The check for my dad’s settlement had just cleared when the first line of text scrolled across my vision, a ghostly caption overlaid on the real world. 【Wow, the side character is such a simp. She’s even willing to use her dead dad’s money to get the guy.】 【What’s the point? It all goes to the main character in the end anyway. Serves her right for not knowing her place.】 A split second later, Ethan came barreling around the corner, out of breath. “Did you get it? The money? Give it to me, I have to pay my tuition deposit before the deadline.” I instinctively moved the hand holding the envelope behind my back and shook my head. 1 【What is she waiting for? Just give him the money!】 【How is he supposed to go to college without it?】 【This is so frustrating. I wish I could reach into the story and slap some sense into her.】 I stared at the captions as they refreshed, a cold understanding dawning on me. I wasn’t just me. I was a character in a book. A disposable one. The designated stepping-stone. My entire purpose was to give up my own chance at college, using my father’s life insurance payout to fund the male lead’s education. I was supposed to stay behind in our dead-end town, taking care of Ethan's parents and helping with their failing farm. He’d promise me over and over that he’d marry me after graduation. But the story didn't end there. The moment he had his degree, he’d cut me loose. He wouldn't just leave; he would accuse me of trying to buy his love, of trapping him with money. Then he'd make a grand public spectacle of marrying his one true love, the story's real heroine, turning me into the town joke. In the end, I was left with nothing. Every sacrifice I made was just to pave the way for her. Worse than being broke and alone, I was twisted into the “crazy, bitter ex-girlfriend,” the villain everyone loved to hate. And the grand finale? The happy couple gets their fairy-tale ending. Meanwhile, a tumor bloomed in my breast, fed by bitterness and stress. With no money for treatment, I was written out of the story with a quiet, lonely death. The hero and heroine would weep with joy. “That evil woman finally got what she deserved.” I read it all in a flash. And I thought: The hell with that. Like I would ever be that pathetic. Like I would burn my own life down just to light the way for those two assholes. Ethan noticed my silence. His impatience flared. “Leah, what are you spacing out for?” he snapped. “I’ve told you a million times, senior year is everything. Every second counts. Do you have any idea what you’ll do to my future if you make me miss this deadline?” He looked at me, his expression radiating a sense of absolute entitlement. “I’m not like you. It doesn’t matter if you get into college or not with your grades. I’m this town’s only real hope. Can’t you see the bigger picture for once?” It was the way he said it, so matter-of-fact. As if my life was a foregone conclusion, a minor detail in his grand story. As if I were a traitor to our entire community for not handing over my father’s legacy without a second thought. I had to physically restrain myself from laughing in his face. Instead, I kept my expression blank. “Oh, you mean my dad’s settlement money?” I said, my voice flat. “They said there’s a delay. It hasn’t come through yet.” Please. Wouldn’t that money be better spent on my own college education? Why would I give it to this ungrateful parasite? 2 As if on cue, a soft voice drifted from behind us. “Ethan…” Hannah appeared, as if summoned. Like every girl-next-door fantasy, she had a wholesome beauty and eyes that swam with a kind of curated vulnerability. The kind of look that made every man instantly want to be her protector. Right now, those big, innocent eyes were fixed on us, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “If she doesn’t want to, you shouldn’t force her,” she murmured, her voice full of gentle reason. Ethan whipped his head back to me, his face a mask of indignation. “Is what she’s saying true? Are you lying to me, Leah?” I gave him a look that said, Believe whatever you want. I waved a dismissive hand. “Think what you want.” He seemed genuinely shocked that I would dare use that tone with him. He opened his mouth, a hot retort on his lips, then seemed to swallow it down. He turned his attention back to soothing Hannah. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “She wouldn’t dare. I’m going to college, one way or another. And when I do, you and I…” He remembered I was standing right there and cut himself off. Hannah, ever the gracious one, put on a show of magnanimity. “Leah is so lucky,” she sighed. “If I had a boyfriend as brilliant as you, Ethan, I’d be smiling in my sleep.” She had no idea that the captions had already shown me everything. Their secret meetings, the promises they’d made to each other. I’d always wondered why Ethan, who was so obviously infatuated with Hannah, had suddenly started pursuing me. Now it all made sense. My dad had been a supervisor at the plant, a man with connections that could have helped Ethan’s career. That was the only reason. Now that Dad was gone, killed in a workplace accident, the show was over. All Ethan needed was the settlement money from the plant to squeeze the last bit of value out of my family’s tragedy. A wave of disgust washed over me, so strong it was nauseating. I looked at Hannah and said coolly, “You like him? He’s all yours.” 