- 5 hours ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Next afternoon, Noah strolled into the dingy campus coffee shop where I worked my double shifts.
00:05Look, I didn't think you'd take it so personally. You're not actually mad, right?
00:11You don't care about me at all, do you?
00:13It was a party dare, Ashley. Don't be so dramatic.
00:19My hands shook as I unlocked my phone.
00:22Your brother wants me, Noah! He's coming after your girlfriend!
00:27You? God, Ashley, don't flatter yourself.
00:30Every billionaire heiress in Manhattan has thrown themselves at Lucien, and he hasn't blinked.
00:37You think my brother is losing sleep over a girl who wears oversized hoodies and cracked glasses?
00:43Is that what I am to you?
00:47A joke?
00:49Look, I'm a blackthone. You're a charity-called student working for tips.
00:56If it weren't for me rescuing you from the freshman year?
01:00I'm on the clock! Get the hell out of my cafe!
01:03Noah sneered, turning around and walking out.
01:07He was the golden boy at university.
01:09Football captain, national champion,
01:12the boy who walked up to my quiet corner in the library three years ago.
01:16The golden boy and the nerd, the campus blogs called us.
01:21Hey, Ashley, someone ordered this for you.
01:24Curbside pickup.
01:25I frowned, looking at the cup.
01:27Written in elegant, sharp sharpie was a single sentence.
01:31You skipped lunch again?
01:33My breath hitched.
01:35Across the busy street,
01:36a sleek, black Bentley sat idling in the rain.
01:40Behind the tinted window,
01:42the silhouette of a man was watching me.
01:44The walk to the restroom the next day
01:46felt like walking the green mile.
01:49The campus blogs had already posted photos of Noah,
01:52but he wasn't alone.
01:54Did you see Noah with Charlotte at the luxury boutique downtown?
01:58Charlotte is opening the gala dance with him this year.
02:00The scholarship nerd is about to get dumped.
02:03Whispers followed me like flies.
02:05I pushed the doors.
02:09Noah and Charlotte were on the leather sofa.
02:12Charlotte, a billionaire hotel heiress,
02:15was melted into his lap.
02:17If I go to the gala with you,
02:19won't Ashley be mad?
02:21Noah scoffed.
02:23Ashley?
02:24She doesn't even own a dress that costs more than 50 bucks.
02:28Trust me, babe.
02:30You're psycho hot in that designer gown.
02:33Charlotte looked up,
02:34spotting me standing in the doorway.
02:37I'd rather take it off just for you.
02:43Man, three years?
02:44That dare got way out of hand.
02:47Shut up!
02:48Oh, Ashley!
02:50You're here!
02:51Charlotte fake gasped.
02:53Noah just helped me pick a dress.
02:56For the gala,
02:57your scholarship probably doesn't cover.
03:01I walked straight up to him.
03:06We need to talk.
03:08Noah flinched,
03:09clearing his throat
03:10as he pushed Charlotte slightly off his lap.
03:14Look, Ashley,
03:16I asked you to go,
03:17but you said you had to work shifts.
03:19He didn't know.
03:21The scholarship covered my tuition,
03:23but I had been working 30 hours a week
03:25to surprise him,
03:26to buy an expensive gown.
03:30I turned around without saying another word.
03:34When I got back to my dorm,
03:36I took the gown,
03:37shoved it into the darkest corner of my wardrobe.
03:41My phone finally buzzed.
03:45Noah?
03:46Yeah, hey.
03:47Something came up.
03:49Laughter echoed.
03:51Charlotte's laughter.
03:52She had some emergency with her cat or whatever.
03:56You're not mad, right?
03:59I'd been waiting three hours.
04:01Something inside me finally snapped.
04:05You know what?
04:07What?
04:10We're done.
04:11I hung up,
04:13blocked him,
04:14then ordered whiskey,
04:15and another,
04:17and another.
04:18By the time I stepped out
04:20into the freezing Manhattan night,
04:22my vision blurred around the edges.
