
As he listened, his expression darkened into a mask of cold fury.
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He immediately took out his phone and, right in front of me, blocked Ivy’s number and all her social media
profiles.
“I never would have added her if it wasn’t for you. From now on, don’t ask me to help with her problems.”
“As for this weekend, you tell her no. I will not have any more contact with her.”
“Now that you know what kind of person she is, you need to cut her off completely. All of it-the sponsorsh-
ip, the contact, everything.”
I nodded.
I immediately found Ivy’s number and called.
The moment she answered, I told her directly that the weekend was not convenient and that she was not to contact my husband again.
She was stunned by my firm tone at first, but then she immediately launched into her well-rehearsed act, her
voice cracking with tears.
“Mary… what’s wrong? Did I do something? I just want to do well in my classes… I really didn’t mean anything
by it…”
“I’m just so stupid, I’m falling behind, and I have no one to ask for help, so I thought of Marcus… I’m so sorry it’s all my fault…”
I listened to her performance coldly, completely unmoved.
When she had nearly finished, I replied with a single sentence: “You’ve made your bed.”
Then I hung up.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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