Chapter 2

Before she could ask further, I added, "I'm going home."

The confusion whirling in my mother's head instantly turned to sheer joy.

"That's wonderful! Yaz, you've finally come to your senses!

"I'll get a driver to pick you up right away!"

I nodded and hung up the phone, feeling an immense sense of relief.

My family's resources were no less impressive than Sabrina's, if not more so.

But for the sake of her love for creative arts, I gave up my original pursuit of a finance degree. Instead, I transferred to a design major, dedicating seven years of my life to it.

In those seven years—through undergrad, master's, and doctoral studies—I won award after award for my designs. I even personally handled several projects that the Langford Group won bids for.

I thought I was devoted to Sabrina, but never did I once expect her betrayal in return.

I took a deep breath and grabbed my computer, prepared to return it to the institute. But before I could leave, Sabrina was already standing at the door blocking my way.

She was livid when she saw me.

"Yarrow, why didn't you admit that you copied Avery's design?"

I almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of her question. I countered, "Why should I admit to something I didn't do?

"Sabrina Langford, you live with me. Others may not know how many nights I stayed up and how much effort I poured into this project, but you? Don't you know?

"You know exactly how important this design is to me..."

Before I could finish, Sabrina cut me off aggressively. "Enough! You've won so many awards already. What does it matter if you miss one?

"You're right—I gave your draft to Avery. So what?

"You're the recognized prodigy of the institute. Can't you just whip up a new design with a few strokes?

"This competition is very important to Avery. Can you stop being so petty over such a little thing?"

Petty.

There was that word again.

Over the years, I had lost count of how many times Sabrina labeled me as petty.

When we went out together once, a driver charged us double the fare. I reported it, and she said I was petty.

When the institute used up her scholarship quota for another student, she bawled her eyes out in front of me. I stood up for her, and she said I was petty.

Now, she stole the design proposal I painstakingly worked on through sleepless nights to make someone else look good. And she said I was petty.

Yet every single time, she was the one who benefited in the end.

All of a sudden, I felt inexplicably exhausted. I was too tired to say another word to Sabrina. I stepped around her and headed for the institute. However, she reached out to block my way again.

"Where are you going?"

"To the design institute." I hid nothing.

Her brows furrowed at my answer.

"So, you've made up your mind to quit the competition?"

"What else would it be?" I retorted.

Stay behind as cannon fodder, diligently designing only for others to reap the rewards?

Clearly, though, that was exactly what she was counting on.

She stood her ground confidently. "You can't just give up like that. Yarrow, I know your family's situation. Without design, what else will you do in the future?

"Stay and finish the competition. Afterward, I'll introduce you to a position at my dad's company."

For a moment, it felt like my brain had been struck by lightning. I stood there, rooted to the spot in a daze.

No wonder she was so brazen. She had banked on me being unable to live without her.

Unfortunately for her, she miscalculated.

I was not the poor student she thought I was. In fact, even if I were, there was no way I would let her manipulate me like this.