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๐ Hit FOLLOW now for daily addictive mini-series! ๐
#shortdrama #miniseries #drama #romance #betrayal #mafia #shortfilm
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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
01:47felt 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
01:55at the luxury boutique downtown?
01:58Charlotte is opening the gala dance with him this year.
02:01The 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?
02:22Noah scoffed.
02:23Ashley?
02:25She doesn't even own a dress
02:26that 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
03:11slightly 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
03:2430 hours a week to surprise him
03:26to buy an expensive gown.
03:30I turned around
03:31without saying another word.
03:34When I got back to my dorm,
03:36I took the gown,
03:37shoved it into the darkest corner
03:39of 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
03:54with her cat or whatever.
03:56You're not mad, right?
03:59I'd been waiting three hours.
04:01Something inside me
04:03finally snapped.
04:05You 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
04:21Manhattan night,
04:22my vision blurred
04:23around the edges.
04:24I cut through an alley
04:25to get back to campus.
04:27Bad idea.
04:28Hey, sweetheart.
04:29Three men staggered
04:30out of the dark.
04:31Pretty little thing.
04:34Don't be scared.
04:35I backed away fast.
04:37A hand grabbed my wrist.
04:39I screamed.
04:40My phone slipped
04:41from my fingers
04:42and smashed
04:43against the pavement.
04:44The screen cracked,
04:45but the call
04:46had already gone through
04:47to the last person
04:48in 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.
05:48Lucian didn't even look
05:49at them again.
05:50His attention was
05:51entirely 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.
06:13Seatbelt.
06:14I looked down
06:15at my shaking fingers.
06:17Missed the buckle twice.
06:19Lucian leaned over.
06:20His hand brushed my thigh
06:21as he clicked
06:22the 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
06:36want to believe?
06:38I swallowed hard.
06:39Why didn't you
06:39call him back?
06:41What?
06:42Your boyfriend.
06:44Why did you stop
06:45trusting him first?
06:46Noah stopped making me
06:48feel safe a long time ago.
06:50I didn't say anything
06:51the rest of the drive.
06:52When we reached
06:53my dorm building,
06:54I shoved the door
06:54open too fast.
06:55I stepped out
06:56wearing 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
07:08knew that car.
07:10No freaking way.
07:11That's Lucian Blackthrone's
07:13Benti.
07:13I heard he doesn't even
07:14let people touch his stuff.
07:16And he drove a girl home?
07:17I stepped out clutching
07:18Lucian's suit jacket
07:19around 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
07:33over my ripped dress.
07:34You were with him
07:35all night?
07:36I didn't even look at him.
07:38We broke up,
07:40remember?
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.
07:51Looks 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 I was
08:09the one on trial?
08:10The Bentley door
08:11opened again.
08:12Every single person
08:13went quiet.
08:13Lucian stepped out
08:14slowly.
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, his gaze
08:22landed 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 baseball 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 echoed
09:16against the wooden floor.
09:17Lucian.
09:18Black shirt,
09:19silver glasses,
09:20gray blue eyes
09:21locked directly
09:23onto 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 touched 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 exploded.
09:54Did he just smile at her?
09:56Noah looks homicidal.
10:03Your laptops.
10:05Today we're discussing
10:06one question.
10:09His 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.
10:33I looked directly at him.
10:36It's making people
10:37depend on you
10:38even when they're
10:40afraid of you.
10:41The room went
10:42dead silent.
10:43Lucian stared at me
10:44for a long moment.
10:45Then
10:45smiled.
10:48Excellent.
10:49After that
10:50he only called on me
10:51and somehow
10:51I 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 Blackthome?
11:03Lucian barely looked at her.
11:05Charlotte smiled innocently.
11:06Is it true
11:06some scholarship students
11:08receive
11:09special treatment?
11:11Noah smirked
11:11like he was waiting
11:12for Lucian to deny it.
11:14Yes.
11:16Ashley does.
11:18He looked
11:19completely 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
11:27immediately.
11:28My face burned.
11:30Lucian turned on
11:30the 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.
11:54Charlotte's face
11:56turned red
11:56then pale
11:57and suddenly
11:58for the first time
11:59since I came
12:00to this school
12:00I 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.
