On the day we were supposed to register for college, my boyfriend—who had just gotten into a top-tier university—suddenly said he picked the wrong major and wanted to take a gap year to reapply. I knew immediately: He was doing it for her. His childhood friend who didn't get in. His parents begged me to talk sense into him. After struggling with it all night, he stood outside my dorm and told me: "I've thought it through. I'm not taking a gap year. Let's be together properly." But at the freshman welcome party, when the counselor called his name, his phone lit up. It was a message from her. "My prep classes started today. It feels weird not having you as my desk mate." He froze. I grabbed his hand, whispering a warning: "If you leave now, we are done forever." He just muttered "I'm sorry," grabbed his suitcase, and walked out of my life. 1 "Mr. and Mrs. Miller, you heard him." "Caleb said it himself. This is his choice. I respect it, and I'd appreciate it if you respected me, too." "I have to unpack my dorm room. I won't see you out." I turned my back to start putting sheets on my bed, ignoring Caleb's parents completely. Defeated, they finally left. My mom was fuming, her chest heaving as she grabbed my hand, eyes full of pain for me. "Jenna, don't be sad. A man like that isn't worth it! Wasting your future on him? Not worth it!" I smiled, comforting her. "Mom, I'm fine. Really." "I saw this coming a mile away, but I never thought he'd be stupid enough to actually do it. Giving up Stanford to go retake classes with Sarah?" My best friend called, screaming over the phone. "Caleb is such a piece of trash! Retaking a year for that pick-me girl? Jenna, are you okay?" I paused. "I'm okay." "I knew Sarah was bad news! Always 'Caleb this, Caleb that,' it makes me want to barf! And Caleb is blind enough to fall for it!" Listening to my best friend's righteous anger, I felt surprisingly calm. I used to be confident in my relationship with Caleb. I had sensed something between him and Sarah, but I was too busy studying to pay much attention. Because he once said, "I don't like people who flaunt their wealth," I refused the $15,000 monthly allowance my dad offered. I ate in the cafeteria with him every day. When we were rushing, if he ate bread, I ate granola bars. I put my billion-dollar inheritance on hold just to study alongside him like my life depended on it. Getting into Stanford on my own merits was my way of proving to him that I wasn't just a rich girl. But he never knew how many times I secretly had my family bail out his dad's failing factory, just so financial stress wouldn't impact his studies. I thought once we got into Stanford and away from Sarah, Caleb would focus on us. I overestimated him. And I underestimated Sarah's tears. The news of us getting into Stanford as a "power couple" had already made local headlines. Now, with this drama, a new hashtag was climbing the trending list. #StanfordScholarGivesUpSpotForHighSchoolSweetheart The comments section was exploding. [Is he insane? It's Stanford! Just throwing it away? For a girl who didn't even get in?] [Did a donkey kick him in the head? What kind of love is worth more than your future?] [I'm curious who this 'childhood sweetheart' is to have that much power.] Soon, netizens dug up Sarah's photos and info. The public opinion shifted instantly. [That's it? She's not even as pretty as the original girlfriend. Is he blind?] [She knew he had a girlfriend and still clung to him? What a pick-me, total homewrecker!] My phone wouldn't stop vibrating with consolation texts from friends and family. I didn't reply to a single one. It just felt ironic. The next day, just when I thought things would die down, Caleb called. He sounded furious, like I'd murdered his family. "Jenna, did you orchestrate this trending topic?" 2 I laughed out loud at his audacity. "Caleb, did repeating a year rot your brain? Do you think I have the time to hype up your scandal?" He choked for a second, then demanded righteously, "Then issue a statement now! Clarify things online! Say we broke up peacefully a long time ago." "My decision to retake the year is mine alone, it has nothing to do with Sarah! She's getting torn apart online, she's been crying all day!" Hearing the heartache in his voice for Sarah, my smile turned icy. "Why should I clarify?" "We broke up because you betrayed me for another woman. You're retaking the year because of her." "Caleb, I have no obligation to help you or your little sweetheart face the consequences of your own actions." "As far as I'm concerned, the moment we broke up, we were strangers. I don't owe you anything." "You—" I hung up before he could finish. Blocked. A few days later, a post on the Stanford campus forum went viral. [Exposing Freshman Jenna: The So-Called 'Golden Girl' is Just a Bully Who Used Money to Force Love!] The post painted a vivid picture of me as a possessive, manipulative rich girl. It claimed I