The moment my roommate found out I was a billionaire's daughter, everything changed. When my dad's monthly transfer of twenty thousand dollars hit my account, the snide comments from my roommate, Zoe, would begin. "What's a girl like you need all that money for?" "The company's going to your brother eventually, you know. You keep blowing money like this, and you'll be kicked to the curb!" Everyone knew my father only had one child: me. The last time she demanded I hand over my allowance, I finally snapped. "Are you insane? It's my money, and I'll spend it how I want. Who do you think you are to tell me what to do?" Zoe just smirked, a cruel little twist of her lips. "Oh, I have every right. After all, I'm carrying your father's child. Technically, that means you'll have to start calling me 'Mom'." But my father had an orchiectomy two years ago. How could she possibly be pregnant with his child? 1 The twenty grand had just landed in my account, and I celebrated by treating myself to a limited-edition handbag from a designer boutique. I was floating on air until I walked back into my dorm room and was met with Zoe Reed’s signature passive-aggressive tone. "Well, well, if it isn't Her Highness returning from a royal shopping trip. What treasures did you acquire today?" Ever since she’d discovered I was Ava Freed, heiress to the Freed fortune, Zoe had made it her mission to make my life a living hell. She was the ringleader of my social isolation. If I went to the dining hall, she’d make a scene. "Hey everyone, make way! A billionaire heiress can't be expected to sit with us commoners. Someone give up their seat for Miss Freed, now!" If I returned to the dorm to rest, she’d try to turn our other roommates into my personal servants. "What are you guys, blind? Her Highness is back! Don't you know how to wait on her hand and foot?" In the beginning, I tried to explain, to tell everyone I wasn't like that. But Zoe was always there, twisting my words, poisoning the well. Soon, everyone avoided me like the plague. And through it all, Zoe, the architect of my misery, would stand there with a smug, savior-like expression. "See? I'm the only one who can put up with your spoiled, rich-girl attitude." Her petty games were nauseating. I ignored her and walked past. Suddenly, she snatched the bag from my hand, her eyes scanning it with a predatory gleam. "So this is a designer bag. Wow, it really does feel different." Her face was a mask of pure greed. "Give it back," I said, my voice cold. "You have so many bags already, you won't miss this one. Why don't you just give it to me?" I used to think Zoe just had no sense of boundaries. Now, I realized she had no shame, either. "If you want one, buy it yourself. Why on earth would I give you mine?" I snatched it back from her grasp. Zoe's face darkened into a terrifying scowl. "You think you're so great because you have money? You think your daddy's cash gives you the right to humiliate people?" Then, her eyes welled up with tears. She threw herself onto her desk, sobbing dramatically. I was completely baffled. Just then, our other roommates, Leah and Maya, walked in. They must have caught the tail end of her performance. "Ava, we know you're rich," Leah said, her voice laced with disapproval, "but that doesn't give you the right to trample on other people's dignity." I almost laughed out loud. "She tried to steal my bag without paying a dime, and I'm supposed to get on my knees and thank her for it?" Without another word, I pulled out my phone and played the recording I’d made of the entire exchange, exposing Zoe's true colors. Leah and Maya shot her disgusted looks and immediately distanced themselves. After all the times she’d subtly manipulated them against me, it felt good to finally win one. Seeing her act was blown, Zoe dropped the pretense. "So what if I was wrong? You have so many bags, you can't possibly use them all. I was just helping you lighten your load!" "I don't need your help. If I have too many, I can sell them and donate the money to charity. One thing's for sure, I'm not giving them to you." Zoe’s face went pale with rage, but she was speechless. After weeks of swallowing her bitter little pills, seeing her choke on her own medicine was sweeter than I could have imagined. After this, I thought, she wouldn't dare mess with me again. 2 It seemed the recording incident had actually scared her. Zoe stopped her snide remarks and started keeping her distance. Without her constant stirring of the pot, the air in the room felt cleaner, lighter. I let my guard down, assuming she’d finally learned to respect boundaries. The next month passed in relative peace. Then came the first day of break. I’d just dragged my suitcase out of the dorm when I saw Arthur, my driver, waiting by the curb with the black Bentley. He stood tall and straight in a freshly pressed dark suit, looking more like a bodyguard than a driver. "Miss Freed, let me get that for you," Arthur said with a warm smile, taking the suitcase and placing it smoothly in the trunk. Just as I reached for the car door, a voice called out from behind me. "Ava, wait up!" I turned to see Zoe, pulling a battered suitcase, jogging toward me. Her eyes flickered between Arthur and the car as she caught her breath. "My parents are