My Ex's Brother Wants Me is a captivating billionaire romance short drama filled with betrayal, hidden love, campus drama, and second chances. Ashley Carter, a hardworking scholarship student, watches her three-year relationship with Noah Blackthorne fall apart after he dares her to kiss his cold, billionaire brother Lucien Blackthorne at a party. Ashley soon learns that Noah's love was nothing more than a cruel bet.
While Noah abandons her, Lucien—who has secretly loved Ashley for years—steps in to protect her from bullies, sabotage, and the powerful enemies threatening her future. As shocking family secrets emerge and Ashley discovers her own worth, she must choose between the man who broke her heart and the one who never stopped believing in her. Recent episode descriptions identify Ashley, Noah, and Lucien and confirm that a party dare sparks the romance between Ashley and Lucien after Noah's betrayal.
#MyExsBrotherWantsMe #BillionaireRomance #CampusRomance #HiddenLove #SecondChance #ShortDrama #ENGSUB #DramaSeries #FullEpisode
While Noah abandons her, Lucien—who has secretly loved Ashley for years—steps in to protect her from bullies, sabotage, and the powerful enemies threatening her future. As shocking family secrets emerge and Ashley discovers her own worth, she must choose between the man who broke her heart and the one who never stopped believing in her. Recent episode descriptions identify Ashley, Noah, and Lucien and confirm that a party dare sparks the romance between Ashley and Lucien after Noah's betrayal.
#MyExsBrotherWantsMe #BillionaireRomance #CampusRomance #HiddenLove #SecondChance #ShortDrama #ENGSUB #DramaSeries #FullEpisode
Category
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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 Gold 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,
01:41the silhouette of a man was watching me.
01:45Walked 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.
02:17I go to the gala with you.
02:19Won't Ashley be mad?
02:21Noah scoffed.
02:23Ashley?
02:25She 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.
03:15Look, 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.
04:06You know what?
04:07What?
04:10We're done.
04:12I 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!
05:17Shut!
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.
05:37Break 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.
05:50His attention was entirely on me.
05:52My torn dress.
05:53My shaking hands.
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.
06:17Missed 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,
06:54I shoved the door open too fast.
06:55I stepped out wearing Lucian's jacket
06:57over my ripped dress.
06:59Ashley?
07:01You 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
07:29wearing 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
07:48cut 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.
08:06Explain?
08:06He spent the night
08:07at Charlotte's apartment
08:08and somehow
08:09I was the one on trial?
08:10The Bentley door
08:11opened 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
08:25spends the night with.
08:27We had a lovely evening.
08:29The lecture hall
08:30was packed
08:30before class even started.
08:32No way the CEO
08:33of Blackthorn Capital
08:34is teaching here.
08:35I heard he joined
08:36the board at 24.
08:37He is even hotter
08:38in person.
08:39Girls around me
08:40were fixing their makeup
08:41like it was a casting call.
08:42I sank lower
08:43into my seat
08:44and pulled my
08:45baseball cap down.
08:46Since last night,
08:48the entire campus
08:49had been talking
08:50about one thing.
08:52Lucian 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
09:00in class,
09:01whispering,
09:02laughing.
09:03The rumors got worse
09:05every hour.
09:06I cheated on Noah.
09:07I 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.
09:24Lucian 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
09:40touched his mouth.
09:41Ashley Carter.
09:42Hundreds of heads
09:43turned toward me instantly.
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.
10:03in your laptops.
10:05Today we're discussing
10:06one question.
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.
10:24I 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
10:40afraid of you.
10:41The room
10:41went dead silent.
10:43Lucian stared at me
10:44for a long moment.
10:45Then,
10:46smiled.
10:48Excellent.
10:49After that,
10:50he only called on me.
10:51And somehow,
10:52I answered all of them.
10:53Most people
10:54memorize numbers,
10:55Lucian said.
10:56You understand power.
10:57Charlotte's expression
10:58darkened instantly.
11:00She raised her hand
11:01sweetly.
11:02Professor Blackthone?
11:03Lucian barely
11:04looked at her.
11:05Charlotte smiled
11:05innocently.
11:06Is it true
11:06some scholarship
11:07students receive
11:08special treatment?
11:11Noah smirked
11:11like he was waiting
11:12for Lucian to deny it.
11:14Yes.
11:15Ashley does.
11:18He looked
11:19completely serious.
11:20Like,
11:20publicly favoring me
11:22didn't bother him
11:22at all.
11:23Maybe because
11:24he wanted everyone
11:25to know.
11:26Whispers started
11:27immediately.
11:28My face burned.
11:30Lucian turned
11:30on the projector.
11:31The screen lit up.
