“You’ve got to be fking kidding me! Caden! You didn’t wear a protection?!” 　　After one heated round with her boyfriend, Caden, in the prop room behind the theater, Alora was shocked to discover he hadn’t used any protection. 　　“Oh my God,” she gasped, “When did you take it off? The campus health center is already closed. f'k-! I’m scr'wed! Why did you finish in me?!” 　　Alora immediately grabbed her sweatshirt from the floor, eager to get out. She had to get emergency c***********n from a 24-hour store. 　　“Babe, relax.” Caden stood up and pulled her close to his rock-hard abs, speaking casually. “What’s the big deal? If you get pregnant, we’ll handle it ourselves.” 　　Alora’s body trembled again as his l**s moved to her n**k, his breath hot against her skin. 　　“Baby,” he whispered hoarsely, voice thick with desire, “you’re so fking Hot. Don’t tell me you didn’t prefer it raw? I can’t help myself…” 　　His large hand slid down her w***t, reaching toward her core, and Alora’s legs weakened again. 　　“No, Caden, we can’t…” She fought to stay clear-headed. 　　But his fingers had already slipped inside her. 　　He smirked and whispered, “You sure you don’t want more?” 　　“I…” Alora struggled to stay rational, but he suddenly flipped her onto the cabinet, lifted her skirt, and thrvst in hard. 　　A low m**n escaped her l**s. “Mmm…” 　　“Looks like your body’s more honest than your mouth.” Caden grinned and drove deeper, Alora clung to him as he pushed further inside. 　　“No rush, babe. We’ve got all night,” Caden murmured. 　　****** 　　By morning, they’d gone four rounds. 　　Exhausted, she dragged herself back to the dorm, relieved she didn’t have afternoon classes. After a quick shower, she collapsed on her bed. 　　Just as she lay down, her phone lit up. 　　“Sweet Caden” as she had saved his name appeared on the screen. 　　They had just parted, so she didn’t think much and answered, “Hello?” 　　There was only static, like it was an accidental call. 　　She was about to hang up when a familiar male voice came through the noise. 　　“Bro, the Tisch early admission list is dropping soon,” it was Mason, Caden’s midfield partner. 　　“You really planning to knock up the ice-cold drama queen before the list comes out?” 　　Alora froze, phone pressed to her ear, mind snapping awake. She could hear the disdain in Mason’s tone and silently hoped Caden would refute him. 　　“Why would I change my mind?” Caden replied coldly. “Brielle needs that Tisch spot. She’s always been top-tier and she deserves it.” 　　Alora felt like she’d been struck by lightning. She couldn’t breathe. 　　What was Caden saying? 　　A burst of crude laughter erupted. 　　“Man, Steele’s such a Romeo!” Logan, the team captain, jeered. “Brielle dumped you ages ago and you’re still playing prince charming? You’re scared Alora will steal her Tisch spot, so now you’re betting your di'ck on it!” 　　Caden’s voice grew cold. “Brielle didn’t dump me. She just said she didn’t want distractions before auditions.” 　　More laughter followed. 　　“Whatever you say,” Mason mocked. “You’re Caden Steele, star striker, stadium god. Bet if Brielle knew you sacrificed your di'ck for her and went this, she’d be crying on her knees to suk it!” 　　“I believe it,” Chase added playfully. “Even ‘never been kissed’ Alora is losing her mind for you, man! Your di'ck must be something else!” 　　“Wow.” Logan whistled exaggeratedly. 　　“Caden, you’re insane! But honestly, Alora’s innocent vibe is hotter than Brielle’s. After chasing her this long, you sure you’re not falling for her?” 　　Mason punched Logan playfully. “Come on, everyone knows Steele only cares about Brielle. Hooking up with Alora’s just to help Brielle win the Tisch spot. Knock Alora up, and Brielle’s got it. That’s the plan, right, Caden?” 　　A brief silence. 　　Then Caden answered firmly. “Exactly.” 　　On her end, Alora’s blood ran cold. Her phone nearly slipped from her hand. 　　She stared at the ceiling, throat tightening, unable to breathe. 　　She couldn’t believe it. Caden had approached her just to sabotage her Tisch recommendation. Everything was for Brielle. 　　Tears fell, and she quickly wiped them away. She couldn’t cry. 　　She knew exactly how hard she had worked to make a name for herself in theater. Even after her car accident, she hadn’t missed a single rehearsal. She had never dated. 　　She’d poured everything into the stage and rehearsal rooms, which left her with few friends and the label of “weirdo.” 　　