04:24I cut through an alley
04:25to get back to campus.
04:27Bad idea.
04:28Hey, sweetheart.
04:29Three men staggered out of the dark.
04:31Pretty little thing.
04:34Don't be scared.
04:36I backed away fast.
04:37A hand grabbed my wrist.
04:39I screamed.
04:40My phone slipped from my fingers
04:42and smashed against the pavement.
04:44The screen cracked,
04:45but the call had already gone through
04:47to the last person in my contacts.
04:49Help me.
04:49There are three of them.
04:51I'm nearby.
04:53Stay where you are.
04:54Protect yourself.
05:01No!
05:02Get away from me!
05:06No!
05:13Get away from me!
05:17Shut!
05:18Who the hell are you?
05:23You should be asking
05:26who's stupid enough
05:28to touch what belongs to me.
05:30And that's when I realized
05:31something horrifying.
05:32The person I called for help
05:33was my ex-boyfriend's brother.
05:36Break his hand.
05:38Two men in black suits
05:39appeared behind him
05:40like ghosts.
05:41The next sound was
05:43screaming.
05:44One of the drunk guys
05:45dropped to his knees,
05:46clutching his arm.
05:47Lucian didn't even look at them again.
05:49His attention was entirely on me.
05:52My torn dress.
05:53My shaking hand.
05:55My broken heel.
05:57Get in the car.
05:59One arm under my knees,
06:00the other around my waist.
06:02The heat rushed through me.
06:03Lucian draped his suit jacket
06:04over my shoulders.
06:14I looked down at my shaking fingers.
06:17I missed the buckle twice.
06:19Lucian leaned over.
06:20His hand brushed my thigh
06:21as he clicked the seatbelt into place.
06:23You called me.
06:25Not Noah.
06:26Me.
06:28I turned my face
06:29toward the window.
06:32It was an accident.
06:35Is that what you want to believe?
06:38I swallowed hard.
06:39Why didn't you call him back?
06:41What?
06:42Your boyfriend.
06:44Why did you stop trusting him first?
06:46Noah stopped making me feel safe
06:48a long time ago.
06:50I didn't say anything
06:51the rest of the drive.
06:52When we reached my dorm building,
06:53I shoved the door open too fast.
06:55I stepped out wearing Lucian's jacket
06:57over my ripped dress.
06:59Ashley?
07:00You left with my brother?
07:03Were you with him all night?
07:05Students froze mid-step.
07:07Everyone on campus knew that car.
07:10No freaking way.
07:11That's Lucian Blackthrone's Bente.
07:13I heard he doesn't even let people
07:15touch his stuff.
07:16And he drove a girl home?
07:17I stepped out clutching Lucian's
07:19suit jacket around my body.
07:21Then,
07:22Noah,
07:23standing 20 feet away,
07:25Ashley?
07:26His expression shattered
07:27the moment he saw me
07:28wearing Lucian's jacket.
07:30Why the hell were you
07:31in my brother's car?
07:32His eyes dragged over
07:33my ripped dress.
07:34You were with him all night?
07:36I didn't even look at him.
07:38We broke up, remember?
07:40Noah stared at me
07:41like I'd slapped him.
07:43You're serious?
07:44You vanished with another guy
07:46because I missed dinner?
07:47A sharp laugh cut through the crowd.
07:49Charlotte stepped forward,
07:50arms crossed.
07:50Looks like Little Miss Scholarship
07:52finally found herself
07:53a billionaire.
07:54Spent the night
07:55with your ex's brother
07:56and came back
07:57wearing his clothes?
07:58She smirked.
07:59Honestly?
08:00That's kind of impressive.
08:01Noah grabbed my wrist.
08:03Explain.
08:04Now.
08:04I almost laughed.
08:05Explain?
08:06He spent the night
08:07at Charlotte's apartment
08:08and somehow
08:09I was the one on trial?
08:10The Bentley door opened again.
08:12Every single person
08:13went quiet.
