Chapter 2
I don’t know what Xavier will think when he sees me again, but I truly feel sorry for him.
Five years ago, Xavier was still the golden boy at our school -academically excellent and widely admired. Moreover, his relationship with Zoe began because of me.
Zoe was a notorious troublemaker who smoked, drank, and got into fights at school. However, what really made her famous was her calculated bullying campaign against me.
During my junior year, my father had me transfer to Xavier’s school so I could build relationships with his business partners‘
children.
Despite my typically well–behaved nature, rumors suddenly spread that I was working as a hostess. After extensive investigation, my father discovered that Zoe was behind it all.
Her reason for targeting me was simple–she resented the wealthy and didn’t want a rich girl like me to be happy.
Xavier’s father wanted to use this opportunity to bring us together, so he sent Xavier to handle the situation.
Unexpectedly, after a month passed, not only did the rumors about me fail to die down, but the two of them started dating
instead.
They would openly hold hands and kiss in the cafeteria, on the playground, and in the library. They even flirted publicly in class, convincing our homeroom teacher to seat them together.
This naturally infuriated both Xavier’s and my parents, who held a banquet to make their position clear.
However, Xavier’s attitude was surprisingly resolute. He publicly proposed to Zoe and insisted on breaking off our engagement.
With tears streaming down his face, Xavier made an
impassioned speech about how he had never experienced true happiness, how his life had always been constrained, and his future predetermined. Only Zoe made him feel different, giving him unprecedented freedom.
He was hopelessly in love with Zoe. He said that although Zoe was poor, she possessed an ambition beyond ordinary people’s imagination. He was willing to give up everything he had to endure hardships with her.
Xavier’s mother nearly fainted from anger, and his father flew into a rage.
“Under no circumstances can you break off your engagement with Vivian! She’s the woman most suitable for you–you’re just bewitched! Guards! Lock Xavier up! No one is allowed to let him out without my permission!”
At that moment, Zoe stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Xavier.
“You don’t understand what Xavier wants at all! You can’t give him the love he needs, and you have no idea how much pressure he’s under. Xavier clearly doesn’t love Vivian, but you’re forcing him anyway. I’m sick of these wealthy family games! I may be poor, but I’m kind and honest, with qualities that Vivian lacks, yet you’re all blind to it!”
Her words left everyone speechless. These business elites who dominated the corporate world had never expected to be lectured by a young girl.
Zoe became increasingly emotional and finally broke down in tears, which deeply worried Xavier.
“Vivian, stop pestering me from now on. Let’s leave each other with some dignity.”
As soon as Xavier finished speaking, everyone’s eyes turned to me. At that moment, even I began to doubt whether I had really been pestering him.
But in my memory, that charming young man had always been gentle with me. We had been engaged since childhood, and our families were very close, so we were naturally intimate.
During my adolescent years, I did fantasize about marrying him
someday. However, I had never done anything inappropriate. Even when we were alone together, we would just focus on our studies–we had never even held hands.