12:18What 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're actually
12:36worth talking to.
12:37My heartbeat
12:38stumbled.
12:39I turned
12:39immediately to leave.
12:40The second
12:41I walked past
12:42the podium
12:42Lucian caught
12:43my wrist.
12:44You should have
12:44killed them.
12:45Lucian's eyes
12:46lingered on the
12:46bruises around
12:47my 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
12:57Blackthorne Tower
12:59That made me
13:00stop.
13:00The math
13:01competition
13:01shortlist came
13:02out this morning.
13:03You'll need
13:03private coaching.
13:05That night
13:05I stood outside
13:06Blackthorne 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
13:12when you arrive.
13:13Before I could
13:14reply
13:14laughter drifted
13:16down from the
13:16second floor
13:17lounge.
13:18The door
13:19upstairs
13:19wasn't fully
13:20closed.
13:21Three years
13:21Noah.
13:22That's actually
13:22insane.
13:23Noah lounged
13:24on the couch
13:24with a whiskey
13:25glass.
13:25His football
13:26teammates were
13:27laughing around
13:27him.
13:28Seriously man
13:29I still can't
13:30believe you
13:30actually dated
13:31that girl.
13:32The finance
13:33nerd?
13:33Another guy
13:34snorted.
13:34Wasn't it
13:35supposed to be
13:35a one month
13:35bet?
13:36My blood
13:37went cold.
13:38Noah lowered
13:39his head
13:39and laughed
13:39quietly.
13:40Yeah well
13:40she took it
13:41seriously.
13:42Bro remember
13:43what you said?
13:44If you could
13:45get the
13:45scholarship
13:46girl to
13:46fall for
13:46you in
13:47under a
13:47month
13:47we'd all
13:48pay up.
13:49And then
13:49somehow you
13:50dragged it
13:50out for
13:50three damn
13:51years.
13:52Honestly
13:52you almost
13:53had us
13:53believing you
13:54liked her.
13:54The folder
13:55slipped in
13:55my hands.
13:56Three years
13:57ago Noah
13:58Blackthorne
13:58walked toward
13:59me smiled.
14:00Can I take
14:00you out
14:01sometime?
14:02I thought
14:02I meant
14:03something.
14:04Turns out
14:04I was just
14:05a bet.
14:06Just
14:06entertainment
14:07for rich
14:08boys with
14:08boring lives.
14:10Still
14:10your brother's
14:11acting weird.
14:12The room
14:12quieted slightly.
14:14I've never
14:14seen Lucio
14:15drive a
14:15woman home
14:16himself.
14:17Lucio?
14:17Noah leaned
14:18back lazily.
14:19Then he
14:20smirked.
14:20Please.
14:21He just
14:22thinks she's
14:23interesting for
14:23now.
14:24Something inside
14:25me shattered
14:25completely.
14:27Every late
14:27night shift.
14:28Every birthday
14:29gift I
14:29saved months
14:30to buy.
14:31Every time
14:31I cried
14:32and Noah
14:32rolled his
14:33eyes saying
14:34Can you
14:35stop being
14:35so sensitive?
14:36Now I
14:36understand why.
14:37Because to
14:38him I was
14:38never his
14:39girlfriend.
14:39Just
14:40proof he
14:40won again.
14:41Tears
14:41finally hit
14:42my cheeks.
14:42But this
14:43time I
14:43wiped
14:44them away
14:44instantly.
14:45I wasted
14:45three years
14:46crying over
14:47trash?
14:47My phone
14:48buzzed
14:48suddenly.
14:49Lucian,
14:50it's cold
14:50outside.
14:51Did you
14:51make it
14:51in?
14:52The only
14:52person
14:53worrying
14:53whether I
14:54was cold
14:54was Lucian.
14:55Before I
14:56could think
14:56twice I
14:57shoved the
14:58lounge door
14:58open.
14:59Keep going.
15:00The laughter
15:00died instantly.
15:02Every face
15:02turned white.
15:04Noah shot
15:04to his feet.
15:05Ashley.
15:07And threw
15:08it directly
15:08in his face.