08:13Lucian stepped out slowly.
08:15He said coldly,
08:16A Blackthorn embarrassment.
08:17Noah clenched his jaw.
08:18Lucian, stay out of this.
08:20Lucian ignored him.
08:21Instead,
08:22his gaze landed on Charlotte.
08:23You seem very interested
08:24in who Ashley spends
08:25the night with.
08:27We had a lovely evening.
08:29The lecture hall was packed
08:30before class even started.
08:32No way the CEO
08:33of Blackthorn Capital
08:34is teaching here.
08:35I heard he joined the board
08:36at 24.
08:37He is even hotter in person.
08:39Girls around me
08:40were fixing their makeup
08:41like it was a casting call.
08:42I sank lower into my seat
08:44and pulled my baseball cap down.
08:46Since last night,
08:48the entire campus
08:49had been talking
08:50about one thing.
08:51Lucian Blackthorn
08:53drove me home.
08:54Photos of me
08:55getting out of his Bentley
08:56were all over
08:57the school forum.
08:58People kept sneaking
08:59pictures of me in class.
09:01Whispering.
09:02Laughing.
09:03The rumors got worse
09:05every hour.
09:06I cheated on Noah.
09:08I seduced his brother.
09:10Both Blackthorn brothers
09:11were sleeping with me.
09:12The lecture hall
09:13went silent.
09:14Dress shoes
09:15echoed against
09:16the wooden floor.
09:17Lucian.
09:18Black shirt,
09:19silver glasses,
09:20gray blue eyes
09:21locked directly
09:22onto mine.
09:23Lucian walked
09:24to the front
09:25of the lecture hall.
09:26Lucian Blackthrown.
09:28From today forward,
09:29I'll be teaching
09:30corporate power
09:31and behavioral finance.
09:33Noah sat in the front row
09:35looking absolutely furious.
09:37Lucian opened
09:38the attendance list.
09:39A smile touched his mouth.
09:41Ashley Carter.
09:42Hundreds of heads
09:43turned toward me
09:44instantly.
09:45I swallowed hard.
09:47Here.
09:49Nice seeing you again.
09:51The lecture hall
09:52exploded.
09:54Did he just smile
09:54at her?
09:56Noah looks homicidal.
10:08His eyes swept
10:10across the room.
10:11What is power?
10:12Silence.
10:14Money?
10:15Status?
10:16Family name?
10:18Still quiet.
10:19Then his gaze
10:20landed on me.
10:21Ashley,
10:22tell me.
10:23I frowned slightly.
10:26Power is control.
10:27Lucian tilted his head.
10:29Go on.
10:29I closed my laptop slowly.
10:31Real power
10:31isn't forcing people
10:33to obey you.
10:34I looked directly at him.
10:35It's making people
10:37depend on you,
10:38even when they're
10:39afraid of you.
10:40The room went
10:42dead silent.
10:43Lucian stared at me
10:44for a long moment,
10:45then smiled.
10:48Excellent.
10:49After that,
10:50he only called on me,
10:51and somehow
10:51I answered all of them.
10:53Most people memorize numbers,
10:55Lucian said.
10:56You understand power.
10:57Charlotte's expression
10:58darkened instantly.
11:00She raised her hand sweetly.
11:02Professor Blackthome?
11:03Lucian barely looked at her.
11:05Charlotte smiled innocently.
11:06Is it true
11:06some scholarship students
11:08receive special treatment?
11:11Noah smirked
11:11like he was waiting
11:12for Lucian to deny it.
11:14Yes.
11:15Ashley does.
11:18He looked completely serious,
11:20like publicly favoring me
11:22didn't bother him at all.
11:23Maybe because
11:24he wanted everyone to know.
11:26Whispers started immediately.
11:28My face burned.
11:30Lucian turned on the projector.
11:31The screen lit up.
11:33My paper appeared
11:34across the giant display.
11:36Ashley Carter.
11:37Lucian glanced at the class.
11:40A plus.