That was why she’d been so easily charmed by Caden. 　　They’d met at a frat party last fall. 　　That night, the party was wild when he suddenly stood by the fountain with a drink in hand and shouted: 　　“Alora Harper! Be my girlfriend! I’m Caden Steele, Miller U’s star striker! No one’s taking you tonight!” 　　The crowd burst into cheers and laughter. All eyes turned to her. 　　Alora’s face flushed deep red. Though she could command a stage, in real life, she was slow to warm up, not as quick or bold as Caden. Her heart nearly burst as she fled in a panic. 　　She’d told herself not to get distracted, 　　she had a career to chase. 　　She thought it had been a party stunt, but he didn’t given up. 　　In the days that followed, he was everywhere—outside the library, near the rehearsal hall, even at her favorite café. The staged “coincidences” didn’t impress her. If anything, they annoyed her. 　　Until o*******t, after an exhausting rehearsal, as she headed backstage, she saw him leaning by the door—holding her script. 　　She turned to leave, but Caden’s deep voice echoed behind her: 　　“With love’s light wings did I o’er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.” 　　He was quoting the male lead from her play. 　　Alora turned, stunned, breathless, meeting his blue gaze. 　　When she didn’t respond, Caden scratched his n**k, voice a little nervous. “I watched your rehearsal videos...figured I’d at least learn this line to match your scene.” 　　In that moment, her defenses crumbled. 　　Back then, she’d truly believed he was her Romeo. 　　Now she knew—the true Juliet was Brielle. 　　Enough. 　　She wiped her tears, grabbed her bag, and hailed a cab to the pharmacy. 　　She bought emergency c***********n and took it on the spot. 　　Sitting outside the convenience store, staring at her reflection in the glass, she whispered: 　　“Never again.” 　　She pulled out her phone and called her mom. 　　“Mom, I’ve made up my mind... I’m accepting the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts offer.” 　　Caden had completely miscalculated. 　　She was never planning to compete with Brielle for Tisch. 　　She’d already secured offers from several top international drama schools. 　　At one point, she’d hesitated, wondering if she should stay in the U.S. for him. 　　But now, she wasn’t staying anymore. 　　On the other end, her mom sounded surprised but quickly supportive. 　　“Sweetheart, I didn’t expect this change, but it’s wonderful! The international programs start early, and you’ve finished your credits at Miller’s U. It’s perfect to go early. You can leave next week—what do you think?” 　　Alora lowered her head, voice cool and resolute. 　　“The sooner, the better.”

　　After hanging up the call, Alora returned to campus. 　　She still had an elective that morning: “Stage Management and Movement Performance.” 　　It was a cross-department course shared between drama and athletes. 　　Originally, she’d taken it to broaden her perspective—and to accompany Caden. 　　Now, the last person she wanted to see was him. But she hadn’t done anything wrong, so there was no reason to avoid it. 　　She was, as always, the first to arrive in the classroom. Not long after she sat down, a sharp pain struck her lower abdomen again. 　　The last time she took emergency c***********n, she’d had diarrhea for two days. Though she’d braced for side effects this time, she still underestimated how much it would affect her. 　　Her stomach churned, her whole body weak. 　　She lay her head on her arms on the desk, eyes closed, cold sweat beading along her forehead. 　　Suddenly, a large hand gripped her elbow hard, the force sharp enough to send a stab of pain up her arm. She gasped, another wave of cramps hitting her abdomen. 　　Before she could react, Caden had already dragged her behind the thick curtain at the back of the classroom. Her arm went numb, shoulders tensed, her body trapped in the tight space with nowhere to step back. 　　She jrked her head up—right into Caden’s icy blue eyes. 　　He leaned in, broad shoulders looming, arms strong, chest taut beneath his athletic shirt, the fabric clinging to every sculpted muscle. Heat radiated from him, the air thick with sweat and mint, suffocating. 　　His gaze swept from head to toe, pausing on the skirt she wore today. His expression turned cold, voice low and rough with a growl:
“You’re wearing this again?” 　　Before she could respond, he stepped in, chest pressing her shoulder, arms boxing her in, breath hot against her ear, the cramping in her belly drowned out by the suffocating closeness. 　　“Tell me, you’re still thinking about our moment the other night, aren’t you? Rara?” 　　She raised her head sharply, waiting for the cramps to ease a little. Then she pushed his l**s away and snapped, “Don’t t***h me.” 　　Caden sneered, his blue eyes dark, voice a low growl. “That’s not what you said last night, Alora.” 　　With that, he moved to k**s her again. Alora immediately began struggling. Just as she thought she wouldn’t break free, footsteps suddenly echoed outside. 　　Voices called out, teasing: “Yo, someone’s behind that curtain, right? Who is it?” 　　“Wouldn’t be Caden, would it?” 　　Hearing the voices, Caden’s eyes cooled, jaw tight. Reluctantly, he let her go, stepping back, gaze still locked on her. He muttered coldly, “fking buzzkill.” 　　The next second, he yanked the curtain aside and strode out, movements sharp, exuding an arrogant, aggressive energy as if he didn’t care about the stares around him. 　　As soon as he emerged, the guys in class let out a round of whistles. 　　“Whoa, it’s really Steele!” 　　“But Caden, you didn’t last as long as you do on the field!” 　　Caden swept the room with a glance, blue eyes glinting with amusement, l**s curling into a cold smirk. He shrugged casually. “Why so loud? The main event hasn’t even started.” 　　Mason burst out laughing. “Got it, got it, just the appetizer, huh?” 　　“Dam, the drama genius already conquered? Alora’s got a killer body!” 　　“She looks so icy, but I bet she’s wild in bed!” 　　“Our star striker’s the champ both on and off the field!” 　　The classroom erupted in raucous laughter. 　　Behind the curtain, Alora gritted her teeth as she adjusted her clothes, fury burning inside her. 　　She took a deep breath and stepped out, pale-faced, just in time to hear the teasing continue. The guys stared openly at her; the girls whispered among themselves, eyes unreadable. 　　Caden had returned to his seat, scrolling his phone indifferently, not even bothering to look her way. 　　Her chest tightened painfully, eyes stinging. She bit her l*p hard, holding back tears. 　　Five days. 　　She repeated it in her mind. 　　Just five more days, and this would all be over. 　　The moment the bell rang, Alora stood up, clutching her books, ready to leave. 　　Her stomach still ached, legs unsteady. She just wanted to rest. 　　Before she reached the door, Mason called out, “Football party tonight, same spot! Alora, you’re coming too!” 　　Alora wanted to refuse, but Caden’s large hand grabbed her wrist again, voice low and commanding: “Let’s go. Don’t drag.” 　　Pain shot through her wrist, her face paling further, but in the end, she couldn’t shake him off. 　　The party was held at a lakeside villa off-campus, the team’s usual spot. 　　As soon as she walked in, Alora spotted Brielle. 　　She wore a sleek fitted dress, makeup flawless, calm and poised in the center of the crowd—drawing eyes effortlessly. 　　Alora, exhausted, pale, and wracked with cramps, hadn’t even bothered with makeup. The last thing she wanted was to interact with Brielle. 　　Caden stood beside her, shoulders tense, gaze drifting unconsciously toward Brielle. 　　“Dam, who invited Brielle?” Mason muttered. 　　Logan shrugged. “She’s here already. Let’s not kill the vibe. Party on.” 　　Soon, someone suggested truth or dare, and the mood picked up. 　　When it was Caden’s turn to spin the bottle, the room buzzed. 　　“Steele! Be honest—where was your last hookup?” 　　Caden smirked, blue eyes sweeping the room, flicking open his lighter with a sharp click. His voice was low, with a rough edge: “Drama hall. Prop room.” 　　The room exploded. 　　“Dam, the drama genius is conquered!” 　　“Harper looks cold, but she must be wild in bed!” 　　“Our football king is champion both on and off the field!” 　　Sitting to the side, Alora gripped the edge of her chair, knuckles white, cramps worsening, sweat soaking her back. 　　She suddenly looked up, just in time to catch Caden’s fleeting glance toward Brielle—eyes icy. 　　Next round, the bottle pointed at Brielle. 　　The room went quiet for two seconds. 　　Mason, tipsy, suddenly shouted: 　　“Brielle, you and Steele used to date, did he take you to the prop room too?” 　　The air froze. Laughter bubbled nervously around them.