15:10The entire
15:11room froze.
15:12Whiskey dripped
15:13from Noah's
15:14jaw slowly.
15:15His expression
15:15cracked.
15:16I smiled
15:17coldly.
15:18Congratulations,
15:19Noah.
15:20You won the
15:21bet.
15:22I stepped
15:23back.
15:24Too bad.
15:27Then I
15:28looked past
15:29him.
15:30Straight
15:30toward the
15:30hallway
15:30behind him.
15:32Because I
15:32have a new
15:33boyfriend now.
15:34Absolute
15:34silence.
15:35Lucian
15:35Blackthorne
15:36stood in
15:37the doorway.
15:38Noah looked
15:38completely
15:39stunned.
15:39And before
15:39anyone could
15:40speak again,
15:41I walked
15:41to Lucian,
15:42grabbed
15:43his hand,
15:43and left
15:44with him.
15:48Second we
15:48entered Lucian's
15:49office, I
15:50let go of
15:50his hand.
15:52Thanks for
15:52helping me
15:53back there.
15:53I forced
15:54out a
15:54breath.
15:54But
15:54you know I
15:55didn't mean
15:56it, right?
15:56Lucian
15:57loosened his
15:57tie slowly,
15:58then smiled.
16:00A fake
16:00boyfriend is
16:00still better
16:01than being
16:01hated by
16:02you.
16:02My
16:02heartbeat
16:03stumbled.
16:04Noah's
16:05a child,
16:05he said.
16:06He never
16:06deserved
16:07you.
16:08Next time
16:09you need
16:09someone,
16:10his voice
16:11dropped
16:11lower.
16:12Call me
16:12first.
16:13Before I
16:14could answer,
16:15Lucian
16:15slid a
16:16cup across
16:16the desk.
16:17Hot
16:18chocolate.
16:18I blinked.
16:19I didn't
16:20order this.
16:21I know.
16:22I looked
16:23up slowly,
16:24you have
16:25low blood
16:25sugar.
16:26I froze.
16:28How do
16:28you know
16:29that?
16:30Lucian
16:30paused while
16:31flipping through
16:31documents.
16:32You
16:32fainted in
16:33the library
16:33sophomore year.
16:34My chest
16:35tightened.
16:36The campus
16:37doctor mentioned
16:38it.
16:38Even
16:38Noah forgot
16:39that.
16:39Lucian
16:40remembered.
16:40He tapped
16:41the file in
16:41front of me.
16:42Analyze page
16:43one.
16:43I forced
16:44myself to
16:44focus.
16:47this.
16:48These are
16:48real
16:49acquisition
16:49files.
16:50I flipped
16:51another page
16:51faster.
16:52Lucian,
16:53this is
16:53confidential
16:54Blackthorn
16:55capital data.
16:56Why are you
16:57showing this
16:58to
16:58Judent?
16:59I'm
16:59Ishii
16:59to a
17:00stepping
17:00nounet.
17:01Lucian
17:02leaned back
17:02in his
17:02chair calmly.
17:04Other
17:04students?
17:05His eyes
17:05met mine.
17:07No.
17:08Then,
17:10you can
17:11handle it.
17:12I lowered
17:12my head
17:12quickly and
17:13flipped through
17:14the files,
17:14pretending to
17:15focus.
17:15Lucian
17:16watched me
17:16for a
17:16moment,
17:17then said
17:17quietly,
17:18You're
17:18avoiding me?
17:20I'm
17:20not.
17:22Really?
17:23He stood
17:23up,
17:24then walked
17:25toward me.
17:25I could
17:26feel the
17:26warmth of
17:27his body
17:27behind me.
17:28Lucian
17:29leaned down
17:29beside my
17:30chair,
17:31one hand
17:31braced
17:32against the
17:32desk.
17:33His finger
17:34pointed lightly
17:35at a line
17:35in the report
17:36near my
17:36shoulder.
17:37Here,
17:38your
17:38analysis
17:39is wrong.
17:40Every
17:40muscle in
17:40my body
17:41locked
17:41instantly.
17:42Can you
17:43back up
17:43a little?