11:41Highest score in this course.
11:42Charlotte's smile
11:43vanished instantly.
11:45If anyone here
11:46can outperform her.
11:47His gaze swept
11:48across the room.
11:49I'll gladly offer
11:50the same treatment.
11:52Nobody spoke.
11:53Because nobody could.
11:55Charlotte's face
11:56turned red.
11:56Then pale.
11:57And suddenly,
11:58for the first time
11:59since I came to this school,
12:01I felt seen.
12:02Not mocked.
12:03Not pitied.
12:04Seen.
12:04The bell rang.
12:06Everyone practically
12:07ran for the exit.
12:08I grabbed my books
12:09and stood up fast.
12:11Ashley.
12:12Lucian's voice
12:12stopped me.
12:14Stay after class.
12:15Noah shot to his feet
12:16instantly.
12:17What do you want
12:18from her?
12:19Lucian finally
12:20looked at his brother.
12:22Sit down, Noah.
12:23I swallowed hard.
12:25Why am I staying?
12:26Lucian removed
12:27his glasses slowly,
12:28then looked
12:29directly at me.
12:31He opened
12:32my paper again.
12:35You're actually
12:36worth it.
12:37My heartbeat stumbled.
12:39I turned immediately
12:39to leave.
12:40The second I walked
12:41past the podium,
12:42Lucian caught my wrist.
12:43You should have killed them.
12:45Lucian's eyes lingered
12:46on the bruises
12:47around my wrist.
12:48I pulled my hand
12:49away immediately
12:50and walked out
12:51of the lecture hall.
12:52Behind me,
12:53his voice followed.
12:54Tonight,
12:558 o'clock,
12:57Blackthorn Tower.
12:59That made me stop.
13:00The math competition
13:01shortlist came out
13:02this morning.
13:03You'll need private coaching.
13:04That night,
13:05I stood outside
13:06Blackthorn Tower
13:06holding my notes
13:07against my chest.
13:08My phone screen
13:09was still open
13:10to Lucian's last message.
13:11Text me when you arrive.
13:13Before I could reply,
13:14laughter drifted down
13:16from the second floor lounge.
13:18The door upstairs
13:19wasn't fully closed.
13:21Three years, Noah.
13:22That's actually insane.
13:23Noah lounged on the couch
13:24with a whiskey glass.
13:25His football teammates
13:26were laughing around him.
13:28Seriously, man.
13:29I still can't believe
13:30you actually dated that girl.
13:32The finance nerd?
13:33Another guy snorted.
13:34Wasn't it supposed
13:35to be a one-month bet?
13:36My blood went cold.
13:38Noah lowered his head
13:39and laughed quietly.
13:40Yeah, well,
13:41she took it seriously.
13:42Bro, remember what you said?
13:44If you could get
13:45the scholarship girl
13:46to fall for you
13:46in under a month,
13:47we'd all pay up.
13:49And then somehow
13:49you dragged it out
13:50for three damn years.
13:52Honestly,
13:52you almost had us
13:53believing you liked her.
13:54The folder slipped
13:55in my hands.
13:56Three years ago,
13:57Noah Blackthorn
13:58walked toward me,
13:59smiled.
14:00Can I take you out sometime?
14:02I thought I meant something.
14:04Turns out,
14:04I was just a bet.
14:06Just entertainment
14:07for rich boys
14:08with boring lives.
14:09Still,
14:10your brother's acting weird.
14:12The room quieted slightly.
14:14I've never seen Lucio
14:15drive a woman home himself.
14:17Lucian?
14:17Noah leaned back lazily.
14:19Then he smirked.
14:20Please.
14:21He just thinks
14:22she's interesting for now.
14:24Something inside me
14:25shattered completely.
14:27Every late night shift,
14:28every birthday gift
14:29I saved months to buy.
14:31Every time I cried
14:32and Noah rolled his eyes
14:33saying,
14:34Can you stop
14:35being so sensitive?
14:36Now I understand why.