　　Brielle’s face drained of color. Before she could answer: 　　CRASH! 　　Caden shot to his feet, tipping the coffee table with a violent shove. 　　Beer bottles flew, glass shattering across the hardwood floor. 　　The entire room froze. No one moved, all eyes locked on Caden’s thunderous expression, the muscles in his arms and chest flexing beneath his fitted shirt as his breath came hard and fast. 　　“You ask a girl shift like that, and you think that’s fking okay?” he snarled, voice a deep, guttural roar. 　　Bryce sobered up instantly, face pale as he stared down at the mess. 　　Brielle stood abruptly, her voice unsteady. “I’m not feeling well. I should go.” 　　Without another word, she turned and hurried toward the door. 　　Caden kicked a piece of broken glass across the room, his jaw clenched tight. “I need a smoke,” he growled, storming out after her, broad shoulders tense and fists curled at his sides. 　　As soon as he left, the tension broke. 　　“Holy shift. That escalated fast.” Derek let out a breath. 　　“Dude was just joking about his own h*****s. Why the hll did he lose it like that?” Logan asked, wide-eyed. 　　Tyler shook his head, lowering his voice. “You guys really that dense? It’s one thing when he jokes about himself. Brielle’s a different story. Off limits. You get it?” 　　The explanation hung in the air. The group went quiet—until they noticed Alora, still seated, her face completely drained of color. 　　Her stomach clenched, another sharp cramp twisting through her gut. 　　She pushed to her feet without a word and walked out, legs barely steady beneath her. 　　At the front of the house, the night air hit her skin like ice. 　　She rounded the corner just in time to see Caden and Brielle by Brielle’s car. 　　Brielle tossed a small paper bag onto the ground between them. “No thanks. I don’t accept gifts from guys who already have girlfriends.” 　　“Come on—” Caden’s voice was tight with frustration, but pleading. “Your roommate said you’ve been sick. I know auditions are coming up, but you can’t just ignore it. What if it gets worse?” 　　Brielle pressed her l**s together, gaze unwavering. 　　Caden bent, picked up the bag, and practically forced it into her hands. 　　“Just…please. Take care of yourself, okay?” His voice dropped low, almost tender. 　　Standing in the shadows, Alora’s stomach twisted—not from the cramps this time, but from the cold clarity of what she was witnessing. 　　So this was what different looked like. 　　Brielle gets a minor cold, and Caden rushes to bring her medicine. 　　When Alora had been curled over in pain from the emergency pill’s side effects, he didn’t care, didn’t even ask her why she was looking sick. 　　All he’d wanted was to feel how “hot” her body would be with a fever—or now, how she looked in the same skirt from that night. 　　One crude comment about Brielle? He’d flipped a table. 　　But when it came to Alora, disgusting locker room jokes were fair game. 　　Love versus being used. The difference hit like a fist to the chest. 　　Her vision blurred with tears as her phone buzzed in her pocket. Mechanically, she answered. 　　Her mother’s voice came through, bright and excited. 　　“Sweetheart! I booked our flights. We’ll leave together next week.” 　　Alora swallowed hard. 　　“Oh—and didn’t you say you were dating someone? You mentioned wanting to introduce him to me. What about your boyfriend now that you’re going abroad?” 　　Across the lot, she saw Brielle pull out, her taillights glowing as the car disappeared down the road. 　　Caden stood frozen, watching the car until it vanished from sight. 　　Alora turned away, her voice a faint whisper. ‘It doesn’t matter. We’re done. Caden. I won’t love you anymore. Not even a little.’ 　　******* 　　The next day. 　　Alora made an appointment at the campus clinic. 　　She needed to get a physical examination done—international health paperwork, clearance to study abroad. 　　After everything, she wasn’t about to take chances with her health. 　　By the time she walked out with her test results in hand, exhaustion weighed heavy on her shoulders. 　　Turning a corner in the waiting room, she nearly collided with two familiar figures. 　　“Alora?” Caden’s voice, sharp with surprise. 　　She looked up. 　　There he was—broad shoulders tense, icy blue eyes narrowing—standing beside Brielle. 　　Before she could respond, Brielle cut in, voice cool and even. 　　“Caden, I told you. You didn’t need to come. I can check in myself.” 　　Without another glance, she strode toward the reception desk, heels clicking across the floor. 　　For a moment, it was just Alora and Caden left standing there. 　　His gaze flicked down—sharp eyes catching the stack of papers in her hand. 　　His brow furrowed. 　　“Why are you here? You’re not…” His expression darkened instantly. “You’re not pregnant, are you?” 　　Alora blinked, her pulse jumping. 　　She glanced toward the clinic signs. Of course. The OB-GYN department was right next to the general check-in area. 　　He’d jumped to conclusions. 　　She opened her mouth to deny it—then paused. 　　A thought slid into place. 　　She met his gaze squarely, her voice flat. 　　“What if I am?”

　　Caden’s pupils constricted.