17:44You should
17:45stop looking
17:46at me
17:46like that.
17:47I swallowed
17:47hard.
17:49Like
17:50what?
17:50His
17:51gray-blue
17:51eyes locked
17:52onto mine.
17:53Like
17:53you're
17:54about to
17:54make a
17:55bad
17:55decision.
17:56Suddenly,
17:57I was
17:58thinking about
17:58that kiss
17:59again.
17:59His
18:00hands,
18:01his
18:01mouth,
18:02the way
18:02he lost
18:03control for
18:04five straight
18:04minutes.
18:05Lucian's gaze
18:06dropped briefly
18:06to my lips,
18:07and for
18:08one second,
18:09I thought
18:09he was
18:10going to
18:10kiss me.
18:11Then,
18:11the office
18:12door slammed
18:13open.
18:14Lucian!
18:15Noah stood
18:15there,
18:16breathing hard,
18:17furious,
18:17and the first
18:18thing he saw
18:19was Lucian
18:19leaning over
18:20me with
18:21one arm
18:21around my
18:22chair.
18:22What the
18:22hell are
18:23you two
18:23doing?
18:24Like he
18:25was holding
18:25me.
18:30So this
18:31is your
18:31private
18:31tutoring?
18:32a professor
18:33hooking up
18:34with his
18:34student
18:34after hours?
18:36Jealousy
18:36practically
18:36dripped
18:37from every
18:37word.
18:39Lucian
18:39straightened
18:40slowly.
18:41Knock
18:42before
18:42entering.
18:43Noah
18:43clenched
18:44his fists.
18:45Lucian
18:45didn't
18:45even look
18:46at him
18:46again.
18:47Instead,
18:47he closed
18:47the file
18:48in front
18:48of me
18:49gently.
18:50Class
18:50dismissed,
18:51Ashley.
18:52Then he
18:53added,
18:54Blackthrow
18:54Capitals
18:55doors are
18:55open to
18:56you.
18:56I froze.
18:57I had
18:58never told
18:59anyone my
19:00career goals.
19:01Not even
19:02Noah.
19:02Yet somehow,
19:03Lucian
19:04knew.
19:05Noah let
19:05out a
19:06sharp
19:06laugh.
19:06Ashley,
19:07when did
19:08you start
19:08dreaming this
19:09big?
19:10Blackthrone
19:10only hires
19:11Ivy League
19:12and MBAs
19:13and billionaire
19:13heirs.
19:14You're a
19:15scholarship
19:15student.
19:16You really
19:17think you
19:17belong there?
19:18The words
19:19hit exactly
19:20where they
19:20were supposed
19:21to.
19:22Because that
19:22fear had
19:23always lived
19:24inside me,
19:25Noah stepped
19:26closer.
19:27Don't let
19:28my brother
19:28fool you.
19:29He just
19:29likes playing
19:30with new
19:30toys.
19:31You know
19:31what people
19:31are saying
19:32about you
19:32outside?
19:33He smirked
19:34cruelly.
19:34They think
19:35you're climbing
19:35all over
19:36Lucian
19:36because you
19:37know I
19:37dumped
19:38you.
19:39Lucian
19:40finally looked
19:41up.
19:42Do you
19:42know the
19:43difference
19:43between you
19:44and Ashley?
19:45You
19:45inherited
19:46power.
19:47Then he
19:47looked directly
19:48at me.
19:49She
19:49understands
19:50it.
19:51Noah's
19:51expression
19:51changed
19:52instantly.
19:53That night
19:54lying in
19:54bed,
19:55I couldn't
19:55stop replaying
19:56the way
19:56Lucian
19:57looked at
19:57me.
19:58We'd
19:58known each
19:59other less
19:59than 10
20:00days and
20:01somehow he
20:02understood me
20:03better than
20:03the man I
20:04loved for
20:04three years
20:05ever did.
20:08Annual
20:08university
20:09gala looked
20:09like something
20:10out of old
20:11money heaven.
20:12Crystal
20:12chandeliers,
20:13champagne
20:13towers,
20:14trust fund
20:15heirs pretending
20:16they earned
20:16their last
20:17names.