14:37Because to him,
14:38I was never his girlfriend.
14:39Just proof he won a game.
14:41Tears finally hit my cheeks,
14:42but this time,
14:43I wiped them away instantly.
14:45I wasted three years
14:46crying over trash?
14:47My phone buzzed suddenly.
14:49Lucian,
14:50it's cold outside.
14:51Did you make it in?
14:52The only person worrying
14:53whether I was cold
14:54was Lucian.
14:55Before I could think twice,
14:57I shoved the lounge door open.
14:59Keep going.
15:00The laughter died instantly.
15:02Every face turned white.
15:03Noah shot to his feet.
15:05Ashley!
15:07And threw it directly
15:08in his face.
15:10The entire room froze.
15:12Whiskey dripped
15:13from Noah's jaw slowly.
15:15His expression cracked.
15:16I smiled coldly.
15:18Congratulations, Noah.
15:20You won the bet.
15:22I stepped back.
15:24Too bad.
15:27Then I looked past him.
15:29Straight toward the hallway
15:30behind him.
15:31Because I have
15:32a new boyfriend now.
15:34Absolute silence.
15:35Lucian Blackthorne
15:36stood in the doorway.
15:38Noah looked
15:38completely stunned.
15:39And before anyone
15:40could speak again,
15:41I walked to Lucian,
15:42grabbed his hand,
15:43and left with him.
15:48Second we entered
15:49Lucian's office,
15:50I let go of his hand.
15:52Thanks for helping me
15:52back there.
15:53I forced out a breath.
15:54But you know I didn't
15:55mean it, right?
15:56Lucian loosened his tie
15:58slowly,
15:58then smiled.
16:00A fake boyfriend
16:00is still better
16:01than being hated by you.
16:02My heartbeat stumbled.
16:04Noah's a child,
16:05he said.
16:06He never deserved you.
16:08Next time you need someone.
16:10His voice dropped lower.
16:12Call me first.
16:13Before I could answer,
16:15Lucian slid a cup
16:16across the desk.
16:17Hot chocolate.
16:18I blinked.
16:19I didn't order this.
16:21I know.
16:23I looked up slowly.
16:24You have low blood sugar.
16:26I froze.
16:27How do you know that?
16:30Lucian paused
16:31while flipping through documents.
16:32You fainted
16:33in the library's
16:33sophomore year.
16:34My chest tightened.
16:36The campus doctor
16:37mentioned it.
16:38Even Noah forgot that.
16:39Lucian remembered.
16:40He tapped the file
16:41in front of me.
16:42Analyze page one.
16:43I forced myself
16:44to focus.
16:48These are real
16:49acquisition files.
16:50I flipped another page faster.
16:52Lucian,
16:53this is confidential
16:54Blackthorn Capital data.
16:57Why are you showing
16:58this to student?
16:59I'm Ishito
17:00as stepping down it.
17:01Lucian leaned back
17:02in his chair calmly.
17:04Other students?
17:05His eyes met mine.
17:07No.
17:08Then,
17:10you can handle it.
17:12Thored my head quickly
17:13and flipped through the files,
17:14pretending to focus.
17:15Lucian watched me
17:16for a moment,
17:17then said quietly,
17:18You're avoiding me?
17:20I'm not.
17:22Really?
17:23He stood up,
17:24then walked toward me.
17:25I could feel the warmth
17:27of his body behind me.
17:28Lucian leaned down
17:29beside my chair,
17:31one hand braced
17:32against the desk.
17:33His finger pointed lightly
17:35at a line in the report
17:36near my shoulder.
17:37Here.
17:38Your analysis is wrong.
17:39Every muscle in my body
17:41locked instantly.
17:42Lucian,
17:43can you back up a little?
17:44You should stop
17:45looking at me like that.
17:46I swallowed hard.
17:49Like what?
17:50His gray-blue eyes
17:52locked onto mine.
17:53Like,
17:53you're about to make
17:55a bad decision.