working a construction job and can't pick me up," she panted. "And I spent most of my money this month on prep books for the finals, so I don't even have enough for a cab." She looked at me with wide, pleading eyes. "Ava, could you… could you possibly give me a ride?" I frowned. Honestly, the last thing I wanted was to get tangled up with her again. But then my eyes fell on her canvas sneakers, washed so many times they’d faded to a sickly yellow. And she had been leaving me alone for the past month. My resolve softened. "Fine, get in." "Oh, thank you so much! You're the best, Ava!" Before I could even process it, she had walked around to the front, opened the passenger door, and slid inside as if it were her designated seat. I froze for a second, a new frown creasing my brow. Arthur always kept the passenger seat free for my bags or files. He never let anyone else sit there. But I shook my head. It was just a seat. It wasn't worth making a fuss over. I opened the back door and got in. The car had barely pulled away from the curb when Zoe started chatting with Arthur. "This car is so comfortable, sir. It must have cost a fortune, right?" Her voice was cloyingly sweet, a stark contrast to the sharp, bitter person she was in the dorm. Arthur offered a polite, professional smile. "It gets the job done." "You look so young, sir! You take amazing care of yourself." Zoe propped her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on Arthur. "You must be really into health and wellness, right? My mom always says a man has to take care of himself as he gets older, or he'll age so fast…" She rambled on, every topic somehow circling back to Arthur, each word dripping with a sycophantic praise. One moment she was complimenting the fabric of his suit, the next she was gushing about the magnetic quality of his voice. She even managed a pointed jab at her own family. "My dad works construction, his hands are all rough and calloused. Not like yours, sir. You can tell you're a man who does important things. Your fingers are so long and elegant." A shiver ran down my spine. I shot her a look, but she was completely oblivious, still chattering away animatedly. Arthur was clearly uncomfortable, his responses growing shorter and more noncommittal. Mostly, he just grunted "Mm-hmm" or "It's fine." But Zoe didn't take the hint. She doubled down. As we passed a high-end bakery, she let out a theatrical gasp. "Oh, that place has the most famous mousse cake! I've always wanted to try it, but it's just so expensive…" She trailed off, her eyes flicking toward Arthur, her tone turning wheedling. "Have you ever had it, sir? I bet you wealthy families have your own private pastry chefs, don't you?" "I'm not a wealthy man…" "Oh, you're too modest! If you're not wealthy, then what are we? Beggars?" Zoe’s incessant chirping was grating on my last nerve. I tried to cut her off, telling her to be quiet, but the silence would last less than a minute before she found a new way to engage Arthur. Finally, I gave up. I put in my AirPods and drowned her out. It was just one car ride. I'd drop her at the subway station, and we'd go our separate ways. It wasn't worth another fight. But as we neared the station, Zoe suddenly spoke up. "Sir, my house isn't actually near the subway. It's out in the suburbs. Could you possibly drive me a little further?" She twisted around to face me, giving me a conspiratorial wink. "You don't mind, do you, Ava?" 3 Before I could answer, she'd already turned back to Arthur. "My parents are working overtime tonight. I'm a little scared to be walking home alone with my luggage after dark…" This time, Arthur didn't respond. He looked at me in the rearview mirror, waiting for my decision. I stared at Zoe's entitled expression, and that sliver of discomfort I’d been feeling finally sharpened into clear, cold disgust. Give her an inch, and she’ll take a mile. It was her nature. My patience was gone. As she began to repeat her request, I cut her off, my voice sharp. "No. We agreed to the subway station, and that's where you're getting out." The smile on Zoe's face froze. She clearly hadn't expected such a firm refusal. After a moment of stunned silence, her eyes reddened, and her voice caught in a sob. "Ava, I know I shouldn't be asking for so much, but my home is really far. Even after I get off the subway, it's more than a two-hour walk. It'll be pitch black by the time I get there." "My parents work so hard just to save money," she continued, tears streaming down her face. "They work construction during the day and as night watchmen at a warehouse after. They won't even buy themselves decent clothes. I just don't want to bother them to come get me." She wiped her eyes dramatically. "I'm not scared of much, but walking alone at night… I'm just so afraid of what could happen… If something happened to me, what would my parents do?" The air in the car grew heavy. Arthur glanced at me in the mirror, his expression softening with pity. "The suburbs aren't that far of a drive. Maybe we should…" "This isn't about the distance," I interrupted. Zoe seized the opening like a lifeline. "You're such a good person, sir! Ava, I know you're still mad at me for what I did before. I'm sorry, okay? I'll apologize." "I promise, this is the last time I'll