Chapter 3

On the track field, Brooks was being humiliated.

That’s the price of playing poor at a prep school.

Someone stomped on his breakfast. His blood sugar crashed, and he collapsed on the ground, dizzy.

Foster didn't start it, but she stood by, watching the show.

Brooks instinctively looked at her for help. She only sneered.

"Why are you looking at Foster? She's already engaged."

"Her fiancé is the only son of the Russells—the richest family in Virginia. Who do you think you are?"

"I heard this trash tried to give Foster a gift. How did he even dare?"

Foster stayed cold. I stepped forward and helped him up.

Foster's minion immediately seized the chance to mock me: "Look at that! Trash belongs with trash."

"Did you guys know? Christy might be Foster's sister, but she was kidnapped and raised in some trailer park for fifteen years."

"She's just as low-class as Brooks. She barely even finished middle school."

"No wonder her grades are always the worst. She's a total loser..."

This wasn't part of the script. I didn't need to get humiliated, and Brooks looked surprised.

I ignored the laughter, pulled out a homemade bagel, and fed it to him to raise his blood sugar.

The crowd laughed harder. "Foster, doesn't she live with you? Why is she eating pig food?"

Foster smiled. "She just came home. She's probably not used to our lifestyle."

That was a lie.

She was pampered by our parents.

I was missing for fifteen years. Even after I returned, my parents looked at me with disgust and resentment.

Foster convinced them that I’d go bad if I had money, so they cut off my allowance.

The maids only cooked for Foster. I had to make my own meals.

"Try it, it's good. I've been cooking for myself since I was a kid."

Brooks took a bite, then wolfed it down, slowly regaining his strength.

The crowd dispersed, leaving only me.

A strange look crossed his eyes. "Thanks..."

Since Foster hadn't scripted this, he didn't know what to say.

I wiped the dirt off his face. "Don't worry about it. Hey, could you tutor me?"

I looked up at him, locking eyes.

The sunlight framed his handsome face, his eyes swirling with complex emotions.

After a long pause, he asked in a low, husky voice, "Are you approaching me on purpose?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Actually, I'm supposed to get close to you and make you fall in love with me."

"And then, once you love me, I'm supposed to dump you, ruin your grades, and destroy you."

"It's a game Foster and her friends play. They forced me to join. You're the target."

Brooks cleared his throat, looking away. "Then... why are you telling me this?"

"Aren't you afraid of failing the game and being rejected by Foster?"

I shook my head. "I don't care."

"She's terrified I'll steal her inheritance and her parents' love. She'll never accept me anyway."

"My parents listen to her. They won't give me money for tutoring, and without it, I can't catch up or apply to a good college."

"So I need you, Brooks. Tutor me."

"We are the same."

"We have no one to rely on. We have to fight for our own future."

Then, I saw Brooks smile.

It was a genuine, appreciative smile, like he had just found a hidden treasure.

"Okay. I'll tutor you. Let's do this together."

I smiled back.

In the future, whoever wins Brooks wins the Russell empire.