Chapter 3

I had never felt such humiliation before. When I was a child, my health was not great, and my dad pampered me to no end, terrified that I might fall or get hurt.

Now, his girlfriend was cutting my face with a knife, making me look hideous.

Tears streamed down my face, yet Fiona and the others saw it as proof of their success. They took pictures with me and laughed heartily.

The crowd at the door continued to grow larger and larger. They pointed at me and gossiped, looking at me with a mix of sympathy and ridicule.

“I can’t believe the top student is such a terrible person. Looks like being smart doesn’t mean you’re a good person.”

“Ever since Fiona landed that rich boyfriend, she’s been flaunting it non-stop. No wonder she’s attracted all these vain people.”

“I thought Sophie’s outfits were expensive because her family was wealthy. Turns out God is fair. She’s getting what she deserves.”

“Like, if you have a sugar daddy who is rich, then you cannot be seen wearing cheap clothes, right? Honestly, I bet Fiona doesn’t even have as much as she does. That dude probably likes Sophie a bit more anyway; she’s hella cute!”

Fiona heard that and pressed down harder with the knife. Her eyes were dark with fury.

Suddenly, a phone rang, and Fiona happily answered it.

I knew it had to be my dad, and I started to cry. Fiona angrily dug the knife into me while speaking in a sweet one.

“Baby, I’ll be there soon. Tell me, am I your favorite person?”

“Of course! Besides my daughter, you’re my favorite. I’m finally introducing you to my closest family today.”

Fiona puffed up with pride like a peacock showing off its feathers. At the same time, I listened to the familiar, gentle voice on the other end, tears streaming down my face.

After asking for a new Hermès bag, Fiona tossed the knife aside and used her foot to grind down hard on my face as I was pinned to the ground.

“You think my boyfriend is coming to save you? Get real, you shameless little sidepiece! I’m about to rip your clothes off. What's it to you if they're worth a lot? They’re all gifts from my man, and that makes them mine!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Claire and Sara quickly began to pull my clothes down.

They knew that since Fiona started dating such a rich boyfriend, she had been showering them with benefits.

Now, they could get their hands on plenty of stuff they could never afford.

Besides, since Fiona’s boyfriend was the college’s shareholder, they enjoyed special treatment, too, and no one dared mess with them.

Without anyone holding me down, I struggled hard to keep them from stripping me, but my fists were no match for their hands.

As they tore at my clothes, Fiona rummaged through my desk.

Suddenly, a redwood box was flipped over. I could not be bothered about my exposed skin. I tried to rush over, but they yanked my hair, pulling me back.

Fiona pulled out a jade bracelet with beautiful colors and stared at it with greed.

I was filled with rage, like a trapped beast, determined to protect the last thing my mother had left me.

However, the desperate look on my face only made Fiona bolder, and she raised her hand, holding the bracelet high.

“What gives you the right to hold something so nice? Is this another gift from my boyfriend?”

“Mmm... (Let go!) Mmmph! (That’s my mom’s heirloom!)”

Fiona shot me a look of disdain, then glared at the bracelet, grumbling that my dad never gave her anything that nice.

Then she perked up again, throwing the bracelet heavily away from me.

I watched helplessly as the bracelet my mother gave me hit the ground and shattered into pieces.

“Here. Catch it!”

Amidst the cruel laughter, my heart began to crumble, and I glared at Fiona with eyes aflame, a storm of rage and despair brewing within me.