had been obsessed with the brilliant Caleb since childhood and used my family's power to force him to be with me. It said he and his childhood friend Sarah were the true lovers, torn apart by me, the villainess. The post alleged that after getting into Stanford, Caleb wanted to break up and get back with Sarah. But I supposedly threatened suicide and vowed to use my family's influence to destroy his family's business, forcing him to submit. Finally, it concluded: Caleb's decision to retake the year wasn't for love, but a brave rebellion to escape my control. It even included several carefully edited photos. Me looking cold next to Sarah (interpreted as jealousy). Caleb frowning while talking to me (interpreted as enduring my abuse). And one of Sarah crying while Caleb comforted her (hailed as true love). Public opinion flipped instantly. The netizens who were sympathizing with me and bashing Caleb yesterday suddenly developed amnesia. They turned their guns on me. [Whoa, what a plot twist! I wondered why a smart guy would be so dumb. He was forced!] [Jenna is disgusting! Think you're special because you're rich? You can't buy love!] [Poor Sarah and Caleb. This is like a modern-day tyrant stealing a bride.] [Jenna, get out of Stanford! We don't want trash like you here!] The comments were filthy. My personal info—phone number, dorm room—was doxxed. My phone blew up with abusive texts and calls from strangers. Some people even came to my dorm building, shouting at my window. "Jenna! You bitch! Come out!" "Bully! Shameless!" My roommate was furious, rolling up her sleeves to go fight them, but I stopped her. "Don't. They're irrational right now. You won't get through to them." She was tearing up. "Jenna, what do we do? How can they say these things without knowing the truth?" I looked at the angry faces outside. I felt nothing. I even wanted to laugh. This style was too familiar. It had to be Sarah. Only Caleb would be stupid enough to tell her our history, which she then twisted into a weapon against me. They thought these dirty tricks would drag me into the mud and make them look innocent. Naive. 3 The next day, I took leave from school and showed up at the high school where Caleb and Sarah were retaking classes. News that I arrived in a top-tier luxury car spread fast. Students gathered around. "Omg, that car is expensive. Which rich kid is it?" "I heard it's the senior who graduated last year, the one who got into Stanford!" "Isn't that Jenna? She was on the local news." "Yeah, yeah! Didn't you know? Caleb, who got into Stanford with her, is back here retaking classes to be with his childhood sweetheart." "God, is he sick? Skipping Stanford for a girl?" Hearing the commotion, Caleb and Sarah rushed over. "What, here to beg me to go back to Stanford? Annoying. I told you we broke up. I'm here for Sarah now, stop disturbing our studies!" Caleb looked at me with disdain and impatience, as if our past relationship was all an act. I cleared my throat. "I'm not here to persuade you. I'm here for one thing." "I want an apology!" "Apology?" Caleb paused. I looked at Sarah, standing beside him. "You paid for those forum posts, right? They've seriously impacted my life. I demand you delete them and apologize publicly!" Honestly, I could have just asked my dad. One call, and every negative post about me would vanish in minutes. Maybe I still held a shred of hope for Caleb. If they apologized, I'd let it go. But Caleb looked at me like I was the biggest joke in the world. His contempt deepened. "Did Sarah say anything wrong in those posts?" "You bullied her first. If the online comments hadn't hurt her, she wouldn't have fought back." "Sarah is kind. Unlike someone who only knows how to bully people with money!" He pulled Sarah close, creating an intimate scene. Sarah leaned into him weakly, a flash of triumph in her eyes. I realized I had oversimplified things. Or rather, I finally saw that Caleb was just rotten to the core. "High schoolers aren't supposed to date. Don't you know that?" I stopped saving face for them. Caleb scoffed. "The principal didn't say anything. Why do you care?" "Besides, this year, Sarah and I will get into Stanford together as a power couple. Just you wait." I laughed internally. Her? Getting into Stanford? Keep dreaming. Sarah wasn't happy. She started whining to Caleb. "Caleb, she's too much. Is having ambition wrong?" "Jenna just looks down on me because she has money and power." "Sarah's right." Caleb tapped her nose affectionately, then looked at me with pure disgust. "Jenna, you've gone too far. I want you to apologize to Sarah. Otherwise, we won't delete those posts." I was furious. This was completely backwards! "Me? Apologize? Is she worthy?" "I think you've lost your mind. You are a piece of trash. Completely rotten." "You..." I stopped engaging with them and waved at the car. A man in a suit and glasses stepped out and walked over... 4 "Mr. Yang, no need to