“Are you...?” 　　For a split second—he didn’t hide it fast enough—there was a flicker of something sharp in those icy blue eyes. Not fear. Not concern. Something closer to...excitement. 　　He wanted this. 　　He wanted to hear her say it. 　　Alora saw it instantly. The rush of eager energy beneath the surface. 　　And then—just as fast—he masked it, forcing his expression into a mock-concerned frown. 　　“I mean, if something’s wrong, Rara... you know you can tell me. I’ll help. Whatever you need.” 　　His voice was carefully measured, soft. But too careful. Too polished. 　　She felt the bile rise in her throat. 　　The memory of his locker room voice echoed—“If she gets pregnant, we’ll handle it.” 　　Handle it for who, Caden? For her? Or for Brielle? 　　Her skin crawled. 　　“Don’t,” she said, her voice cold as ice. 　　Caden blinked. “What?” 　　Before he could fake another word, she stepped forward and shoved him hard, flat-palmed against his chest. 　　“Don’t t***h me. Don’t talk to me. Just stay away.” 　　Her stomach twisted—not from the lingering cramps this time, but from pure disgust. 　　Without giving him a chance to react, she turned and walked away, her pulse hammering. 　　She didn’t look back. 　　Caden stood frozen, hands half-raised, staring after her as she disappeared through the clinic doors. 　　The clinic doors hissed shut behind her. 　　Alora stopped just outside, the spring air sharp and cold against her flushed skin. 　　Another sharp cramp twisted through her stomach, but this time, the physical pain barely registered. 　　What stuck was that moment—watching Caden go still and silent. 　　The same guy who’d laughed in front of his teammates about “handling it” if she got pregnant—terrified now when she threw it back at him. 　　Coward. 　　And not once—not one godаm time—had he asked if she was okay. 　　When he looked at Brielle, his whole expression changed—concern, softness. With Alora? Just calculation. Just cold, nervous self-preservation. 　　‘I’ll never believe a word out of his mouth again.’ 　　She gripped the test results so hard the edges bit into her palms. 　　That boy she’d once thought might be her Romeo? 　　Dead and buried. 　　‘I won’t let him t***h me. Not ever again.’ 　　She walked faster as she headed back toward campus, each step purposeful despite the dull ache in her gut. 　　But no matter how fast she moved, the whispers followed. 　　She could feel them—eyes on her, conversations cutting off when she passed. 　　Her stage-trained composure held firm, every step controlled and deliberate, the only thing keeping her from crumbling under their stares. 　　White magnolia petals drifted from the trees lining the path, scattering across the brick walkway. 　　How many times had she walked here with Caden? 　　Just last week, he’d plucked a blossom and tucked it behind her ear, leaned down with that cocky smile and whispered: 　　“Nothing out here comes close to how beautiful you are.” 　　The memory made her stomach churn. 　　She pressed her l**s into a thin line and tightened her grip on the folder in her hands. 　　The results were clear—no pregnancy, no infections. Elevated stress markers, lingering effects from the emergency pill. The doctor had offered a pointed look, part concern, part judgment. 　　“Be more careful next time.” 　　There wouldn’t be a next time. 　　Not with Caden. 　　Not with anyone. 　　Not for a long, long time. 　　Back on campus, the brick buildings loomed taller than ever, no longer familiar or safe. 　　Four more days. 　　Just four more days. Then I’m out. 　　Her dorm came into view. She swiped in with shaking fingers. 　　Before the door even closed behind her, Eve came flying at her, phone in hand, panic all over her face. 　　“Alora! You need to see this!” 　　Without waiting, she shoved her phone into her hands. 　　“Your photos...they’re everywhere on the campus app. You know—those kinds of photos!” 　　For a beat, Alora’s mind went blank. 　　Then she looked. 　　Image after image—e******t, graphic, flooding the feed. 　　Her hands gripped the phone tighter. Her gut twisted—not with humiliation, but with a cold, burning rage. 　　For one sickening second, she wondered—had Caden recorded her? 　　The nausea hit instantly at the thought. 　　But as she forced herself to look closer, it became obvious. The photos were photoshopped badly. 　　“They’re fake,” she said, her voice steadier than expected. 　　“None of them are real.” 　　Eve let out a shaky breath. “I know. You’ve got that birthmark on your t***h. These don’t even show it. It’s a terrible edit.” 　　But the comments—vicious, disgusting—were everywhere. 　　“People won’t care.” Eve’s voice broke. “They’re already running with it. Alora, wait—what are you doing?” 　　Alora had already grabbed her phone, her fingers flying across the screen, her heart hammering but her grip steady. 　　“Calling campus security. Then the police. Whoever did this? I’m going to make Dam sure they regret it.” 　　A few locker room jokes? That, she’d stomached. 　　This was criminal. 　　And she wasn’t staying quiet anymore. 　　Not now. Not ever again. 　　She had a Dam good idea who was behind it. 　　Just as she was dialing, their other roommate Fiona burst in, breathless. 　　“Alora! Your boyfriend’s in a fight outside the dining hall!”