ever ask you for anything. I'll stay completely out of your way from now on!" "She's just a young girl, and it sounds like she's in a tough spot," Arthur pleaded quietly. "Let me just take her home." I looked at the earnest plea in Arthur's eyes, then at Zoe's tear-streaked face. Finally, I closed my eyes and sighed. "Fine. Take me home first. Then you can take her." Zoe's tears vanished as if on command, replaced by a triumphant grin. "Thank you, Ava! Thank you, sir! You're both such wonderful people!" She was much quieter for the rest of the drive to my house, though I did catch her glancing at Arthur from time to time, a secretive little smile playing on her lips. When we pulled up to the gates of my family's estate, Arthur was about to get out to help with my luggage, but Zoe beat him to it. She jumped out of the car and practically skipped to the back, pulling open the trunk with a flourish. "I'll get it! Wow, Ava, is this where you live? This house is incredible!" Her eyes were wide with undisguised envy, her tone now syrupy sweet. I ignored her, taking my bag from Arthur. "Drive safe." "Don't worry, Miss Freed." As the car pulled away, I glanced back one last time. Zoe was in the passenger seat, saying something to Arthur that made her blush a deep shade of crimson. A strange feeling settled in my gut, but I quickly dismissed it. I was just overthinking things. Arthur was old enough to be her father. A girl as ambitious as Zoe would never be interested in someone like him. 4 When we returned to school after the break, the change in Zoe was dramatic. The faded white t-shirts were gone, replaced by designer labels. A few days later, she was sporting the latest iPhone. This was the same girl who used to think twice about buying a cheap coffee, and now she was treating our roommates to high-end sushi dinners that cost hundreds of dollars per person. Leah couldn't contain her curiosity. "Zoe, did you win the lottery or something? You've been spending like crazy." Zoe just smiled demurely. "Oh, it's nothing. Just some gifts from my boyfriend. He was worried I wouldn't be eating well at school, so he gave me a little spending money." "Your boyfriend must be loaded. Is he some kind of trust fund kid?" When asked about his identity, Zoe would become evasive. "I'll introduce you all when the time is right." I couldn't shake the feeling that when she said this, her eyes would dart toward me. I wasn't interested in other people's private lives, especially not Zoe's. Where her money came from and who she was dating was none of my business. My phone buzzed. It was a notification that my dad’s twenty-thousand-dollar allowance had arrived. I had just unlocked it to check when Zoe was suddenly leaning over my shoulder. "Is that your allowance from your dad? He's so generous." I flipped my phone face-down on the desk and gave a noncommittal "Mm." "You know, Ava, it's not safe for a girl to carry that much cash around." I frowned. "What are you getting at?" Zoe's smile was sickeningly sincere. "Look, you get this twenty thousand, and it's gone before you know it. Why don't you let me hold onto it for you? I can help you save it." "If you want to buy something, just run it by me first. I'll make sure you're not wasting your money on frivolous things." The audacity of her statement was staggering. "Zoe, who the hell do you think you are?" I snapped. "You want to control my money?" Her smile faltered, and a flash of resentment crossed her face before she suppressed it. "Ava, why would you say that? I'm just trying to help you." "I don't need your help," I cut her off. "My dad is happy to give me money to spend, and I'll spend it however I please. It's none of your damn business!" Zoe's face cycled through shades of red and white. Just when I thought she was about to explode, a strange, twisted smile spread across her lips. "You're only acting so high and mighty now because you're the sole heiress to the Freed fortune. But have you ever stopped to think what would happen if your father had a son?" I furrowed my brow, completely lost. "What are you talking about? My dad only has one daughter. Where would a son come from?" "Why not?" Zoe raised an eyebrow. "Men are all the same deep down. They can have a business empire, but they still want a son to inherit it. Your dad is nice to you now because he has no other choice." She paused for effect. "Once he has a son, do you really think you'll still be getting twenty grand a month?" Her words ignited a fire in my chest. Leaving aside the fact that my father couldn't have any more children, why shouldn't I be the one to inherit my family's business? "Zoe, have you been watching too many soap operas? My father's company will be mine one day. Stop worrying about things that are none of your business!" 