---- Chapter 6 Liam came home late that night, smelling faintly of expensive perfume and champagne. He was back in his role, his expression full of practiced apology. "I'm so sorry about today, Sarah," he said, trying to hug me. | sidestepped him. "My boss's daughter can be... a handful. | had no choice." He seemed to sense my coldness and tried a different tactic. "| brought you something," he said, pulling a small, cheap- looking box from his pocket with a flourish. He opened it to reveal a tube of lipstick. The packaging was gaudy, and | recognized it instantly. It was a free gift with purchase from the very store I'd seen him in with Tiffany. The kind of thing they toss in the bag after you've spent a fortune. ---- "| saw it and thought of you," he said, smiling, as if he were presenting me with a diamond. The lipstick felt greasy and cheap in my hand. So this is what | was worth to him. A freebie. While Tiffany got ten thousand dollars' worth of luxury cosmetics, | got the trash they were throwing away. A bitter taste filled my mouth. He probably thought | only deserved something free like this. | placed the lipstick on the table without a word. "You don't have to spend money on me, Liam," | said, my voice devoid of emotion. "Save it." He misunderstood completely. A look of relief mixed with fondness crossed his face. "Oh, Sarah," he sighed, stroking my hair. "You're always thinking of me, always so worried about money. Don't worry. Things will get better." ---- He actually thought | was upset about the cost. The sheer density of his self-absorption was staggering. Later, as | was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and waiting for the sun to rise on my last day in this city, my phone buzzed with an urgent call. It was Professor Davies. His voice was frantic. "Sarah! | just got an email from the university admissions board. There's a problem." My heart, which | thought couldn't sink any lower, plummeted. "What kind of problem?" "Someone filed a formal complaint against you," he said, his voice tight with anger. "They're accusing you of academic fraud. They claim the data in your final thesis, the one you submitted for the scholarship application, was fabricated." | sat bolt upright, the pain in my side flaring. "What? ---- That's impossible! All my research is original." "| know that, Sarah. But this is a serious accusation. They've launched an investigation. If they find any reason to believe it, they'll not only cancel your scholarship offer, but you'll be blacklisted from most academic institutions. It would be a catastrophe." "Who?" | whispered, my throat dry. "Who would do this?" "The complaint was filed by a Tiffany Hayes." Of course. Of course, it was her. The game wasn't over. Humiliating me wasn't enough. They had to destroy my future, too. They had to take away my only way out. ---- A wave of complete helplessness washed over me. Why? Why did this wealthy young woman hate me so much that she had to crush every single opportunity | had? The next morning, | knew what | had to do. My body was screaming in protest. | hadn't recovered from the surgery. | was weak, anemic, and in constant pain. But | couldn't let this happen. | took a bus to the towering glass skyscraper that housed the Blackwood Corporation headquarters. | knew Tiffany worked there, in some high-level position her father had created for her. | didn't have an appointment. The security guard at the front desk wouldn't even let me up. So | waited | stood by the main entrance, watching employees in expensive suits rush in and out. | stood for one hour. ---- Then two. Then four. My legs trembled, and the incision in my side felt like it was on fire. | was dizzy from hunger and exhaustion. Just as | felt | was about to collapse, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The chauffeur opened the door. And out stepped Tiffany, laughing at something the person beside her had said. That person was Liam. They saw me at the same time. Tiffany's smile faltered, replaced by a look of annoyance. Liam's face went pale. | took a deep breath, clutching my aching side. | walked forward, my legs shaking, and stood in front of them, blocking their path.