Chapter 3

The person who posted it gave a vivid, blow-by-blow account of how I'd been "chasing" Marvin since the semester started, and even put up a video of the two of us meeting yesterday.

Cut and spliced on purpose, it looked like I was the one clinging to him and refusing to let go.

At the bottom of the post, the sneering continued:

【I heard this girl's hearing isn't great, and she's got a cold, gloomy personality too. Sounds like something's off in her head as well, or why would she keep throwing herself at a taken man?】

Plenty of people piled on in the comments:

"It's true! I saw her corner Marvin in private with my own eyes. Even after he caught her at it, she still wouldn't give up."

"Marvin's already being so generous about it, and she keeps latching on. That's shameless."

I didn't have to guess. This post was Miranda's, no question.

My hands were nearly shaking with anger. I went straight to the comments to set things straight:

"Marvin and I were only discussing something serious. Yesterday, he was the one who came to find me."

But the moment it went up, all it earned me was crueler mockery:

"Who do you think you are? Marvin's got no reason to seek out some broke, half-deaf loser like you. Keep dreaming."

"Bad ears is one thing, but now you're twisting black into white?"

I couldn't take it anymore. I messaged Marvin:

"The rumors are getting worse and worse. You really need to step up and explain."

But to my surprise, Marvin started stalling:

"Louise, give it a little more time. The whole school's talking about this right now. If I explain now, everyone will just think I'm covering for you on purpose, and the misunderstanding will only get worse."

That made me laugh, cold and done:

"You're a student my family sponsors. Those few talks were only about checking on how the sponsorship was going. Is that so hard to say out loud? Fine, you won't say it, then I'll say it myself!"

He only cared about himself, so he couldn't blame me for not honoring old ties.

I posted the truth about sponsoring Marvin on the campus fair board, and even put up some of the screenshots.

The post was shared fast.

Except the outcome was the exact opposite of what I'd imagined.

"This is hilarious. She's making up rich-family soap operas now just to clear her name?"

"Sponsored him for five years? If her family's that loaded, how is there not a single rumor about it in this whole school?"

"She's lost it. Gets rejected once and starts making things up."

I stared at the screen full of malice and drew in a deep breath.

It seemed the one who tied the knot was the only one who could untie it.

I found out Miranda's route after class and went straight to her.

When Miranda saw me, contempt flickered in her eyes.

"What, still not giving up?"

"That anonymous post on the campus fair board. You posted it, didn't you?"

I kept my voice as level as I could.

"Spreading false claims, maliciously fabricating things to defame someone. That already crosses into violating someone's right to their reputation. Stop the rumors right now, and post publicly to clear all of it up. Otherwise, I can sue."

"Sue? You think I'm scared of you? You homewrecking little slut."

Miranda snapped. She lunged forward, her hand flying up high, and I clamped down on it hard.

"You want to hit me. I'll tell the lawyer that too, exactly as it happened."

"Slut, quit the act!"

She shrieked with rage, her eyes raking wildly over me, then suddenly fixing on my neck.

"Where did you get that jade pendant?"

Miranda's voice went shrill:

"You're still threatening to sue me? Not sending you to jail is me being generous! Louise Swanson, you actually stole something? That jade pendant on your neck is the one Marvin wore when he took me to a party. How is it sitting on you now?"

A few short sentences, and the crowd erupted at once.

More and more students crowded in at the noise, until there was no room to move.

"The pendant is mine."

I explained at once.

"Marvin borrowed it from me back then to save face at a party. He gave it back afterward."

But Miranda acted like she'd heard the biggest joke in the world:

"Here we go again, still spinning stories. How could anything of Marvin's belong to a cripple like you? I say you stole it. No wonder I haven't seen Marvin wearing this pendant lately!"

She turned to the watching students and threw out her words:

"Today I, Miranda Fox, am dishing out justice for the heavens and teaching this thieving little homewrecker a proper lesson!"

"My boyfriend Marvin is a top-tier rich heir. His family's never short on money. Anyone who helps me pin her down today, I'll send you ten thousand each afterward. That's a promise!"