3 They both just stood there, stunned into silence. I didn’t have the patience to stick around for their reaction. I turned and walked away from the two of them as fast as I could. As I got closer to my street, I saw Ethan’s mom holding court with a group of neighborhood gossips on her front lawn. “Our Ethan doesn’t even have to pay for his own schooling,” she was bragging, her voice loud enough for the whole block to hear. “That silly little Leah is just falling all over herself to please him…” “Well, she’s not entirely stupid,” another woman chimed in. “Once Ethan becomes a college man, she’ll get to follow him to the city and live the good life.” “Ha! In her dreams!” Ethan’s mom spat on the ground. “A country girl with a dead father, thinking she can marry up? My Ethan is going to marry a city girl. He’s just playing along with Leah for now. Who else is going to pay for his tuition?” Someone else asked, “I thought Leah’s grades were pretty good, too. What if she gets into a good college? Then they’d both be college students.” Ethan’s mom looked at her with pure contempt. “Her? Not a chance. And even if some miracle happened and she did get in, she couldn’t go. Who would take care of our farm when Ethan’s away studying? Leah’s strong. We’ll just have her stay here and work the fields for us.” My blood ran cold. A chill seeped into my bones. Just to have an extra farmhand, they were willing to sabotage my entire life. To turn me from a promising student into a woman breaking her back in the dirt, only to be thrown away like trash when I was no longer useful. And the most pathetic part? According to the script, I was supposed to let them clip my wings and still be grateful for it. I almost choked on my own rage. Then, I squared my shoulders and walked directly toward the group. Ethan’s mom was still talking, her expression animated. When she turned and saw me, her eyes flickered with guilt. The conversation died instantly. I acted like I hadn’t heard a thing, putting on my friendliest smile. “Afternoon, Mrs. Reed,” I said brightly. “I just wanted to let you know, I saw Mr. Reed’s truck parked down the street, turning into Mrs. Henderson’s driveway again. You might want to go check on that.” The effect was immediate. A wave of awkward, delicious tension rippled through the group. Ethan’s mom’s face went from pale to beet red, her eyes practically shooting flames. Everyone in town knew about her husband and Mrs. Henderson. It was the worst-kept secret in Harmony Creek. By saying it out loud, in front of everyone, I had taken her precious reputation and ground it into the dirt. A second later, she stormed off without another word. 4 First day of senior year. Mr. Davison, the guidance counselor, pulled me aside. “Leah, Ethan Reed is the only one in the senior class who hasn’t paid his student fees. When are you planning on taking care of that for him?” I looked up from the mountain of practice SATs on my desk. “Ethan hasn’t paid his fees? What does that have to do with me?” My response sent a ripple of confused murmurs through the nearby students. For the past two years, I’d paid for everything. His fees, his books, his class trips. It had become so routine that Mr. Davison didn’t even bother asking Ethan anymore; he just came straight to me. It wasn’t just the money. When his lunch wasn’t enough, I’d give him mine, even though his stomach was a bottomless pit he could never seem to fill. He’d take my food and, not long after, complain he was still hungry. I used to think he just had a big appetite. Then I found out he was giving everything I gave him to Hannah. Meanwhile, I was the one sitting in class, dizzy with hunger, my stomach cramping so badly I couldn’t focus. Thinking about it now, the sheer idiocy of my devotion made me furious. Mr. Davison didn’t give up. Ethan was his star pupil, the one kid with a real shot at the Ivy League. His success was tied to the school’s reputation, and by extension, Mr. Davison's. He couldn't afford any hiccups. “You’re his girlfriend, aren’t you? What’s the big deal about helping him out with a small fee?” A small, humorless smile touched my lips. “Oh, it’s no big deal for me. I’m just worried about Ethan. People are already starting to call him a freeloader. You know how proud he is. We wouldn’t want to push him over the edge, would we?” I was completely making it up, of course, but it sounded plausible. Finally, I stood up and raised my voice just enough for everyone in the vicinity to hear. “For the sake of Ethan’s reputation, I will no longer be paying for any of his expenses. From now on, please direct all billing matters to Ethan Reed himself.” I grabbed my practice tests and headed for the library. I didn’t want to stick around for the fallout. But I didn’t get far. Ethan was waiting for me right outside the door, his eyes blazing with anger. 