11:33My paper appeared
11:34across the giant display.
11:36Ashley Carter.
11:37Lucian glanced
11:38at the class.
11:39A plus.
11:41Highest score
11:41in 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,
11:57then pale.
11:57And suddenly,
11:58for the first time
11:59since I came to this
12:00school,
12:01I felt seen.
12:02Not mocked,
12:03not pitied.
12:04Seen.
12:05The 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
12:16to his feet
12:17instantly.
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
12:30directly at me.
12:31He opened
12:32my paper again.
12:35You actually
12:36were talking to.
12:37My heartbeat
12:38stumbled.
12:39I turned
12:39immediately to leave.
12:40The second I walked
12:41past the podium,
12:42Lucian caught my wrist.
12:44You should have
12:44killed them.
12:45Lucian's eyes
12:46lingered on 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
13:03private coaching.
13:04That night,
13:05I stood outside
13:06Blackthorn Tower
13:07holding my notes
13:07against my chest.
13:08My phone screen
13:09was still open
13:10to Lucian's
13:10last message.
13:11Text me when
13:12you arrive.
13:13Before I could reply,
13:14laughter drifted down
13:16from the second
13:17floor lounge.
13:18The door upstairs
13:19wasn't fully closed.
13:21Three years,
13:22Noah.
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
13:31that 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,
13:43remember what you said?
13:44If you could get
13:45the scholarship girl
13:46to fall for you
13:47in 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
14:01out 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.
14:10Still,
14:10your brother's
14:11acting weird.
14:12The room quieted slightly.
14:14I've never seen
14:15Lucio drive a woman
14:16home himself.
14:17Lucio?
14:17Noah leaned back lazily.
14:19Then he smirked.
14:20Please.
14:21He just thinks
14:22she's interesting for now.
14:23Something 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 being
14:35so sensitive?
14:36Now I understand why.
14:37Because to him,
14:38I was never his girlfriend.
14:39Just proof he won again.
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.
15:04Noah 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.
15:32Because I have a new boyfriend now.
15:33Absolute silence.
15:35Lucian Blackthorne
15:36stood in the doorway.
15:38Noah looked completely 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 Lucian's office,
15:50I let go of his hand.
15:52Thanks for helping me back there.
15:53I forced out a breath.
15:54But you know
15:55I didn't mean it, right?
15:56Lucian loosened his tie slowly,
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.
16:28How do you know that?
16:30Lucian paused
16:31while flipping through documents.
16:32You fanted
16:33in the library's sophomore year.
16:34My chest tightened.
16:36The campus doctor mentioned 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 to focus.
16:48These are real acquisition files.
16:50I flipped another page faster.
16:52Lucian,
16:53this is confidential
16:54Blackthorn Capital data.
16:56Why are you showing this to student?
16:58I miss you to ask that being known it.
17:01Lucian leaned back in his chair calmly.
17:04Other students?
17:05His eyes met mine.
17:07No.
17:08Then,
17:10you can handle it.
17:12I lowered my head quickly
17:13and flipped through the files,
17:14pretending to focus.
17:15Lucian watched me for 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.
17:40Every muscle in my body
17:41locked instantly.
17:42Can you back up a little?
17:44You should stop
17:45looking at me like that.
17:47I swallowed hard.
17:49Like what?
17:50His gray-blue eyes
17:52locked onto mine.
17:53Like you're about
17:54to make a bad decision.
17:56Suddenly,
17:57I was thinking about
17:58that kiss again.
17:59His hands,
18:01his mouth.
18:02The way he lost control
18:03for five straight minutes.
18:05Lucian's gaze dropped
18:06briefly to my lips.
18:07And for one second,
18:09I thought he was
18:10going to kiss me.
18:11Then,
18:11the office door
18:12slammed open.
18:14Lucian!
18:15Noah stood there
18:16breathing hard,
18:17furious.
18:17And the first thing he saw
18:19was Lucian leaning over me
18:20with one arm around my chair.
18:22What the hell
18:23are you two doing?
18:24Like he was holding me.
18:30So this is your
18:31private tutoring?
18:32A professor hooking up
18:34with his student
18:34after hours?
18:35Jealousy practically
18:36dripped from every word.
18:39Lucian straightened 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 doors
18:55are open to you.
18:56I froze.
18:58I had never told
18:59anyone my career goals.
19:01Not even Noah.
19:02Yet somehow,
19:04Lucian knew.
19:05Noah let out a sharp laugh.
19:06Ashley,
19:07when did you start
19:08dreaming this big?
19:10Blackthrone only hires
19:11Ivy League and MBAs
19:13and billionaire heirs.
19:14You're a scholarship student.
