The message popped up completely out of the blue: I’d been accidentally added to the St. Jude’s Prep Swap & Sell group chat. Then came the direct message from the admin, cold and to the point: 【Blake Donovan and Ethan Cole are betting on who can sleep with the new scholarship girl in under a month. Any intel that helps them win can be traded for cash in this group.】 A swarm of floating text—the system’s strange, persistent “bullet comments”—flashed across my vision, an unsettling reality overlay: “Six-sixty-six, the female villain got pulled into the group chat specifically designed to prank her.” “They have to avenge Cassidy Lane! She took the Queen Bee’s spot as class valedictorian as soon as she arrived.” “Heh. The country bumpkin thinks they actually like her. She’ll stop studying, let herself get ruined, they’ll dump her, and it’ll be epic.” They were talking about me. Eliza Reed. I took a deep breath, smiled a small, vicious smile, and typed a message into the group. 【Hey everyone. I’m that scholarship girl’s ex-boyfriend. I know every single one of her secrets. The more intimate the detail, the higher the price. Check my pinned post for the full menu. Happy to take your orders.】 My information was surgically accurate. One by one, they paid me for intel. Details ranged from her favorite comfort food to the day her cycle made her cramps the worst, from her most sensitive body parts to her preferred kissing style. In the end, I was drowning in cash, and they were green with frustrated jealousy. 【We’ve been practically worshiping her. Why doesn’t she like us?】 【Seriously, how the hell do you, a mere ex-boyfriend, know this much? Does she still like you?】 1 The chat went silent for a few seconds. Then, the rich kids exploded. 【Wait, you’re actually Eliza Reed’s ex?】 【And you know all her secrets?】 【Sounds like a scam.】 I sent back an easy smiley face: 【It’s real, gents. Genuine, honest-to-god goods.】 Blake Donovan, the school’s notorious jock/bully, snorted. 【We’ll see about that. Tell me where Eliza is right now. Two grand if you’re right.】 The bullet comments flared again: “Here we go. Blake Donovan is the resident psycho. Pure hatred. He worships Cassidy, and when the female villain stole her top spot, he went ballistic, calling Eliza a hillbilly and a gutter-rat.” Calling me names, huh? Fine. I’ll take his money. I typed immediately: 【At this time of day, Eliza should be in the library, third floor, fifth row by the window.】 【If you go now, it’ll look like a perfect coincidence.】 Ten minutes later. Blake Donovan was sitting directly across from me in the library, a loose, predatory smile playing on his lips. He messaged the group: 【She’s here. He was right.】 The group chat erupted. I laughed internally. 【Of course I was right. I am the person who understands her best in the world. You can call me The Ex-Files.】 Blake responded: 【Alright, Ex-Files. Pay up is pay up.】 He Venmo’d me two thousand dollars. My hands trembled with excitement. The sheer, intoxicating rush of it was better than any drug. How did I not see this business opportunity before? I looked up at Blake, who was now leaning back, toying with me. He was the only son of the Donovans, raised on a silver spoon. The school’s untouchable bad boy—hot, rugged, and completely unhinged. I immediately lowered my gaze, forcing a dull, disinterested mask. Blake messaged the group: 【Interesting. I’m a handsome guy, and she won’t even blush when I sit right in front of her.】 A rich kid in the chat piped up: 【I’ve seen her. She’s definitely got that innocent look.】 Blake: 【Ha. She looks innocent now. Who knows how wild she is in bed, though.】 【Hey, Ex-Files. Did you ever sleep with her?】 I typed back: 【Nope. We planned to break the rules on graduation night, but we broke up before that.】 【If you succeed, be sure to send me a bonus.】 Blake grinned. 【Done. You get a big bonus when I get her into my bed.】 【Now, how do I get her number?】 I replied: 【That’s strategic consulting. That’ll be four grand.】 Blake transferred the money instantly. I hit ‘Collect’ and typed back: 【She desperately needs money. She’s been trying to find a tutoring gig to pay for her living expenses. Use that.】 Blake scoffed: 【Didn’t she just get a twenty-thousand dollar scholarship for valedictorian? That’s not enough?】 【Typical. Poor kid with expensive tastes.】 I returned his cynicism with a cold truth: 【It’s complicated. Eliza’s family situation is grim. Dead mother, gambling father, and a sick grandmother.】 