5 “Leah, what the hell was that? Are you backing out on me?” Seeing his face, twisted with indignation, sent a strange jolt of satisfaction through me. “Backing out on you?” I shot back. “You’ve got a lot of nerve. Everyone in town knows about you and Hannah. You’re just like your father—can’t seem to keep it in your pants.” “You—” Ethan’s face flushed a deep, mottled red. He sputtered, “There’s nothing going on with me and Hannah. You shouldn’t listen to stupid gossip.” Without even waiting to see if I believed him, he stuck his hand out. “Now give me the money. I have to pay those fees. Today is the deadline, and I’m not going to miss class because of this.” Seriously? What was wrong with this guy? Did he think I was his mother? I wouldn’t even dare ask my own mom for money with that kind of attitude. Even the captions were disgusted. 【Seriously? I never realized how shameless the male lead is.】 【This is giving me flashbacks to my deadbeat ex. Loved spending my money.】 【Ugh, if I were her, I’d slap him. Twice.】 I rolled my eyes so hard I felt a strain. “No money,” I said, turning to leave. He grabbed my arm, his grip surprisingly strong. “I already asked around. Your dad’s settlement came through last week. Stop lying to me.” 6 “How can you be such a selfish person?” Ethan’s voice was rising, getting louder with every word. A small crowd was gathering, kids peering out of classroom windows to watch the drama unfold. Their stares were a mixture of curiosity and judgment, most of it aimed at me. I couldn’t take it anymore. I opened my mouth to fire back. But just then, Hannah materialized behind me again. The moment she saw me, her eyes welled up with tears. Her already petite frame seemed to shrink, making her look impossibly fragile. She grabbed my sleeve, her voice a desperate plea. “Leah, please… is this because of me? Are you refusing to help Ethan because of me?” she whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You can’t listen to those rumors. Ethan is a top student. He’s our town’s only hope. You have to help him!” Every word was delivered with the dramatic weight of a Shakespearean tragedy. Anyone watching would think I was a monster bullying this poor, sweet girl. Ethan’s face hardened with protective anger. “Leah, when are you going to stop this?” he yelled, his voice echoing in the hallway. “Look at yourself! You’re acting like some crazy, irrational shrew! I’m about to apply to college. Can’t you for one second think about the pressure I’m under?” That was the cue for the audience to chime in. “Come on, Leah. Everyone knows you two are a couple. What’s the big deal?” “Yeah, Ethan’s family doesn’t have much. The guy works his butt off and gets straight A’s. If he were my boyfriend, I’d sell my car to help him.” “I see what this is. She’s just a user. No loyalty at all.” One by one, they tore me down, piling on accusations that had no basis in reality. In their eyes, Ethan was the golden boy destined for greatness, and I was just the lucky girl who got to cling to his coattails. They had no idea that he wouldn’t be where he was without me. I did his laundry and cleaned his classrooms so he would have more time to study. I stayed up all night copying study guides he couldn't afford so he’d have them first thing in the morning. I was more invested in his grades than my own. And my grades hadn’t been bad. My dream of going to college was just as real, just as fierce as his. But I had always put his dream first. Not anymore. 7 “Ethan,” I said, my voice cutting through the noise. It was quiet, but it carried. “You have a mother and a father. You have two hands and two feet. Why do you need me to pay your way through school?” His face went white. Hannah jumped in. “His family is poor! You have all that money now, why can’t you help him? Do you have any idea what it’s like to go hungry sometimes…” Before she could finish her sob story, I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, I see. So because I have money, I’m obligated to give it away? Poverty makes you morally superior, is that it?” Hannah stammered, her face flushing bright red. I ignored her completely, my eyes locked on Ethan. “And speaking of money,” I said, my voice dripping with acid, “you knew how tight things were, Hannah, but you still let him use my money to buy you that new J.Crew blouse, didn’t you?” “You—” Hannah looked like I’d struck her. She clearly hadn’t known I knew about that, much less that I’d announce it publicly. The truth was, I’d only just learned it from a pop-up