Chapter 1

The day before I was to meet my sponsor, I walked in on him losing a bet with the campus queen. His forfeit was to read my secret crush diary out loud, in front of everyone.

Phineas Henson gave a soft laugh and tossed the diary onto the table like it was nothing.

"You think some dark, hick fisherman's daughter is fit to have a crush on me? If I hadn't been picking a fight with Bess, I'd never have sponsored her."

The whole room went off.

"Oh my God, the fisherman's daughter actually thought she'd found love. Turns out she was just one move in a couple's little game!"

"Ugh, seriously, all this 'wait for me, wait for you' stuff. This diary reeks of poverty. It's disgusting!"

Watching their ugly faces, I clenched my fist without thinking.

Phineas's fingers moved, and he posted something on the school forum.

"Come cheer me on, everyone. If this hits ten thousand comments, I'll swap out Claudia Vance's speech tomorrow for her crush diary."

Everyone in the room saw the post and joined in.

"To make our campus queen smile, Phineas is really willing to go all out!"

"Can't wait to watch the fisherman's daughter make a fool of herself the day after tomorrow, hah."

The campus queen, Bess Head, was pulled into the center of the crowd, and she pouted with a laugh.

"Phineas, you're terrible, how could you bully the little freshman like that? Promise me you'll leave her a little dignity at the opening ceremony the day after tomorrow!"

Listening to them tear me down and mock me, I couldn't help but smile.

What they didn't know was that two months ago I'd been reclaimed by an elite family, and I'd long since shed the ugly duckling.

What they knew even less was that at the opening ceremony, my father would announce me as the only true heiress of the Head family.

1

My phone buzzed. A message from Phineas.

"Sorry, Claudia, I'm a little tied up right now. I might be a bit late."

Someone teased, "Phineas, you're really willing to leave Bess and rush over for that fisherman's daughter?"

Phineas swirled the cup in his hand, smiling like it meant nothing at all.

"It's just an excuse. I can already picture how flustered she'll look in a nice restaurant."

As he said it, he draped his arm carelessly along the back of Bess's seat.

"One message gets her off my back and lets me stay with someone more important. Why wouldn't I do it?"

Bess's face flushed red, and she pinched him.

"What are you saying, your admirer is still waiting for you. Don't embarrass the poor girl too much!"

"By then she won't even know how to use a knife and fork, and she'll have to ask the waiter for chopsticks, hah."

It sounded like she was looking out for me, but really she couldn't wait to watch me humiliate myself more in front of everyone.

I stared at Phineas wearing that devoted look, my hand trembling a little.

He'd chased me for three months, finding some new way every day to have people bring me stationery and study materials.

I said I wanted to finish my studies first. He said, I'll wait for you.

I said I didn't want this feeling to become impure. He said all of it was something he did willingly.

When my adoptive father's condition worsened and the surgery ran ten hours in the middle of the night, he was the one who stayed on the phone with me, telling me he was there.

And just when I agreed to be with him, he told me his situation was special and the relationship had to stay a secret.

"Don't worry, Claudia. I'll treat you better than anyone, I won't let you get hurt."

And now I'd finally learned that all of it was just him spiting the campus queen.

I sat there stunned for a long while, then typed out a message.

"Okay. Got it."

Once the message went through, another wave of laughter broke out.

"That dumb girl doesn't actually think Phineas is coming, does she? So naive!"

Bess forced up a smile and slid her arm through Phineas's.

"Phineas, let's go see little Claudia, don't leave her sitting there waiting like a fool. So awkward!"

Phineas glanced at her, his smile amused.

"You want to go? Fine, I'll indulge you."

With that, he picked up his coat and draped it over her shoulders, and shielded her from the people beside them.

"Don't bump into Bess, she's a germaphobe."

The few of them exchanged looks and broke into knowing smiles.

"A second ago I actually wondered if Phineas had a little something for the dark girl. But next to Bess, it's honestly a joke!"

"Take a good look, Phineas only suits the one and only little princess of the Head family!"

Phineas waved a hand, laughing easily.

"When we get there, don't mock the girl too hard. She's got a lot of pride."

So he knew perfectly well how much pride I had, and yet he'd still brought a whole crowd to come humiliate me.

My nails dug into my palm as I lowered my head and typed a few words.

"Waited too long. I ate and left."