【Her grandmother is in the ICU. She sent the entire scholarship to the hospital. She needs tutoring money just to eat.】 Blake paused. 【She… she’s that hard up?】 【Fine. I’ll try the tutoring angle.】 The next second, my physics textbook was abruptly yanked away. I looked up to see Blake leaning against the table’s edge, speaking with a casual drawl. “You’re Eliza Reed, right?” “Heard you’re the best. You want to tutor me?” “I’ll pay you ten thousand a month.” I was internally ecstatic, but my face remained demure. “That’s too much. I can’t take it. Three or four thousand is plenty.” Blake raised an eyebrow, the entitled young lord. “Are you insulting me? That’s what I pay all my tutors.” I pursed my lips. “Understood. We can start next week.” Blake smiled. “Great. Let’s swap contact info.” A few minutes later, Blake was back in the chat: 【She agreed. Got her number.】 I quickly replied: 【Congrats!】 The other rich boys cheered: 【Damn, Ex-Files’ info is solid!】 【He got her number. Blake might actually be the first to bag her.】 2 The weekend arrived, and I was at Blake’s private study room, drilling him on physics. My tutoring sessions were intense. By the end, Blake’s eyes were practically crossing from the effort. During a much-needed break, Blake messaged the group, agitated: 【Seriously, this is just a damn tutoring session.】 【But, not gonna lie, she breaks down the concepts so clearly…】 【Ex-Files, I need to make a move. Which spot on her body is the most sensitive to touch?】 Just then, the chat alert announced: Ethan Cole has joined the group. Ethan Cole. The ridiculously popular student council president. Elegant, high-value, the quintessential Golden Boy—everything a perfect, unattainable crush should be. The group chat went wild: 【Whoa, the Golden Boy is here!】 【Didn’t you leave the group chat because you were ‘bored’?】 Ethan replied: 【I heard Eliza Reed’s ex was here, and it seems Blake is actually making progress. Thought I’d check it out.】 【If he can buy intel from this hustler, why can’t I?】 I sent a small wave: 【Happy to help. Everyone is welcome to buy my intel. Call me The Ex-Files.】 Blake tagged me: 【Stop flirting with him. Spit it out. What part of Eliza is the most sensitive?】 【Transferring 10,000.】 I quickly accepted the payment. The truth was, I had no idea what part of me was most sensitive. But it didn't matter. I just needed to sell the fantasy. I replied: 【She has a mole on the back of her neck. Every time I kissed her there, she’d start to tremble.】 Blake laughed. 【Nice. I’ll try it.】 Ethan Cole sent a laughing emoji: 【Kissing her neck on the first tutoring session? Blake, they’re going to call you a creep.】 Blake reconsidered and transferred four more thousand: 【Any other, more subtle physical contact ideas?】 I replied: 【Let me think. Her ears are quite sensitive. A light brush and they turn crimson.】 【Want more sensitive spots? Keep the money coming.】 One of the rich kids grumbled: 【Wow, Ex-Files, you’re seriously trashy. Selling your ex-girlfriend’s secrets for cash.】 I shot back: 【Hey, every man for himself, right? We’re all just doing business here.】 Ethan chimed in: 【Stop insulting the hustler. We aren’t exactly saints either. We created this group to break Eliza Reed, make her fall in love with us, then destroy her reputation and her future, all to get back at her for Cassidy.】 【Cassidy was crying pitifully in the stairwell after Eliza stole her valedictorian spot. I felt bad for her.】 I followed up: 【Exactly. We’re all getting what we want. No shame in that.】 Putting down my phone, I looked at Blake. “Break’s over. Back to work.” Blake just oh’d, his eyes distant. Only a few minutes into the next session, he suddenly leaned in, his voice a low, confidential murmur. “Tutor, I still don’t get this problem.” I moved closer. “Which one?” “Right here.” I pointed to the equation, about to speak. He suddenly closed the gap and blew gently into my ear. I jumped, clutching my earlobe. I hadn’t expected that. My ear was actually… surprisingly sensitive. Blake froze, staring at my ear as it slowly turned bright red. His eyes drifted lower to the mole on my neck. He swallowed unconsciously, then leaned back, a low, playful smirk on his face. “Tutor, your ear is sensitive.” I hardened my expression. “Focus on the problem.” After the session, Blake was back in the chat: 【Her ear went red!】 【It’s super sensitive. I bet if I sneak a little lick of her lobe when she wasn’t looking, her whole face would flush. That would be fun.】 