deliberate. File the lawsuit against Sarah immediately." I said each word clearly in front of everyone. Caleb reacted instantly. "What do you mean? You're suing Sarah?" "Jenna, is this necessary? Do you have to blow this up?" Sarah's eyes reddened on cue, tears ready to fall. "Caleb, what do I do? Is Jenna blaming me? I didn't do anything wrong." "Of course you didn't. You're too kind, that's why people bully you. Don't be scared, Sarah. I've got you." Heh. How touching. Caleb let go of Sarah and marched up to me, face full of anger. "Jenna! What do you want? Why sue Sarah? She's just an innocent girl who doesn't know anything!" He grabbed my wrist hard. I frowned and shook him off. "Doesn't know anything? Caleb, are you insulting my intelligence or the law?" "She didn't mean it! She just loves me too much!" "Enough." I cut off his excuses coldly. "Save the sob story. If you're begging, act like it." My imposing manner seemed to stun him. He froze. "Drop the lawsuit. It's better for everyone. Otherwise, with your ability, you'll lose. I will protect Sarah to the end! I'll get her the best lawyer in the world." I laughed. I didn't realize his confidence had swelled this much. Just because I ate humble pie with him for a few years, he thought I was weak. I didn't want to waste another word. I took out my phone and called my dad on speaker. "Dad, it's me." "Hmm? Is it resolved?" "No." I looked at Caleb and spoke clearly. "I want to sue Sarah. And I want the Jiang Group to pull all sponsorship and contracts with the Miller family. I want the Millers out of the city!" 5 My father didn't hesitate. "Done." Caleb looked like he'd been struck by lightning. He stood rigid. He stared at me in disbelief, lips trembling. "What did you say? Contracts? What contracts?" "Why do you think your father's company has had such smooth sailing and big projects these past few years?" I smirked, eyes full of mockery. "Caleb, you enjoyed the benefits my family provided, then turned around and bit me. Now, I'm just taking back what's mine." He panicked completely, lunging to grab my phone. I dodged. "Jenna! Is this necessary?! Over something so small! Do you have to destroy us?!" "Yes." I looked straight into his terrified eyes. "I am that petty." "I won't let you or Sarah off the hook!" Not long after the call, Caleb's parents—who had just received news that funding stopped and bankruptcy was imminent—rushed over. Mr. Miller slapped Caleb across the face. Smack! "You ungrateful son! I'll kill you!" He was shaking with rage, pointing at Caleb's nose. "I told you to treat Jenna well! What have you done?" "For a woman like that, you threw away your Stanford acceptance like trash! And now the Jiangs pulled everything! The company is finished! Are you happy?!" Mrs. Miller was wailing. "Why did I give birth to such a useless thing! Don't you know our family relies on the Jiangs? You've ruined us all!" Caleb clutched his swelling face, neck stiff with defiance. "You only care about money! About contracts! Do you care about how I feel?" "I love Sarah! I don't want to sacrifice my feelings for family interests! I don't want a life arranged for me!" "Your life?" Mr. Miller laughed angrily. "Without the Jiangs, you couldn't afford the house you live in! What life are you talking about?" "You're forcing me!" "Are we forcing you, or are you just stupid?!" I watched coldly from the side. When the school administration came out to mediate, I left. Later, I heard from my dad that the Millers tried everything to fill the financial hole, begging and selling assets, but it was useless. The once-proud Miller family was on the brink of bankruptcy within two weeks. And Caleb, the golden boy, fell from the clouds into the mud. He never came to find me again. As for Sarah, my lawsuit was a slam dunk. She was sentenced to two years for defamation and libel. Caleb tried to make a scene at my house when he found out, but my parents kicked him out. Time flew. It was the first winter break of college. Our high school class organized a reunion. I didn't want to go, but my best friend dragged me along. The private room was lively. As soon as I walked in, I saw Caleb sitting in the corner. In just a few months, he looked drained. He wore a faded T-shirt, eyes dull. The spirited boy who walked into Stanford with me was gone. I glanced at him once, then looked away and sat with my friend. Everyone chatted about college life. The atmosphere was fine. Until a drunk guy pointed at Caleb. "Caleb, you're a legend! Giving up Stanford to retake high school... for, hehe, love?" His laugh was mocking. "Guys, what do we call this? A hero sacrificing everything for a beauty!" The room went quiet. Everyone looked at Caleb. Caleb clenched his fists, face red. He didn't retort to the guy. Instead, he looked up and glared at me. That accusing look, as if I was the one mocking him. I frowned. Baffling.
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