Chapter 2

Olivia POV

I finally couldn't run anymore and collapsed in a deserted alley, letting out suppressed, agonized sobs.

Just then, my phone rang. It was my family calling.

I answered with trembling hands, and immediately my mother's shrill roar came through: "Olivia! What the hell are those disgusting photos on the school forum! Your teacher called the house! Do you know what kind of negative impact you've caused our family?!"

My father's angry rebuke came through faintly too: "We worked so hard to raise you, and this is how you embarrass us at college?!"

I cried so hard I couldn't speak, the pain in my chest suffocating me.

My parents were extremely strict with me. They only showed me a rare smile when I got first place or won awards.

So I studied desperately, strictly disciplined myself, worked to be top of my class, and did my best at everything, just hoping to earn a little more of their love.

But now that something had happened, they had not a shred of concern or trust—only endless blame and disgust.

"Cry, cry, cry! All you do is cry! The scholarship is hopeless now! We've already bought you a plane ticket abroad for the end of the month. Get out of here! Come back in a few years when people have forgotten about this!" My mother's voice was cold and uncompromising.

My heart died completely. I numbly said into the phone: "Okay."

I would go abroad.

But I would never come back for the rest of my life!

After hanging up, I numbly returned to the apartment I shared with Ethan.

I began mechanically packing my things, throwing away all the gifts Ethan had given me over the past year—necklaces, bracelets, stuffed animals, lipstick... one by one into the trash.

Those sweet tokens I'd once treasured now seemed like mocking jokes.

Just as I threw the last necklace away, the door lock clicked.

Ethan—no, Adrian—walked in.

He imitated Ethan's voice, but his tone was very gentle: "Liv, what are you throwing away?"

I looked up, staring hard at this face that was almost identical to Ethan's but looked younger. My heart felt torn apart again, the pain almost suffocating me.

"Don't these things look familiar to you?" My voice was hoarse with cold mockery.

Adrian's smile froze for a moment, then he cleverly changed the subject. "Why are your eyes so red? Is it because of what happened on the forum today? Don't be sad, I've handled it. All the posts are deleted. No one will dare talk about you anymore. The scholarship's gone, so what? You're only a junior—there's next year. Or just don't bother finishing school. Come work at my family's company. I'll take care of you..."

My heart ached terribly, my nails digging deep into my palms.

These two brothers—each one a better actor than the last!

Just as I was about to speak, Adrian had already naturally pulled me into his arms, his chin nuzzling the top of my head: "Come on, stop crying. It breaks my heart to see you cry, okay?"

His familiar scent enveloped me, followed by light kisses falling on my neck, his hands beginning to wander over my body. In the past I would always respond shyly, but today I just felt cold all over, nausea rising in my stomach.

I shoved him away hard!

Adrian stumbled back, caught off guard. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, his tone still gentle: "What's wrong? Not in the mood today?"

"I don't feel well." I turned my head away, my voice hoarse.

Adrian stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled: "Alright, I'll go take a cold shower then."

He didn't force it and turned toward the bathroom.

I continued numbly packing, completely erasing every trace of "us."

After finishing everything, I lay down on the bed exhausted, my back to the bathroom.

Before long, Adrian came out with moisture still clinging to him and lay down beside me.

He was quiet for a while, but seemed unable to resist. He moved closer and hugged me from behind, warm kisses falling on the back of my ear and my shoulder.

I stiffly endured it until, half-asleep, I heard him murmur a name—

"Summer..."

That name was like an ice pick instantly piercing my heart. I snapped fully awake, my blood flowing backward!

So... it wasn't just Ethan. Even Adrian, every time he slept with me, was thinking of Summer Bennett?!

I shoved him away hard again, almost grinding my teeth, my voice trembling uncontrollably: "I said... I really don't feel well today!"

Adrian was startled by my intense reaction. Apparently seeing I was genuinely in a terrible state, he paused and finally compromised with a sigh: "Okay, okay, I won't touch you. I'll just hold you while we sleep, alright?"

True to his word, he didn't make any more moves, just held me from behind.

I lay there stiffly in his embrace, tears silently soaking the pillow. I forced myself to endure the immense pain and disgust until I finally fell into a fitful sleep near dawn.

When I woke the next day, he was already gone, as expected.

I used to wonder why Ethan never went to school with me. Now I knew—it was simply because the one sharing my bed at night was Adrian, while the real Ethan during the day couldn't be bothered with such intimacy.

I numbly got up, washed, and prepared to go to school to process my withdrawal.

As soon as I arrived at school, before I could reach the administration office, a classmate suddenly rushed over and stopped me: "Olivia! Thank god you're here! Your advisor wants you in his office right away! He said it's urgent!"

An ominous feeling settled in my chest.