Chapter 4

The moment I saw Celeste's name on that list, everything suddenly made sense.

I forced a cold smile.

"I don't accept it."

"That's not up to you."

Ezra and the Student Council staffer spoke at the same time.

"We've already made our decision. Bridget, please don't force us to take disciplinary measures."

With contemptuous stares all around me, I lost all strength and slowly sank back into my seat.

Ezra asked me to meet him at the back gate of the school.

I slapped him with all the strength I had.

A clear handprint stood out against his pale face.

"Bridget, it's just $3,000. It's not the end of the world."

"You have me to take care of you. We'll get married after graduation. You don't need to worry about $3,000."

I clenched my teeth, my whole body trembling with rage.

"For Celeste's sake. Right?"

Ezra's pupils contracted.

Then he closed his eyes tightly.

"$3,000 is enough for Celeste to shoot a whole month's worth of campus cafeteria videos. She's not short on money, but with this, she won't have to dip into her own spending money."

"And me?"

It took Ezra a long time to answer.

"Bridget, honestly, I've been good enough to you, haven't I? What other boyfriend would do what I do—cook whatever you want whenever you need it?"

"Don't let a little bit of money come between us after what we've built over all these years."

He turned to leave, then stopped halfway.

"There's nothing between me and Celeste. It's just a streamer-and-fan thing. Don't read into it, and don't ever let me catch you going after her."

With that, he strode off without looking back.

I stood frozen for a long while, then slowly crouched down and wrapped my arms around myself.

A sharp pain shot through my stomach.

My gastritis had flared up again.

Ezra had no idea that $3,000 was all that stood between me and the surgery I needed.

Years of anorexia had left me, young as I was, with severe gastritis.

The doctor said that if I didn't get it treated in time, it could develop into stomach cancer.

To scrape together the money for the operation, I worked nonstop for an entire year, taking one part-time job after another.

The financial aid was what finally made up the difference.

Now the $3,000 was gone, and the surgery was no longer possible.

On top of that, I was nine thousand dollars in debt.

For a moment, a wave of pain tore through my entire body.

I couldn't even tell anymore whether it was my stomach that hurt, or my heart.

The hospital called, asking when I'd come in for the surgery.

I was washing dishes in the cafeteria, my stomach aching all the while, and all I could do was bite down on my lip and force myself to stay conscious.

"Dr. Cobb, I probably can't have the surgery this year. Let me come back next year..."

The doctor let out a helpless sigh.

"You can't keep putting it off."

"I know. But... I really can't come up with the money."

By then, the doctor knew there was nothing he could say to change the situation.

After what happened that day, someone posted the video online.

Before long, everyone was turning on me.

Walking down the street, my classmates couldn't hide the contempt in their eyes.

One part-time job after another let me go, saying they couldn't afford to hire someone with my reputation.

Only Aunt Pat Whitney at the cafeteria seemed to see me for who I really was.

I hung up the phone, wiped the cold sweat beading on my forehead, and went back to the dishes.

Ezra and Celeste walked into the cafeteria together.

They bought several dishes from the food counter and picked a seat by the window.

Celeste ate with her cheeks flushed, and Ezra just watched her, his smile soft and affectionate.

He even reached over to gently wipe a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth.

The two of them both froze for an instant.

I was right there in the back kitchen, not far from them, watching all of it.

By the time she got back to the dorm that night, Celeste was still practically glowing with happiness.