20:17I stepped
20:18into the
20:18ballroom
20:19wearing the
20:19dress I
20:20spent three
20:20months saving
20:21for.
20:22Wait,
20:23that's
20:24Ashley?
20:25Holy
20:26hell.
20:27She's
20:28gorgeous.
20:29Noah looked
20:30completely
20:30stunned.
20:32Bro,
20:33your ex
20:34cleaned up
20:34nice.
20:35If she
20:36doesn't have
20:37a date,
20:37I might
20:38steal her.
20:39I do
20:40have one.
20:41Noah,
20:43Charlotte cut
20:43me off
20:44before I
20:44could finish.
20:45She slipped
20:46her arm
20:46through his.
20:47You're not
20:48actually jealous,
20:48are you?
20:49Laughter rippled
20:50through the
20:50crowd.
20:51Noah stayed
20:52quiet for
20:52two seconds,
20:53then laughed
20:54too.
20:56Jealous?
20:58Of her?
20:59His eyes
21:00dragged slowly
21:01over my
21:01body.
21:03Please,
21:04I know
21:05exactly what
21:05she looks
21:06like in the
21:06morning.
21:07More laughter.
21:07Someone added,
21:09Careful,
21:09Noah.
21:10Gold diggers
21:11don't let
21:12go easily.
21:13Charlotte
21:14stepped closer
21:14to me.
21:15Her smile
21:16widened.
21:17Tell me
21:17something,
21:19Ashley.
21:20How many
21:21Blackthroat
21:21brothers are
21:22you sleeping
21:22with now?
21:23She looked
21:24me up and
21:25down mockingly.
21:26You really
21:27thought a
21:28pretty dress
21:28would hide
21:28the fact
21:29nobody invited
21:30you?
21:31I lifted
21:32my chin.
21:33I was
21:34invited.
21:36Invited?
21:37By who?
21:38Some
21:3950-year-old
21:40hedge fund
21:41manager?
21:42Go ahead,
21:42say his
21:43name.
21:44He didn't
21:44answer
21:45immediately.
21:46Charlotte
21:46smiled
21:46wider.
21:47Then she
21:48turned toward
21:48the host.
21:50Wait,
21:52doesn't the
21:52gala have
21:53a partner
21:53registration
21:54list?
21:55The host
21:55blinked
21:56nervously.
21:57Maybe we
21:58should check?
21:59Charlotte
22:00tilted her
22:00head
22:00innocently.
22:01Just to
22:02make sure
22:03random girls
22:03aren't
22:04sneaking
22:04in?
22:05The host
22:05hesitated
22:06before pulling
22:07up the guest
22:07list on his
22:08tablet.
22:09The ballroom
22:09fell silent.
22:10I scanned
22:11the crowd
22:11instinctively.
22:12Still no
22:13sign of
22:14Lucian.
22:14The host
22:15cleared his
22:16throat.
22:16Ashley
22:16Carter
22:17registered
22:18under
22:18Lucian
22:19Black
22:19Kedone.
22:20Noah's
22:20face
22:20changed
22:21instantly.
22:22Charlotte
22:22froze for
22:23half a
22:23second before
22:24forcing out
22:25another smile.
22:26Then she
22:26walked directly
22:27toward the
22:28dean.
22:28And suddenly
22:29the massive
22:30ballroom screen
22:31lit up.
22:32Everyone
22:32turned.
22:33Then
22:34gasped.
22:35Photos
22:35flooded the
22:36screen.
22:36Me
22:37stepping
22:37out
22:37of
22:37Lucian's
22:38Bentley
22:38late
22:38at
22:39night.
22:39Me
22:39leaving
22:40Blackthorne
22:40Tower.
22:41Blurry
22:42paparazzi
22:42style shots
22:43cropped to
22:44look intimate.
22:45Even
22:46photos of
22:46me
22:46working
22:47my
22:47cafe
22:47job.
22:48The
22:48ballroom
22:49exploded
22:49instantly.
22:51No
22:51wonder she
22:52got special
22:52treatment.
22:53She
22:54literally
22:54slept
22:54her way
22:55into the
22:55competition.
22:56That's
22:56disgusting.
