Chapter 2

Since they loved putting on a show, I was more than happy to play along.

I tilted my head, fluttering my eyelashes playfully.

"Julian, why don't you feed me a bite?"

Julian's smile twitched violently. He threw a quick glance at Chloe, and only after seeing her slight nod did he force out a reply:

"Sure."

For the rest of the night, the guys tried even harder to please me. Cole even gently wiped the corner of my lips with a napkin.

I gave them five-star performances all evening.

The next morning, the stares I received from students in the hallways were even more intense.

I opened my phone, and sure enough, Chloe had posted again.

This time, she uploaded a secretly recorded video of our dinner, complete with mocking captions:

"Look at this pathetic charity case. She's never even stepped into a real fine-dining place before."

"All it takes is one fancy dinner to get her into bed."

Cole left a comment underneath:

"I almost choked trying not to laugh! She's so brainless and easy to fool. She actually thinks she's Cinderella!"

Julian commented:

"Her lips touched my fingers. I scrubbed my hands three times."

Lucas tagged Julian:

"Bro, she's totally obsessed with you! Congrats on the easy kill!"

Chase finished it off:

"The game is still on. Let's see who snaps the first bed photo."

After that night, they doubled their efforts.

Flowers, expensive gifts, romantic invites—they showered me with everything.

Then, one afternoon, someone suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me into an empty hallway corner.

A guy gathered all his courage and whispered urgently:

"Lynn, listen to me! Those four guys are playing you. They don't like you at all!"

Half the school knew about the bet, but he was the very first person who actually stepped up to warn me.

Before I could even respond, Chase and the other three playboys shoved him hard against the wall.

Chase snarled with venom:

"Get the hell away from Lynn!"

"You're just a broke scholarship nobody. Don't you dare look at her, or I'll make sure you're expelled by tomorrow!"

Then, turning back to me, Chase's voice shifted back into that sickeningly gentle tone:

"The day after tomorrow is your birthday, Lynn. We planned a massive surprise for you—we're taking you out on a private yacht."

I instantly switched back into character, putting my hands over my heart:

"You guys remembered my birthday? I'm so touched... I've never even been on a yacht before!"

The day before my birthday, Cole handed me a designer garment bag containing an evening gown.

I frowned the moment I touched the fabric.

My custom, limited-edition couture dress was supposed to be hanging in my private penthouse closet. How the hell did it end up in their hands?