　　Alora was shocked to hear that and she couldn’t bring herself to make that call. 　　But then, she didn’t want to have anything to do with Caden anymore. 　　So what was her business if he was fighting? 　　“It has nothing…” 　　Before she could complete that, Fiona interrupted her. 　　“I heard Caden traced the source of those pictures of you and discovered that they were released by Jacob. He got into a fight because of you.” 　　That got Alora so confused. 　　She then headed towards the location of the fight. 　　Why was he fighting because of her? 　　Was this another plan of his to get her under his control? 　　Did he truly know nothing about how the pictures that has been released? 　　What exactly was he playing at? 　　This behavior of Caden got Alora so confused. 　　There was a crowd gathered outside the building. When they saw Alora approaching, the murmuring grew louder. 　　They parted to let her through. She could feel the stares, the side-talks. 　　Oh, she should have known that things were never going to end well with Caden. 　　She used to be a normal student free from scandal but now, Caden was messing up with her life! 　　She saw him, Caden was on top another guy. The guy’s face was bloodied, yet, Caden kept punching him over and over. 　　For a brief moment, Alora actually felt that Caden’s feelings for her were genuine. 　　She felt that he really loved her. 　　Maybe he had just said all those things to seem manly and tough for his friends. 　　But did she really want to be with someone who couldn’t defend her against his friends? 　　Alora shook her head, bringing herself back to reality. 　　“I’m sorry. Please have mercy on me. I’ve always had a crush on Alora and I got jealous that she was with you! I just wanted to punish her. I shouldn’t have photoshopped those pictures, please forgive me.”The boy begged. 　　But Caden paid deaf ears to his pleas and continued to rain punches on his face. 　　The boy seemed to be losing consciousness and Caden kept beating him up. 　　Alora had never seen him so violent before! 　　What had gotten into him? 　　She refused to see this as a protection. He was probably just doing all he could to impress her so he could keep getting into her pants. 　　But she didn’t want him to get into trouble using her name. 　　She ran towards him and yelled. 　　“Caden, stop!” 　　He didn’t listen. She grabbed hold of his hand. 　　“You’re going to kill him at this rate!” 　　Only then did Caden finally stop. 　　But such an issue was hard to blew over. The incident blew up with the boy’s family wanting to press charges. But when they discovered what their son had done coupled with the fact that Caden was from a powerful family, they reluctantly agreed to settle the matter, privately. 　　It wasn’t surprising that the school’s administrators were lenient with Caden. He was a top student and the best athlete, coupled with the fact that his father had made so many donations to the school. 　　They left him alone to be disciplined by his father at home. 　　Caden had minor injuries so Alora had to follow him to the infirmary to get himself treated. 　　Staring at his bruised knuckles, Alora didn’t know how to feel at this moment. 　　“Why did you do that?”She asked him, curiously. 　　Their relationship wasn’t real to him. 　　It never was. 　　So why would he put on such a show today? 　　It was too extreme. 　　“We’re in a relationship. You’re important to me and news like that could be a stain on your career, I couldn’t let anyone taint your name like that.” 　　His tone was so sincere that she almost believed him. 　　Stain on her career? 　　The same career he wanted to ruin? 　　Why was he still lying? 　　Why was he still leading her on? 　　Did he want more sx from her?! 　　She had class in an hour so she left the infirmary, and also needed to clear her head. 　　As she sat down in class, her mind was somewhere else. 　　She kept recalling the scene of Caden beating that boy up. 　　The anger in his eyes and face. 　　She had never seen him that angry? 　　Was it possible that he truly liked her? 　　As a drama major, she had watched and seen a lot of dramas where the main leads started off on a rough patch, sometimes, starting off on a relationship based on lies. 　　But at the end, it turned out to be something beautiful. 　　Was that her story then? 　　Alora shook her head. 　　She was lying to herself again. 　　Wasn’t it enough that he had lied to her? 　　Why was she lying to herself as well? 　　A relationship built on lies was pointless and should never work. 　　She was going far away and she had to forget all about him! 　　After her class ended, she was still worried about him. He was someone who didn’t take his medication seriously whenever he was sick. 　　She decided to just get him some soup, check on him briefly and then leave. 　　This act of kindness felt both stubid and unnecessary but she wanted to take this as a final gesture and end to whatever existed between them before, whether real or fake.