The group members poured in: 【Hahaha, Ex-Files must have tried it. Tell us!】 I replied: 【Hahaha, I did. During our honeymoon phase, I’d lick her earlobe while she was studying. She’d jump every time.】 【More stimulating sensitive spots? Next time, five times the price.】 【Anyone else want intel? I’ve got some really hot stuff left.】 Seeing me advertise again, Blake suddenly turned nasty. 【You’re awful. Seriously. Profiting off your ex-girlfriend. I can’t believe she ever liked you.】 The rich kids were confused: 【Woah, why the breakdown?】 【Dude, you’re eating the pot and then cursing the cook.】 【Did one tutoring session make you fall for her?】 【I guess Eliza does have that pure, sweet look. She seems like your type.】 Blake scoffed: 【No way. She’s nothing compared to Cassidy Lane. I’d never like her.】 【By the way, I noticed a clear burn scar on Eliza’s hand during the session. What’s the story?】 I replied: 【Pay first.】 Blake transferred two grand. I quickly accepted the payment and slowly replied: 【Oh, that’s from her father’s abuse. When she was little, he’d chain her up during the day. When he got drunk at night and was in a bad mood, he’d put out his cigarettes on her hand.】 【So she really hates drunk men.】 The chat went silent for a moment. Blake typed slowly: 【She… she had it that bad?】 Ethan Cole’s laughing emoji popped up: 【Speaking of which, Blake loves to drink. Looks like I win.】 Blake immediately retorted: 【Ha, don’t get ahead of yourself. I’ll quit.】 3 In just two days, I’d made over twenty thousand in side money. That was faster than any scholarship. Tonight, I splurged on a little luxury: a bottle of premium cold-brew coffee. Ethan Cole messaged me privately: 【I’m curious. How did Eliza fall for you?】 【Since you were her ex, you must have had a reason she liked you.】 【That idiot Blake asks the stupidest questions. This is the valuable intel.】 【Two hundred thousand, and I get priority on all effective information like this.】 The bullet comments were full of praise: “Ethan Cole is so smart. The Golden Boy is actually a Black-Slick-White villain.” “LOL, the female villain better not think he likes her. The real reason is that Cassidy bet them that whoever destroys Eliza gets Cassidy’s first kiss.” So that was the real prize. But two hundred thousand was two hundred thousand. I collected the money immediately: 【Deal. No problem.】 【I’ll start here: She likes the gentle type. I remembered every one of her preferences, right down to the day her period pain was worst, the exact spot on her back that felt best when massaged, and even her favorite lingerie color.】 【I can send you the full details if you want.】 A while later, Ethan was back in the main group, boasting: 【Just had a private session with The Ex-Files. He gave me some very valuable information.】 Blake was furious: 【Whatever. She’s tutoring me every day. We’re alone together. With my looks, it’s only a matter of time before things heat up.】 Ethan laughed: 【Why are you fighting me? Have you forgotten why we’re in this group? We want to ruin Eliza. Make her fall in love with one of us, cause her to self-destruct, destroy her future. Isn’t that the fun part?】 Blake was silent for a moment. 【…Damn it. I know.】 【Wait, will her ex-boyfriend hear all this and rat us out?】 I immediately jumped in: 【Don’t worry. I fully support you guys. I need your business, after all. I only care about money. I couldn’t care less about what happens to her.】 Blake: 【God, you’re a complete sociopath.】 I almost burst out laughing. Sociopath? These people, who built a betting pool to ruin a girl, had the nerve to call me a sociopath? 4 The next day after school, I was counting my cash, walking back to my rented apartment. In the hallway, a man reeking of stale alcohol blocked my path. He growled: “Looks like you’re doing well at the new school, you little bitch.” “I heard you got a twenty-grand scholarship. Hand it over, now. I need to pay off my debt.” I sneered. “It’s long gone.” He glared. “You slut! How dare you talk to me like that.” He raised his hand, ready to strike. I backed away and turned to run. I hid in the alley, pulling out my phone, ready to dial 911. Just then, a message from Ethan Cole popped up: 【Anything I can do to get closer to Eliza right now?】 I smirked. 【Breaking news. Want it for thirty thousand?】 【Spill it.】 【Hot tip: Her deadbeat father, the one who took out a loan shark debt, is at her apartment looking for trouble. Perfect timing for a heroic rescue.】 “There you are, you little pest.” My father’s sneering voice cut through the air. He grabbed my hair and dragged me out. I struggled violently. A few passersby noticed and tried to intervene. He screamed at the top of his lungs: “I’m hitting my own daughter! It’s my right!” “This bitch goes to a good school and disowns her own father! I raised her, but she’s just a gold-digger! Should have strangled her at birth!” The crowd grew, and confused onlookers started pointing their fingers at me. Suddenly, a figure slammed into my father. Ethan Cole had rushed in, kicking my father hard, sending him sprawling. His eyes were ice cold. “Borrowing from loan sharks and demanding your high school daughter pay for it? You’re pathetic.” My father’s eyes turned red with rage. He scrambled up, grabbed a brick from a nearby pile, and swung it at Ethan’s head. Ethan didn’t have time to dodge. That kind of blow could be fatal. I hadn't planned for anyone to get killed. Acting purely on instinct, I threw myself forward, shielding Ethan with my body. The brick slammed heavily into my hand. A dull, searing pain shot through me like an electric current. I cried out. Ethan’s pupils contracted violently. He reacted with surprising speed, slamming my father against the ground. I knelt, clutching my hand in agony, tears streaming down my face. Half the tears were real—from the pain—and half were for the performance. Ethan completely panicked. He registered the subtle tremors of my body and pulled me into an awkward embrace. “Don’t be scared. It’s over, it’s over.” He gently patted my back, his voice low, soothing me like a frightened animal. “Just hold on, okay? I’m taking you to the hospital right now.” 5 At the hospital, Ethan was the perfect gentleman. He handled the registration, the X-rays—he wouldn’t let me lift a finger. He even crouched down in front of me, full of remorse. “If I’d gotten here sooner, this wouldn’t have happened.” His acting was magnificent. If I hadn’t had that group chat, I might actually believe he cared. While he was getting the prescriptions, Ethan messaged the group: 【Eliza just cried in my arms.】 【She even got hurt protecting me.】 【And when she was close, I noticed she has this incredible, distinct scent. Amazing.】 Blake was almost instantaneous: 【What? She’s hurt!】 【Ethan, you’re useless! You couldn’t even protect a girl.】 【If I’d been there, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.】 Ethan was silent for a few seconds. 【Why are you so agitated? You’re just jealous my plan is working faster than yours.】 【I’ll bet she’s completely fallen for me now. From now on, the hustler is going to be selling me info about her favorite ways to confess, her kissing techniques, and where she likes to be touched.】 Blake went ballistic: 【You make me sick!】 【Why is that hustler so quiet today? Doesn’t he have anything to say?】 I carefully used my right hand to type—the one I hadn't shielded him with. 【He’s right. Ethan was the hero today. He utterly humiliated Eliza’s scumbag father. Her opinion of him has definitely skyrocketed.】 【Remember, her biggest trauma is her dad. I won her over originally by protecting her.】 Blake was stunned, then frantic: 【Ex-Files! Why didn’t you give me priority on that intel?】 I answered with smug righteousness: 【Ethan paid me two hundred thousand. He gets first dibs.】 Blake immediately transferred three hundred thousand. 【Is this enough?】 Ethan sneered, and added two hundred thousand more. Blake countered with five hundred thousand. The other rich boys were speechless: 【Hold on, this turned into an auction!】 【They must really want Cassidy Lane’s first kiss!】 Watching the flood of transfer notifications, my heart was racing. I was so overwhelmed I almost forgot where I was. Just then, Ethan looked up nervously. “Eliza, why are you shaking? Are you in pain?” I instantly collected myself, putting the phone away. “No, I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt as much anymore.” I changed the subject. “Ethan, why did you help me today?” He paused, lowering his eyes, clearly scrambling for a convincing lie. I smiled, not waiting for his answer. “It doesn’t matter what the reason is. Thank you. You really are a good person.” This part was true. The best person in the world to me was, and always would be, me. Ethan stiffened, forcing a strained smile. “I’m not as good as you think.” I pressed on. “You are. Besides my ex-boyfriend, no one has ever been this kind to me.” Ethan froze, his expression turning deeply complex.
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