Chapter 19
In the middle of the night at the guys‘ dorm, Jaxon stared at his computer screen, eyes bloodshot.[]
He’d searched every social media platform but couldn’t find any recent updates about Riley.[]
It wasn’t until 3 AM that he found a clue in an old high school classmate’s Instagram-[]
It was a group photo from an academic conference, and there in the corner were Riley and Ethan standing side by side.]]
She wore a light blue dress with her hair flowing over her shoulders, looking up at the guy next to her with a smile.
That smile stabbed Jaxon in the eyes. Once upon a time, smiles like that had belonged only to him.[]
He zoomed in on the photo and noticed Ethan’s hand hovering protectively around Riley’s waist–their intimacy was obvious.
His stomach churned with acid. Jaxon slammed the laptop shut, grabbed his car keys and rushed outside.
Sophia’s nightmare was just beginning.]]
Former followers who used to kiss up to her now kept their distance, and some even publicly apologized to classmates they’d bullied before.
Campus forums exploded with posts about her bullying, and Rain Industries‘ stock price took a hit because of it.]]
She hid in her mansion, frantically calling Jaxon, but no one ever answered.]]
Her final text showed as read but got no reply: [Jaxon, you’ll regret this! That slut’s been sleeping with other guys!]]
Outside, thunder crashed as Sophia swept all her makeup off the vanity.[]
In the mirror, her makeup was smeared, her eyes bloodshot–not a trace left of the former campus queen.[]
Ethan and Riley were chatting leisurely, unconsciously walking all the way to her dorm building.]
The post–rain air was especially fresh, moonlight filtering through clouds and casting dappled shadows on the ground.[]
“Thanks for the pasta earlier.” Riley’s eyes were still puffy from crying, but she was smiling again.
Ethan gently squeezed her hand: “Thank you for trusting me.” He paused, “About what you said earlier… I can wait.“[]
Warmth flooded Riley’s heart.[]
She knew that with Ethan’s background, he could easily find someone better than her, but he was willing to wait for her wounds to heal.]]
“You won’t have to wait long.” She gathered her courage and stood on her tiptoes to give him a light kiss on the cheek, “Good night, Ethan.”
That butterfly kiss made Ethan’s ears burn red.[]
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Chapter 19
He stood there watching Riley disappear into the dorm building, unable to stop smiling.]
Meanwhile, Jaxon’s motorcycle was parked outside Harvard’s gates.]
He stared at the brightly lit campus but suddenly lost the courage to go in.]
Riley’s agonized expression in the surveillance footage, the image of her nestled in Ethan’s arms at the Italian place, that photo of her smiling at someone else…]
All of it reminded him-]
He’d lost her.]
Completely, forever, lost the girl who had once been completely devoted to him.[]
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