17:56Suddenly,
17:57I was thinking
17:58about that kiss again.
17:59His hands,
18:01his mouth,
18:02the way he lost control
18:03for five straight minutes.
18:05Lucian's gaze
18:06dropped briefly
18:06to my lips,
18:07and for one second,
18:08I thought he was
18:09going to kiss me.
18:10Then,
18:11the office door
18:12slammed open.
18:14Lucian!
18:15Noah stood there
18:16breathing hard,
18:17furious,
18:17and the first thing
18:18he saw
18:19was Lucian
18:19leaning over me
18:20with one arm
18:21around my chair.
18:22What the hell
18:23are you two doing?
18:24Like,
18:24he was holding me.
18:30So this is
18:31your private tutoring?
18:32A professor
18:33hooking up
18:34with his student
18:34after hours?
18:35Jealousy
18:36practically dripped
18:37from every word.
18:38Lucian
18:39straightened slowly.
18:41Knock before entering.
18:43Noah clenched his fists.
18:44Lucian didn't even
18:45look at him again.
18:47Instead,
18:47he closed the file
18:48in front of me gently.
18:50Class dismissed,
18:51Ashley.
18:52Then he added,
18:54Blackthrow Capital's
18:55doors are open to you.
18:56I froze.
18:57I had never told
18:59anyone my career goals.
19:01Not even Noah.
19:02Yet somehow,
19:03Lucian knew.
19:05Noah let out
19:05a sharp laugh.
19:06Ashley,
19:07when did you start
19:08dreaming this
19:09big?
19:10Blackthrone only
19:11hires Ivy League
19:12and MBAs
19:13and billionaire heirs.
19:14You're a scholarship
19:15student.
19:16You really think
19:17you belong there?
19:18The words hit
19:19exactly where
19:20they were supposed to.
19:22Because that fear
19:23had always lived
19:24inside me.
19:25Noah stepped closer.
19:27Don't let my brother
19:28fool you.
19:29He just likes
19:30playing with new toys.
19:31You know what people
19:31are saying about you
19:32outside?
19:33He smirked cruelly.
19:34They think you're
19:35climbing all over,
19:36Lucian,
19:36because you know
19:37I dumped you.
19:39Lucian finally looked up.
19:42Do you know the difference
19:43between you and Ashley?
19:45You inherited power.
19:47Then he looked
19:48directly at me.
19:49She understands it.
19:50Noah's expression
19:51changed instantly.
19:53That night,
19:54lying in bed,
19:55I couldn't stop
19:55replaying the way
19:56Lucian looked at me.
19:58We'd known each other
19:59less than 10 days,
20:00and somehow
20:01he understood me
20:03better than the man
20:03I loved for three years
20:05ever did.
20:07Annual University Gala
20:09looked like something
20:10out of old money heaven.
20:12Crystal chandeliers,
20:13champagne towers,
20:14trust fund heirs
20:15pretending they earned
20:16their last names.
20:17I stepped into the ballroom,
20:19wearing the dress
20:19I spent three months
20:21saving for.
20:22Wait,
20:23that's Ashley?
20:25Holy hell.
20:27She's gorgeous.
20:28Noah looked
20:29completely stunned.
20:32Bro,
20:33your ex cleaned up nice.
20:36If she doesn't have a date,
20:37I might steal her.
20:39I do have one.
20:41Noah,
20:42Charlotte cut me off
20:43before I could finish.
20:45She slipped her arm
20:46through his.
20:47You're not actually
20:48jealous, are you?
20:49Laughter rippled
20:50through the crowd.
20:51Noah stayed quiet
20:52for two seconds,
20:53then laughed too.
20:56Jealous?
20:58Of her?
20:59His eyes dragged
21:00slowly over my body.
21:02Please.
21:04I know exactly
21:05what she looks like
21:06in the morning.
21:07More laughter.
21:08Someone added,
21:09Careful, Noah.
21:10Gold diggers
21:11don't let go easily.