22:57Charlotte
22:58stood
22:58beside
22:58the
22:58dean.
22:59Professor
23:00Blackthrone
23:01gave her
23:01private
23:01lessons.
23:03Private
23:04meetings.
23:05Private
23:06nights.
23:08People
23:08started
23:08whispering
23:09louder.
23:09Phones
23:10came
23:10out.
23:11Someone
23:11laughed.
23:14Scholarship
23:15slut.
23:16We
23:17also
23:17discovered
23:18that
23:18parts
23:18of
23:18Ashley
23:19Carter's
23:19thesis
23:21may have
23:22been
23:22plagiarized.
23:24What?
23:26That's
23:27a lie!
23:27I
23:27stepped
23:28forward
23:28furiously.
23:29This
23:29is
23:29defamination!
23:31Charlotte
23:32crossed
23:32her arms
23:33calmly.
23:35and
23:35proven
23:36snapped
23:37and took
23:38my
23:38phone.
23:38I
23:38have
23:38recordings.
23:39I
23:40can
23:40take
23:40all
23:41of
23:41this
23:41to
23:41court.
23:42The
23:42dean
23:42looked
23:42uncomfortable.
23:43Just
23:43yesterday
23:44he praised
23:45my grades
23:45in front
23:45of
23:46faculty.
23:46Now
23:46he
23:47wouldn't
23:47even
23:47meet
23:47my
23:48eyes.
23:49Ashley,
23:49I'm
23:50truly
23:50sorry.
23:51You
23:51need
23:52to
23:52understand
23:52how
23:53this
23:53looks.
23:54For
23:54the
23:54reputation
23:55of
23:55the
23:55university
23:56until
23:56the
23:56investigation
23:57concludes,
23:58your
23:58scholarship
23:59and
23:59competition
24:00placement
24:00will
24:01be
24:01suspended.
24:02The
24:02ballroom
24:02erupted
24:03instantly.
24:05I
24:05knew
24:06it.
24:06She's
24:07a
24:07fraud.
24:08So
24:08that's
24:09how
24:09she
24:09got
24:09ahead.
24:10My
24:10body
24:11suddenly
24:11felt
24:11exhausted.
24:12Not
24:13sad,
24:14not
24:14angry,
24:15just
24:15tired.
24:17Tired
24:17of rich
24:18people
24:18turning
24:18lives
24:19into
24:19games.
24:20Tired
24:21of being
24:21humiliated
24:22publicly
24:22while
24:23everyone
24:23watched
24:23for
24:24entertainment.
24:25Then
24:25Noah
24:25appeared
24:26beside
24:26me.
24:27Beg
24:27me.
24:29I
24:29looked
24:30at him.
24:30One
24:31word
24:32and
24:32I'll
24:32make
24:33all
24:33of
24:33this
24:33disappear.
24:34My
24:34stomach
24:35turned.
24:37You
24:37knew?
24:38Noah
24:38stayed
24:39silent.
24:40Then
24:40You
24:42should
24:42have
24:42stayed
24:42with
24:42me.
24:43I
24:44looked
24:44around
24:44the
24:45ballroom
24:45and
24:46loneliness
24:47hit me
24:47all at
24:47once.
24:48Because
24:49no matter
24:49how hard
24:50I
24:50worked,
24:51I
24:51was
24:51always
24:52standing
24:52here
24:53alone.
24:54Then
24:55the
24:56ballroom
24:56doors
24:56opened.
25:00Lucian
25:00Blackthorne
25:01had
25:01arrived.
25:02The
25:02dean
25:02rushed
25:03toward
25:03him
25:03immediately.
25:04Lucian
25:05ignored
25:05everyone.
25:06He
25:06walked
25:06straight
25:07toward
25:07me,
25:07then
25:08wrapped
25:08one
25:09arm
25:09around
25:09my
25:10waist
25:10possessively.
25:11The
25:11dean
25:11forced
25:12out
25:12a
25:12nervous
25:12laugh.
25:13Mr.
25:13Blackfield,
25:14we were
25:14just
25:15handling
25:16a
25:16situation.
25:17Handling
25:18what?