　　Holding the warm container of food, Alora headed for the private room that Caden was in. 　　Just as she was about to open the door, she heard the voices of his friends. 　　“My God, you’re taking this too far, Caden. I mean, you almost killed that guy because of Alora. There’s no way she’d ever doubt you now.” 　　Alora froze in front of the door. 　　Even if she knew that the fight was just an act to win her over, there was still a tiny glimpse of hope deep down that he might have genuine feelings for her. 　　But that hope got dashed again! 　　“The competition’s deadline is coming up fast. I understand why Caden did that. He needs Alora to be very distracted so Brielle can win.” 　　“Granted, but that was no reason to beat Jacob up like that. Given that we were the ones who posted the photoshopped pictures. We paid him to take the fall and you were only meant to give him a few punches.” 　　Alora’s heart stopped. 　　Even the photoshopped image was planned by Caden too! 　　“You could have killed him for nothing! Mason scolded. 　　A heavy silence filled the room. 　　Caden finally spoke. 　　“He said some words that were triggering to me. He had it coming.” 　　“C’mon, I was there, he didn’t exactly say anything that was out of line from what we rehearsed. Also, I even feel this scandal won’t do much damage to Alora. You should have allowed us continue with the original plan, we should have taken pictures of you two at the prop room. It would have been more effective.” 　　Caden’s voice turned cold. 　　“I would have been in it too! Do you think I want a sx scandal on my name?” 　　Hearing the fury in his tone, his friends didn’t say anything more. 　　Outside the door, Alora retreated, her face turning pale. 　　The container in her hands felt so heavy. 　　How could he do this to her so heartlessly? 　　They had originally planned to take real barely covered body pictures of her? 　　The only reason he didn’t allowed that was because he’d been in the pictures too! 　　How could he hurt her like this? 　　Alora dumped the container into a trash can, the pain she felt was turning into anger. 　　How could he treat her like this?! 　　Even if he loved Brielle so much, was that enough to destroy Alora’s life?! 　　*********** 　　The following day, Alora headed for the shop outside the school. 　　She had to buy some essentials for her trip to London. As she pushed her cart, she dropped some items into it. And just as she rounded up an aisle, she saw Brielle. 　　Immediately, she backed up and hid behind some tall rack of products. She wasn’t exactly hiding because she was scared. 　　She just didn’t want to have an altercation with Brielle. She had just a few days left, she wanted to leave, peacefully and start her life all over again. 　　Just as she was about to turned her cart and go the opposite direction, she heard her name. 　　“Didn’t you say that girl, Alora wouldn’t be a problem?” 　　Alora frowned. 　　She had noticed that Brielle was with an older woman. 　　Why was Alora’s name being mentioned? 　　“She won’t be a problem, mom. I already told you, I’m using Caden to make her unable to get the spot. That’s all.” 　　“I don’t know, my dear. I have a bad feeling about this. You know how hard it was for you to secure a relationship with Caden, we should be focusing on making sure you two get married. We need his family’s wealth. So sending him to go play with another girl’s heart seems quite tricky.” 　　“Mom, he doesn’t give a f'k- about her. Actually, he enjoys playing with her. Let’s just say I’m killing two birds with one stone. He’d get rid of Alora from the audition and by doing so, he has proven how much he loves me. He’d never leave me.” 　　Alora’s l**s parted. She was aware that Brielle was from a low background but she never knew that had made her so money-hungry. 　　Brielle didn’t genuinely care about Caden, she was just using him. 　　Alora scoffed. 　　Caden and Brielle truly deserve each other. Two liars and deceitful creatures! 　　************* 　　When Alora got back to campus, her phone was ringing nonstop. 　　Caden had been calling all day. She had been ignoring his calls but he won’t stop calling. 　　Alora didn’t want to talk to him. She didn’t want to see him anymore. 　　She headed for the dean’s office to get her transfer letter. 　　As she was leaving the office, a black BMW stopped in front of her. 　　The door swung open. 　　“Alora! What the hll!”Caden began. 　　She made to ignore him, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his car, shutting the door. 　　“Let me out!”She thundered, angrily. 　　“I knew it, you’re mad at me. Why have you been ignoring my calls?” 　　“We have nothing to talk about.” 　　“Is this about the pictures. I already punished him for you. I got in so much trouble because of it and you’re mad at me?” 　　Alora huffed. 　　He really does know how to pretend. 　　He spotted the transfer document in her hands. 　　“Are you…are you leaving this school?” 　　Alora got nervous. 　　Her plan was to leave without telling him, to outsmart him and leave him wondering what went wrong in that fking plan of his! 　　“It’s none of your business.” 　　He seemed to be in total disbelief. 　　“What about…what about the Tisch spot? Aren’t you preparing for that anymore?” 　　She looked at him, straight in the eye and announced. 　　“I actually had no zeal to compete for that spot.” 　　His eyes dilated. 　　There, she said it. 　　She stared at the reaction on his face. 　　What would he do now knowing that he no longer had to pretend to like her?