19:16You really think
19:17you belong there?
19:18The words hit exactly
19:20where they were supposed to.
19:21Because that fear
19:23had always lived inside 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 outside?
19:33He smirked cruelly.
19:34They think you're
19:35climbing all over Lucian
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,
19:54I couldn't stop replaying
19:56the way Lucian
19:57looked 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 3 years
20:05ever did.
20:08Annual 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 3 months
20:21saving for.
20:22Wait,
20:23that's Ashley?
20:25Holy hell.
20:27She's gorgeous.
20:29Noah looked
20:30completely stunned.
20:32Bro,
20:33your ex
20:34cleaned up nice.
20:36If she doesn't
20:37have a date,
20:37I might steal her.
20:39I do have one.
20:41Noah,
20:43Charlotte cut me off
20:44before 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 2 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
21:21Blackthroat brothers
21:21are you sleeping with now?
21:23She looked me
21:24up and down
21:25mockingly.
21:26You really thought
21:27a pretty dress
21:28would hide the fact
21:29nobody invited you?
21:31I lifted my chin.
21:33I was invited.
21:34Ha ha ha ha ha!
21:36Invited?
21:37By who?
21:38Some
21:3950-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?
22:04The 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
22:17registered under
22:18Lucien Black Kidone.
22:20Noah's face
22:20changed instantly.
22:22Charlotte froze
22:23for half a second
22:24before forcing out
22:25another 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.
22:51No 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
23:01gave 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 thesis
23:20may have been
23:22plagiarized.
23:24What?
23:26That's a lie!
23:27I stepped forward
23:28furiously.
23:29This is
23:29defamination!
23:32Charlotte crossed
23:32her arms calmly.
23:35And proved 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,
23:49I'm truly sorry.
23:51You need to
23:52understand how
23:53this looks.
23:54for the reputation
23:55of the university
23:56until the investigation
23:57concludes,
23:58your scholarship
23:59and competition
24:00placement will be
24:01suspended.
24:02The ballroom
24:02erupted instantly.
24:05I knew it.
24:06She's a fraud.
24:08So that's how
24:09she got ahead.
24:10My body suddenly
24:11felt exhausted.
24:12Not sad.
24:14Not 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 disappear.
24:34My stomach turned.
24:37You knew?
24:38Noah stayed silent.
24:40Then
24:40You should have
24:42stayed with me.
24:43I looked around
24:44the ballroom
24:45and loneliness
24:47hit me all at 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
25:41stopped breathing.
25:42Lucian
25:42raised one hand
25:43slightly.
25:44Immediately
25:45security teams
25:46rolled equipment
25:47into the ballroom.
25:48Cameras
25:48lighting mics
25:49live 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
26:08streaming?
26:09What is happening?
26:10Who is the girl?
26:12Lucian stood
26:12calmly in the
26:13center of the
26:14ballroom.
26:15Charlotte
26:16Sinclair
26:16accused Ashley
26:17Carter of
26:18plagiarism.
26:18His voice
26:19echoed through
26:19the 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
26:28a hand.
26:29The screen
26:30changed immediately.
26:31Folders appeared.
26:33Research timestamps.
26:34Draft versions.
26:35Six months
26:36of revisions.
26:37Data models.
26:38Handwritten
26:39annotations.
26:40Every stage
26:41of my thesis
26:42development
26:42breathed hot.
26:43How did he even
26:44have all this?
26:45We barely knew
26:45each other
26:46when I wrote it.
26:47The scientists
26:47and scholars
26:48who received
26:49the breakthrough prize,
26:50Ashley Carter
26:51has over
26:52six months
26:53of documented
26:54research history.
26:55Charlotte's face
26:55started turning
26:56white.
26:57Lucian continued.
26:58Now let's compare
26:59that to Charlotte
26:59Sinclair's submission.
27:00The screen
27:01switched again.
27:02Entire paragraphs
27:03lit up red.
27:04Copy-pasted
27:05sections.
27:05Matching citations.
27:07Side-by-side
27:08comparisons
27:08from my thesis.
27:11Charlotte stumbled
27:12backward.
27:12That's impossible!
27:16Actually,
27:17it's very possible.
27:19Especially when
27:20the anonymous
27:21Clarissim report
27:22your agent...
27:23He glanced
27:24toward her.
27:26Who seems
27:27to have
27:27to justify
27:27the name of it?
27:29Complete silence.
27:31Then
27:31dance.
27:33Go!
27:33Go!
27:34Go!
27:34Go!
27:35Go!
27:35Go!
27:36Go!
27:37Go!
27:37Go!
27:38Go!
27:38Go!
27:38Go!
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