Chapter 4

Over the next few days, the four guys couldn't stop fishing for affirmations of my love.

To each of them, I put on the most devoted, deeply infatuated performance possible.

I had to make sure their egos were bloated to maximum capacity.

Sure enough, a few days later, my dorm doorway was completely flooded with bouquets of red roses.

Four boys, four massive bouquets, four love letters.

Exactly as teased on their livestream, all four asked to meet me at the campus amphitheater on Monday at eight o'clock.

That evening, I dressed to kill.

I wore the designer gown I hadn't 'returned' yet, paired with the 'priceless' jewels they had bought back for me.

I gave them the perfect stage.

When I arrived at the designated spot, before I could even see the four boys, someone jumped out to block my path.

"Lynn!"

I looked closely. It was that same scholarship kid from before.

"You can't go in there! You're going to regret this!"

Seeing me unbothered, he frantically pulled out his phone and opened Chloe's active TikTok live to show me.

"They've been playing you this entire time! It's all a trap!"

I tilted my head, amused.

"I know."

"But who's really playing who? We haven't seen the ending yet, have we?"

Without waiting for his response, I stepped right past him.

Waiting for me in the amphitheater were not just the four boys, but Chloe and a massive crowd holding up their phones, ready for the spectacle.

The four finally tore off their masks.

Chase spoke first, his tone dripping with condescension:

"Did you honestly think we were going to ask you out?"

Lucas let out a sharp, mocking laugh:

"We were just messing with you, sweetheart. Did you actually take us seriously?"

Laughter erupted across the amphitheater.

People in the crowd sneered loudly:

"Did she seriously think she had a shot with them?"

"I bet she was already picking which one to marry in her head, haha!"

"A delusional girl dreaming of a prince is funny, but a broke girl doing it? Peak comedy!"

My acting instincts kicked in, and tears instantly welled in my eyes.

"So... everything was a lie? The flowers, the dates, the auction... none of it was real?"

Cole pulled out his phone, flashing the millions of viewers watching the stream.

"Not only was it fake, but thousands of people got a front-row seat to the circus."

"You've been dancing like a clown the entire time!"

Julian stepped forward and aggressively yanked the diamond necklace straight off my collarbones.

"Chloe loves this piece. A peasant like you doesn't deserve to touch it."

Chloe sauntered over, looking me up and down like I was dirt:

"They say clothes make the man. Wearing my gown and my jewelry, you almost looked like you belonged."

"Too bad dreams have to end."

She walked behind me and aggressively grabbed the zipper of my dress, yanking it straight down.

"Take it off. Give it back to me."

Vulgar whistles and catcalls echoed through the crowd.

I didn't scream, and I didn't cry. I simply turned around, smiled faintly, and delivered a vicious slap right across Chloe's face.

SMACK!

Chloe stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock.

The four guys instantly lost their minds.

"You bitch! How dare you lay a hand on Chloe!"

"We played along with your little Cinderella fantasy for a month, and now you think you're hot shit? You think you're on our level?!"

"Strip her right now! Let's see her walk back to her dorm completely naked!!"

Before their hands could touch me, a massive shadow appeared silently behind my back.

A tailored trench coat was gently draped over my exposed shoulders.

In the very next second, my lead bodyguard swept forward, slamming all four of them brutally to the concrete in a matter of seconds.

I stood tall, looking down at their groaning bodies.

"Interview over."

"Unfortunately for you all..."

"None of you are worthy of becoming the fiancé of the Anderson family heiress!"