21:13Charlotte stepped
21:14closer to me.
21:15Her smile widened.
21:17Tell me something,
21:19Ashley.
21:20How many Blackthroat
21:21brothers are you
21:22sleeping with now?
21:23She looked me
21:24up and down
21:25mockingly.
21:27You really thought
21:27a pretty dress
21:28would hide the fact
21:29nobody invited you?
21:31I lifted my chin.
21:33I was invited.
21:34Laughter
21:36Invited?
21:37By who?
21:38Some 50-year-old
21:40hedge fund manager?
21:42Go ahead,
21:43say his name.
21:44I didn't answer
21:45immediately.
21:45Charlotte smiled wider.
21:47Then she turned
21:48toward the host.
21:50Wait.
21:51Doesn't the gala
21:52have a partner
21:53registration list?
21:55The host blinked
21:56nervously.
21:57Maybe we should check?
21:59Charlotte tilted
22:00her head innocently.
22:01Just to make sure
22:03random girls
22:03aren't sneaking in?
22:05The host hesitated
22:06before pulling up
22:07the guest list
22:08on his tablet.
22:09The ballroom
22:09fell silent.
22:10I scanned the crowd
22:11instinctively.
22:12Still no sign
22:14of Lucien.
22:14The host
22:15cleared his throat.
22:16Ashley Carter.
22:18Registered under
22:18Lucien black heat on.
22:20Noah's face
22:20changed instantly.
22:22Charlotte froze
22:22for half a second
22:24before forcing
22:25out another smile.
22:26Then she walked
22:27directly toward
22:28the dean.
22:28And suddenly,
22:29the massive
22:30ballroom screen
22:31lit up.
22:32Everyone turned.
22:33Then gasped.
22:35Photos flooded
22:36the screen.
22:36Me stepping out
22:37of Lucien's Bentley
22:38late at night.
22:39Me leaving
22:40Blackthorn Tower.
22:41Blurry paparazzi
22:42style shots
22:43cropped to look
22:44intimate.
22:45Even photos of me
22:46working my cafe job.
22:48The ballroom
22:49exploded instantly.
22:50No wonder
22:51she got special
22:52treatment.
22:53She literally
22:54slept her way
22:55into the competition.
22:56That's disgusting.
22:57Charlotte stood
22:58beside the dean.
22:59Professor Blackthrone
23:00gave her private
23:01lessons.
23:03Private meetings.
23:05Private nights.
23:07People started
23:08whispering louder.
23:09Phones came out.
23:10Someone laughed.
23:14Scholarship slut.
23:16We also discovered
23:18that parts of
23:18Ashley Carter's
23:19thesis
23:21may have been
23:22plagiarized.
23:24What?
23:26That's a lie!
23:27I stepped forward
23:28furiously.
23:29This is
23:29defamination!
23:31Charlotte crossed
23:32her arms calmly.
23:35Then prove it.
23:37Snapped and took
23:38my phone.
23:38I have recordings.
23:39I can take all
23:41of this to court.
23:42The dean looked
23:42uncomfortable.
23:43Just yesterday
23:44he praised my grades
23:45in front of faculty.
23:46Now he wouldn't
23:47even meet my eyes.
23:48Ashley, I'm truly
23:50sorry.
23:51You need to
23:52understand how
23:53this looks.
23:54For the reputation
23:55of the university,
23:56until the investigation
23:57concludes, your
23:58scholarship and
23:59competition placement
24:00will be suspended.
24:02The ballroom
24:02erupted instantly.
24:05I knew it.
24:06She's a fraud.
24:07So that's how
24:09she got ahead.
24:10My body suddenly
24:11felt exhausted.
24:12Not sad.
24:13Not angry.
24:15Just tired.
24:17Tired of rich people
24:18turning lives
24:19into games.
24:20Tired of being
24:21humiliated publicly
24:22while everyone
24:23watched for entertainment.
24:25Then Noah
24:25appeared beside me.
24:27Beg me.