25:19My
25:19guest
25:20being
25:20publicly
25:21humiliated?
25:22Then
25:22Lucian
25:23looked
25:23down
25:23at me.
25:23You
25:24came
25:24because
25:24I
25:24invited
25:24you.
25:26Sorry
25:26I'm
25:27late,
25:27busy
25:27with a
25:27minor
25:28issue.
25:28Charlotte's
25:29perfect
25:29expression
25:30finally
25:30cracked.
25:31Lucian
25:31turned
25:32toward
25:32her
25:32slowly.
25:33Charlotte,
25:36do you
25:37know how
25:37easily I
25:38could destroy
25:39your father's
25:39company?
25:40Charlotte
25:41stopped
25:41breathing.
25:42Lucian
25:42raised one
25:43hand
25:43slightly.
25:44Immediately,
25:45security
25:45teams rolled
25:46equipment into
25:47the ballroom.
25:48Cameras,
25:49lighting
25:49mics,
25:50live stream
25:50monitors.
25:51The dean
25:52panicked.
25:52Lucian,
25:53there's no
25:53reason to
25:54escalate
25:54this.
25:55No.
25:56Now
25:57there
25:57is.
25:59Live
26:00stream
26:00started
26:01instantly.
26:02Viewer
26:02numbers
26:02exploded
26:03across
26:03the
26:03screen.
26:04Comments
26:05flooded
26:05faster
26:05than
26:06anyone
26:06could
26:06read.
26:07Blackthorn
26:08is
26:08streaming?
26:09What
26:09is
26:09happening?
26:10Who
26:10is
26:11the
26:11girl?
26:12Lucian
26:12stood
26:12calmly
26:13in the
26:13center
26:13of
26:13the
26:14ballroom.
26:15Charlotte
26:16Sinclair
26:16accused
26:17Ashley
26:17Carter
26:17of
26:18plagiarism.
26:18His
26:19voice
26:19echoed
26:19through
26:19the
26:20silent
26:20hall.
26:21That
26:21accusation
26:21could
26:22permanently
26:22destroy
26:23her
26:23academic
26:23career.
26:24Then
26:25he
26:25looked
26:25up.
26:26So
26:26let's
26:26discuss
26:27evidence.
26:27Lucian
26:28lifted
26:28a
26:29hand.
26:29The
26:30screen
26:30changed
26:30immediately.
26:31Folders
26:32appeared.
26:33Research
26:33timestamps.
26:34Draft
26:34versions.
26:35Six
26:36months
26:36of
26:36revisions.
26:37Data
26:38models.
26:38Handwritten
26:39annotations.
26:40Every
26:40stage of
26:41my
26:41thesis
26:42development.
26:43How did
26:43he even
26:44have all
26:44this?
26:45We
26:45barely
26:45knew
26:45each
26:46other
26:46when
26:46I
26:46wrote
26:46it.
26:47The
26:47scientists
26:47and
26:48scholars
26:48who
26:48received
26:49the
26:49breakthrough
26:49prize,
26:50Ashley
26:50Carter,
26:52has
26:52over six
26:52months
26:53of
26:53documented
26:54research
26:54history.
26:54Charlotte's
26:55face
26:55started
26:55turning
26:56white.
26:56Lucian
26:57continued.
26:58Now
26:58let's
26:58compare
26:59that
26:59to
26:59Charlotte
26:59Sinclair's
27:00submission.
27:01screen
27:01switched
27:01again.
27:02Entire
27:02paragraphs
27:03lit up
27:03red.
27:04Copy
27:04pasted
27:05sections.
27:06Matching
27:06citations.
27:07Side
27:07by side
27:08comparisons
27:08from
27:08my
27:09thesis.
27:10Charlotte
27:11stumbled
27:12backward.
27:12That's
27:13impossible!
27:15Actually,
27:16it's
27:17very
27:18possible.
27:19Especially
27:20when the
27:20anonymous
27:21Clarissim
27:22report
27:22your
27:22agent...
27:23He
27:23glanced
27:24toward
27:24her.
27:26Maybe
27:26Sinclair
27:27held
27:27insist
27:27to
27:27final
27:27saw
27:28Complete silence.
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