　　Caden was clearly shocked by that news and his momentary distraction gave Alora the time to pull away from him. 　　As she made to open the door and get out of the car, he grabbed hold of her hand. 　　“Rara.”He called. 　　“Alora.”She corrected, firmly. 　　“I thought you liked me calling you that.” 　　When he started chasing after her, he called her Rara. 　　Everyone called her Alora. 　　But overtime, she grown to loved hearing him call her that. 　　Like a person nickname that only the boy she loved calls her. 　　But now, after seeing that the feelings were one-sided. 　　She was the only one who loved him while he was manipulating and playing with her heart. 　　She hated that name. 　　She hated his presence. 　　She wanted to hate him too. 　　She didn’t want to have anything to do with him. 　　“Don’t call me that anymore.” 　　He pulled her back to face him. 　　“Are you breaking up with me? Did anyone tell you anything?” 　　Alora looked up at him.”Is anyone supposed to tell me anything?” 　　“Then why are you transferring schools?” 　　“Did I tell you that this document is for me? It’s for my friend.” Alora lied. 　　She still wanted her disappearance to take him by surprise since up until now, he still felt like playing with her. 　　He looked relieved to hear that. 　　“Then why don’t you want to compete for the Tisch position. With your skills, you’re sure to get in.” 　　Alora felt like punching him on the face. 　　Didn’t he say Brielle was more deserving of that spot? 　　Now he was saying this to her face? 　　“I just never had any interest in that competition.” 　　He looked taken aback again. 　　“Caden, I have to go.” 　　Alora wasn’t in the mood for his usual confusion game. 　　“Rara, I want things to return to the way they used to be between us.” 　　Alora stared at him in disbelief. 　　Hadn’t he done enough? 　　Shouldn’t he be happy that she no longer wanted that position? 　　Shouldn’t he jump for joy and go tell Brielle the good news? 　　Why was he still pretending to like her? 　　“I should…” 　　Before she could complete that, Caden held her tightly and pressed his l**s against hers. 　　He kissed her, deeply. His tongue traced the seam of her l**s until they parted. 　　Alora tried to fight him but he was intoxicating. 　　His tongue delved into her mouth, played with hers and she made a small sound in her throat. 　　He deepened the k**s and slid his free hand over her body. 　　She m****d into his mouth. 　　Her mind was almost clouded with a haze of desire and then she suddenly recalled, the words, the humiliation she’s had to endure for the past few days. 　　He didn’t love her. 　　He just wanted to use her body as a cvm-dumping site. 　　He loved Brielle. 　　She didn’t deserved this. 　　With all her might, Alora pushed him away from her body. She got down from the car and hurried away. 　　********* 　　As soon as Alora got to her dorm room, she started to arrange her belongings. She had just finished packing up when her phone rang. 　　She grabbed a hold of it and saw that it was Caden. 　　She ignored it. She had to block him. Or better still, she had to get rid of this particular phone number of hers so he’d have no way of contacting her ever again. 　　She made up her to get rid of it on her way to the airport tomorrow. 　　Her cellphone beeped, it was a text from him. 　　Caden: Rara, I know you said I shouldn’t call you that but I want to. I feel like I owe you a lot, and at the same time, I do not want things to end between us. 　　Alora sat on the bed. 　　What was he up to this time? 　　He sent another text. 　　Caden: I really care about you, Alora. 　　Was he love-bombing her now? 　　Was having sx with her that good? He was willing to continue this charade even after she had made it clear to him that she wasn’t interested in Tisch! 　　Caden: I’ve been keeping a lot of things away from you while trying to maintain this image of myself. I realize now that it might not be worth it. 　　“He just wants to humiliate you even more, Alora.” She murmured to herself. 　　Caden: Please meet me at the lakeside tomorrow, I have something important to say to you. I don’t know how you’re going to see me after that but you deserve to know everything about me. 　　Was he going to tell her about the bet? 　　Alora shook her head. 　　She didn’t want to think about it. 　　She didn’t want to be dragged even deeper into this game of his. 　　She laid on her bed, trying to sleep and prepare for tomorrow’s flight. 　　Almost an hour later of unsuccessfully getting any sleep, her phone beeped. 　　She reached for it and stared at the screen. 　　Surprisingly, it was Brielle. 　　Brielle and her had each other’s number but they rarely communicated on phone. 　　Curiously, she tapped on the screen and saw that it was a video. 　　The video captured Brielle, Caden and their friends all having fun at a club. 　　And then Brielle and Caden started actively making out while the others cheered. 　　It was the same outfit Caden wore earlier that day when he kissed Alora in his car. 　　Under the video was a text. 　　Brielle:I’m back with my boyfriend now, stay away from him, slvt. 　　At this point, Alora wasn’t surprised, she had already been disappointed too much by that boy already. 　　But she couldn’t say she wasn’t hurt. 　　She felt hurt and disgusted. 　　Disgusted with herself for ever getting involved with Caden. 　　But never again. 　　They were never going to see each other again!