24:29I looked at him.
24:30One word
24:32and I'll make
24:33all of this
24:33disappear.
24:34My stomach
24:35turned.
24:37You knew?
24:38Noah stayed
24:39silent.
24:40Then
24:40You should have
24:42stayed with me.
24:44I looked around
24:44the ballroom
24:45and loneliness
24:47hit me all
24:47at once.
24:48Because no matter
24:49how hard I worked,
24:51I was always
24:52standing here
24:53alone.
24:54Then
24:55the ballroom
24:56doors opened.
25:00Lucian Blackthorne
25:01had arrived.
25:02The dean
25:02rushed toward him
25:03immediately.
25:04Lucian ignored
25:05everyone.
25:06He walked
25:06straight toward me
25:07then wrapped
25:08one arm around
25:09my waist
25:10possessively.
25:11The dean
25:11forced out
25:12a nervous laugh.
25:13Mr. Blackfield,
25:14we were just
25:15handling a situation.
25:17Handling what?
25:19My guest
25:20being publicly
25:21humiliated?
25:22Then Lucian
25:23looked down at me.
25:23You came
25:24because I invited you.
25:26Sorry I'm late.
25:27Busy with a minor
25:28issue.
25:28Charlotte's
25:29perfect expression
25:30finally cracked.
25:31Lucian
25:31turned toward her
25:32slowly.
25:33Miss Charlotte,
25:36do you know
25:37how easily
25:37I could destroy
25:39your father's
25:39company?
25:40Charlotte stopped
25:41breathing.
25:42Lucian raised
25:43one hand slightly.
25:44Immediately,
25:45security teams
25:46rolled equipment
25:47into the ballroom.
25:48Cameras,
25:49lighting mics,
25:50live stream monitors.
25:51The dean
25:52panicked.
25:52Lucian,
25:53there's no reason
25:53to escalate this.
25:55No.
25:56Now there is.
25:59Live stream
26:00started instantly.
26:02Viewer numbers
26:02exploded across
26:03the screen.
26:04Comments flooded
26:05faster than anyone
26:06could read.
26:07Blackthorn is streaming?
26:08What is happening?
26:10Who is the girl?
26:12Lucian stood calmly
26:13in the center
26:13of the ballroom.
26:15Charlotte Sinclair
26:16accused Ashley Carter
26:17of plagiarism.
26:18His voice echoed
26:19through the silent
26:20hall.
26:20That accusation
26:21could permanently
26:22destroy her academic
26:23career.
26:24Then he looked up.
26:26So let's discuss
26:27evidence.
26:28Lucian lifted a hand.
26:29The screen changed
26:30immediately.
26:31Folders appeared.
26:33Research timestamps.
26:34Draft versions.
26:35Six months of
26:36revisions.
26:37Data models.
26:38Handwritten annotations.
26:40Every stage of my
26:41thesis development
26:42breathed hot.
26:43How did he even
26:44have all this?
26:45We barely knew
26:45each other when I
26:46wrote it.
26:46The scientists
26:47and scholars
26:48who received
26:49the breakthrough
26:49prize, Ashley
26:50Carter, has over
26:52six months of
26:53documented research
26:54history.
26:54Charlotte's face
26:55started turning
26:56white.
26:57Lucian continued.
26:58Now let's compare
26:58that to Charlotte
26:59Sinclair's submission.
27:00The screen switched
27:01again.
27:02Entire paragraphs
27:03lit up red.
27:04Copy pasted
27:05sections.
27:06Matching citations.
27:07Side by side
27:08comparisons from
27:08my thesis.
27:10Charlotte stumbled
27:12backward.
27:12That's impossible!
27:16Actually, it's
27:17very possible.
27:19Possible.
27:19Specially when
27:20the anonymous
27:21Clarissim reports
27:22your agent...
27:23He glanced
27:24toward her.
27:26Can you see
27:26that how
27:27does this
27:27divide it now?
27:28Complete silence.
27:31Ben's face.
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