caption myself. She nervously glanced around as the other students’ eyes immediately darted to the crisp, new shirt she was wearing. I pressed on. “You talk about him going hungry. Well, he gave you the lunch I packed for him every single day. Of course he was hungry.” I turned my attention back to the crowd. “I dated him for a year. I did his laundry, cooked his meals, helped on his family’s farm, and paid his school fees. In all that time, he never bought me so much as a piece of candy. Everything he got from me, he turned around and gave to her. Tell me, was I just a pawn in some twisted game you two were playing?” The hallway erupted. “Wait, I thought Ethan was with Leah. Who is this other girl?” “He used his girlfriend’s money to buy clothes for another chick? That’s pathetic.” “Who cares how smart he is? The guy’s a leech.” “Worse, he’s a leech who thinks he’s entitled to it.” The sharp, judgmental stares were now directed at Ethan and Hannah. No matter how thick-skinned they were, they couldn’t withstand that kind of scrutiny. Hannah looked down, twisting the hem of her skirt, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. Ethan just glared at me, his eyes filled with pure venom. I glanced at the captions scrolling in my periphery. 【Is it just me or does this feel like catching a cheating couple in the act?】 【Okay, I’m not the only one who thinks the ‘hero’ is a dirtbag and the ‘heroine’ is a fake, right?】 【Why is it so satisfying to see them get called out? I’m living for this.】 【This side character is kind of a badass. I’m officially a fan.】 A small smile played on my lips. My confidence surged. I was about to go in for the kill when a furious voice cut me off. “That’s enough!” Ethan roared. “I see what this is. You’re just jealous of Hannah. She’s kinder than you, she’s more thoughtful than you, she’s more of a human being than you’ll ever be. And you’re so desperate to tear her down you’ll make up any lie you can think of.” Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Hannah’s hand and pulled her away, disappearing down the hall. 8 Somehow, Ethan managed to scrape together the money and pay his fees. After that, he made it his mission to make my life hell. He turned our friends against me, gave me the silent treatment, and acted like I was invisible. I couldn’t have cared less. My entire focus was on my schoolwork. I took a small amount of my dad’s settlement and set it aside for a “food fund.” Before, I was constantly starving myself for Ethan’s sake. Now, I ate protein with every meal. I was no longer dizzy in class, and my concentration improved dramatically. If I got hungry studying late at night, I’d make myself a snack. I had more energy than ever before. The only downside was the look on Ethan’s face whenever he saw me eating a chicken leg I’d originally bought for him, while his own lunch consisted of stale bread and a jar of pickles. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. One afternoon, I was struggling with a particularly brutal geometry proof. Ethan suddenly appeared at my desk. “You’re not built for math, Leah,” he sneered. “You can work at it all you want, but you’ll never be good at it. You should just accept it.” I felt a flash of white-hot anger. But then, a cold, clear thought cut through it. Only the weak lash out. The strong face reality. The anger subsided. He wasn’t wrong. Math was my Achilles’ heel. According to the captions, my math scores were what would ultimately drag my grades down. I was smart enough for Yale, but I would end up at a second-rate state school because of this one subject. The thought was unbearable. Seeing the frustration on my face, Ethan’s expression shifted to one of smug superiority. “Look,” he said, his tone dripping with condescension. “If you apologize to Hannah—publicly—and admit that everything you said about her was a lie, I might consider tutoring you.” He paused for effect. “You know how good I am. A few pointers from me would be worth more than a hundred hours of you banging your head against the wall.” He was right. His talent for math was infuriatingly natural. Ten minutes of his help would probably be more effective than ten hours of me studying on my own. Especially now, with senior year flying by, I didn’t have time to waste. But I still shut him down. “The only thing I want from you, Ethan, is for you to stay as far away from me as possible.” I remembered all the times I had begged him to help me with math before. He always had an excuse. “You just don’t have the aptitude for it…” “When would I possibly have the time?” “Instead of wasting energy on this, why don’t you do my laundry for me…” And now, he was offering to teach me, but only as a tool to defend Hannah’s honor. The irony was suffocating. I had my pride. I had my self-respect. I would rather never go to college than beg for scraps of affection from him.
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