5 I thought I had made myself crystal clear, and that Zoe would finally back off. But that night, as I was studying in our room, she marched right up to my desk. "Ava, where's your allowance?" I looked up at her. "What does my allowance have to do with you?" Zoe’s voice rose. "It has everything to do with me. I told you before. From now on, you'll hand it over to me for safekeeping. When you need money, you'll submit a request form. Once I approve it, I'll transfer you the funds." "And," she added with a magnanimous air, "if you're well-behaved, I'll even give you an extra five hundred dollars a month as a reward." As she spoke, her excitement growing, I started to wonder if I was hearing things. My fingers tightened around my phone. I lifted my head, and the look in my eyes was glacial. "Zoe, what did you just say? I don't think I heard you correctly." "I said, hand over the twenty thousand dollars your father gave you. I'll manage it. And if you behave, I'll reward you with five hundred dollars a month." I let out a cold laugh. "Zoe, who in the hell do you think you are, demanding money from me over and over again?" Her voice suddenly shot up an octave. "I have every right." She placed a hand protectively over her flat stomach. "Because I'm pregnant with your father's child. And by the time I marry into the Freed family, you'll have to start calling me 'Mom'." The room fell into a deafening silence. Our roommates' heads swiveled back and forth between me and Zoe, their faces etched with shock. Zoe stared at me, a look of pure triumph on her face, certain that this revelation would shatter me. But I just looked back at her, my expression calm. Zoe was pregnant with my father's child? It was the most ridiculous joke I had ever heard. Two years ago, my father was diagnosed with testicular cancer. To ensure it wouldn't return, he'd had an orchiectomy. The doctors were unequivocal: after the surgery, he would be completely sterile. We had kept the matter private; besides my father and me, almost no one knew. If Zoe had done even the slightest bit of real research on my family, she would never have concocted such an easily disproven lie. I could see her plan clearly. The moment she found out I was an heiress, she started plotting. She was going to use a fake pregnancy to claw her way into a wealthy family and, in the process, gain leverage over me. So foolish. So greedy. "Be smart about this, Ava, and hand over the money," Zoe hissed under her breath. "Otherwise, once I'm married, I'll make your life a living hell. You can kiss your twenty-thousand-dollar allowance goodbye. You'll be lucky if you're even allowed to stay in the Freed family at all!" Watching her gloat, a new idea began to form in my mind. If she wanted to put on a show, then I would be happy to play along. 6 Seeing my lack of reaction, Zoe suddenly clutched her stomach. "Oh... ouch... my stomach hurts..." She sagged against Leah, pointing a trembling finger at me. "It must have been you... you stressed me out... Ava, I know you don't want to accept me, but the baby is innocent…" "If anything happens to this baby, you'll be a murderer!" I scoffed. "We don't even know if there is a baby. You can't just say there is and make it true. Are you willing to go to a hospital and get a test?" At this, Zoe didn't panic. In fact, she looked like she'd been waiting for this. "Fine! Let's go! Let's see if you can handle the truth." "Don't worry," I said smoothly. "If you are really pregnant with my father's child, I will take full responsibility." But first, she had to actually be pregnant. "As it happens, my family owns a private hospital. The equipment and the doctors are the best in the country. Are you brave enough to get checked there?" "Let's go! Who's afraid of who?" Zoe puffed out her chest over her flat stomach. "This will be the perfect chance to show your father he's about to have a son!" I didn't reply, just pulled out my phone and called my family's estate manager, telling him to arrange for a car and to have the hospital prepare for a full prenatal workup. After hanging up, I glanced at Zoe, who was still moaning in fake pain. "The car will be here in thirty minutes. You better be sure about this." If she backed down now, I might have let it go, for the sake of us being classmates. Zoe just snorted. "You think I'm scared? By the end of this, you'll be calling me 'Mom' with respect." On the way to the hospital, Zoe was lost in a fantasy world where her child made her queen. One minute she was debating baby names, the next she was musing about how large of a dowry the Freed family should offer. She was so wrapped up in her delusions that she didn't notice the icy look on my face. She had no idea that the head of OB/GYN at our hospital was a former distinguished professor at a royal college of medicine. No trick, no fake document, would ever get past him. I was about to find out just what she was hiding. At the hospital, the VIP clinic was already waiting. As a nurse led Zoe in, I sat in the waiting area, calmly anticipating the results. Half an hour later, the doctor emerged, holding a report, a strange expression on his face. He walked over to me and spoke in a low voice. "Miss Freed... Miss Reed is... she is indeed pregnant. Approximately six weeks along." I raised an eyebrow. She was actually pregnant? But if my father couldn't have children, then whose baby was it? Just then, Zoe strutted out of the room, snatched the report from the doctor's hand, and glanced at the word "POSITIVE." A smug, triumphant look spread across her face. She stormed over to me and slapped the report against my chest. "Open your eyes and look! I'm pregnant with your father's child—the future heir to the Freed fortune!"
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