Chapter 7

After returning home, Elizabeth discovered that everything that had happened at the gathering had been posted to the college forum. Now, everyone at Solarys College was talking about her. "Where did this pathetic clown come from? Spreading lies about Spencer, of all people. Does she even know her own worth? She's not even worthy to carry his shoes." "Spencer is the crown prince of Durmkrem's elite circle. The woman he loves is Courtney Gallagher, a daughter of the prestigious Gallagher family. How could he possibly be involved with some peasant woman like Elizabeth? She's clearly delusional!" "I heard that she's being kept by some creepy old man in his 50s, and when her classmates found out, she made up this story to cover it up. She's such a gold-digger and a disgrace to our college!" As she read the endless thread of ridicule and insults online, Elizabeth felt as though a storm cloud had settled over her heart. Her roommates spoke up for her in every way they could, but the overwhelming tide of condemnation quickly drowned out their voices. No one cared about the truth. There was nothing Elizabeth could do. So, she shut down all her social media and convinced herself repeatedly that it would all be over soon. … Days passed. After finalizing her graduation, Elizabeth returned home to inform her now-recovered mother about her plans to study abroad. She stayed so busy that days passed without a single glimpse of Spencer. When she finally returned to the villa, she found him waiting on the couch. "Where have you been?" he asked. "I haven't seen you at all these past few days." "School stuff," Elizabeth replied as she lowered her gaze and offered a vague excuse. "School? Aren't you graduating soon? What could possibly be keeping you so busy?" Not wanting him to know that she was planning to leave the country, she casually brushed it off by saying, "Just graduation stuff." Spencer frowned, sensing something amiss. Just as he was about to press further, Elizabeth's phone rang. She answered it and turned to leave without another word. Spencer caught the faint sound of a male voice on the other end of her call. His gaze darkened as he switched off his phone and followed her out. The classmate came by at Mackenzie's request to deliver Elizabeth's visa and the official documents prepared by the college. After thanking him politely, Elizabeth turned around and met Spencer's threatening glare. "Who is he? What did he want?" Spencer asked. Elizabeth tightened her grip on the folder and shifted it behind her back. The smile on her face faded as she quietly explained, "He's my classmate. He was just dropping off my graduation documents." Spencer's expression grew even darker when he noticed how she avoided his gaze. "What kind of classmate is so considerate that he delivers things in person? Does he like you?" Elizabeth froze for a moment, caught off guard by the assumption. "He was just doing me a favor. We're nothing more than classmates. I don't know who he likes, but it's definitely not me." Spencer said nothing. His eyes fixed on her for a long moment before his voice turned frigid. "I don't care what your relationship is. You're not to see him again." "But Mr. Cooper, I have the right to choose my own friends—" She instinctively tried to push back, but he cut her off before she could finish speaking. "You've lost that so-called 'right' the moment you agreed to our arrangement. I don't tolerate disloyalty. If you keep getting yourself involved with people like him, don't bother staying by my side anymore." Just as he finished speaking, Courtney appeared in elegant attire, her smile perfectly poised. "Spencer, I'm ready. Let's go," she said as she slipped her arm through his and climbed into the car. Elizabeth watched as the sports car drove off and gradually closed her eyes. She no longer wished to stay by his side. What she wanted now was freedom. Their arrangement was about to come to an end.