Chapter 4

Olivia POV

I went to the cafeteria alone, ate something randomly, then went directly to process my withdrawal.

Hearing my reason for withdrawing was "studying abroad," the staff, though somewhat regretful about my previous excellent grades, thought of the recent private photo scandal and the plagiarism incident that had just occurred, and merely expressed understanding in a formulaic way without trying to keep me.

"The withdrawal process takes a few days to approve. Just attend classes normally during this time."

"Thank you, professor." I replied quietly, my face expressionless.

I went through the day's classes like an empty shell. When the bell rang, I gathered my books and walked out with the crowd. Passing by the school's little garden, I saw many people rushing excitedly in one direction, their voices buzzing with excitement:

"Quick! Quick! There's a fight up ahead!"

"Oh my god, it's Ethan Chase! I've never seen him that angry!"

"He's fighting over Summer Bennett!"

I stopped in my tracks, my heart pricked by tiny needles.

I inexplicably followed for a few steps and indeed saw a small circle of people ahead.

In the center, Ethan was grappling with another male student.

Usually so coldly composed, he now seemed provoked, his movements fierce, that handsome face showing rare fury.

The surrounding chatter drifted into my ears in fragments:

"I heard that guy confessed to Summer, got rejected, then started harassing her..."

"Ethan's usually so calm, but he actually got physical..."

"But isn't Olivia his girlfriend? Why is he fighting over Summer?"

"Tsk, don't you get it? Ethan saw those photos of Olivia—he's probably disgusted with her already..."

Listening to these words, that barren land in my heart still produced sharp, fine pain.

Just then, Summer in the crowd rushed forward like a frightened deer, crying as she hugged Ethan's waist from behind: "Ethan, stop fighting! I'm so scared... please stop..."

Ethan's movements stopped abruptly.

He released the male student who could barely stand from the beating, turned around, and the violence on his face instantly dissipated, replaced by a kind of almost clumsy tenderness I'd never seen.

He carefully wiped Summer's tears, his voice so low and gentle it could drown someone: "Don't be scared. I'll stop. Did I frighten you?"

That extreme tenderness and care was like a poisoned ice blade, completely shattering my last bit of self-deception.

He had never looked at me that way.

Never coaxed me in that tone.

Even during sex—the most intimate act—he found me so repulsive he had his brother substitute!

How blind must I have been to think he liked me?

Just then, Ethan's gaze inadvertently swept across the crowd and happened to meet mine.

He froze again, seemingly not expecting me to be there, an extremely brief complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something.

But I looked away first, as if merely seeing an irrelevant stranger, and turned to leave expressionlessly.

That evening, I returned to the apartment, physically and mentally exhausted, and went to bed early.

Before long, there was noise at the door. Adrian had returned.

"Liv, why are you sleeping so early today?" He came over, his tone carrying its usual casual intimacy.

I faced away from him, my voice flat: "Nothing. I'm tired."

Adrian heard the coldness in my tone and hugged me from behind, beginning to coax me skillfully, explaining away the paper incident and the fight with his set of false rhetoric.

I listened numbly, thinking: one responsible for hurting, one for comforting—these two brothers' coordination was truly seamless.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to say another word to him.

Seeing I was ignoring him, Adrian habitually moved closer to kiss my neck, his hands starting to wander.

I shoved him away hard, my voice carrying suppressed exhaustion and disgust: "I said, I've been really tired lately. I don't want to."

Adrian, rejected repeatedly, looked somewhat displeased, but seeing my genuinely pale face, he finally held back, though his tone cooled: "Fine. Sleep then."

When I woke the next day, I was surprised to find Adrian still there, not gone early as usual.

"Why are you still here?"

"Where else would I be?" Adrian smiled naturally, moving closer to hug me. "I upset my baby yesterday, so I specially took the day off to make it up to you properly, okay?"

I understood immediately.

Ethan probably couldn't be bothered to put on an act and had simply dumped the entire coaxing task on his brother.