Chapter 244 Chapter 244
She was absolutely certain that by revealing Caroline's “shameful” past to this high-society man, his male ego would take over. She thought he would be furious, feel disgusted, and immediately dump Caroline on the sidewalk.
But the result was the exact opposite of what her envious mind had planned.
Not only did the billionaire refuse to believe the gossip, he declared loud and clear that he wouldn't care even if it were all true. He would continue to love and protect Caroline.
Olivia was in shock. She couldn't process the fact that a man of that caliber was already so deeply and absurdly devoted to Caroline that he didn't care about rumors of an alleged abortion by another man.
Caroline must have cast some kind of demonic spell on him! Olivia thought, trembling.
Nicholas, for his part, didn't listen to another syllable that came out of their mouths. The matter was closed. He didn't bother to give them a second glance; to him, they were just dust on the sole of his shoe.
After delivering his sentence, he put his arm protectively around Caroline's waist and guided her to the passenger side, helping her into the Lamborghini with the utmost care, as if she were made of glass.
Olivia and Ianca took a stumbling step forward, about to try to explain themselves or beg for mercy, but Nicholas slammed the car door in their faces.
He walked around, got behind the wheel, and the Lamborghini's engine roared deafeningly. In less than a minute, the sports car sped out of the campus parking lot and disappeared from view, leaving only the smell of burnt rubber and humiliation behind.
As soon as the car was gone, panic set in.
Ianca reflected on the veiled threat the man had made to them. The blood drained from her face. She turned abruptly and pushed Olivia's shoulder, exploding: “I told you to shut up and leave! Why didn't you listen to me, you idiot?! Olivia, I'm going to get myself into colossal trouble because of you!”
Ianca felt deeply wronged. In her mind, she had nothing to do with the confrontation. She hadn't even said a word against Caroline while she was standing next to Olivia. It was her friend who, alone, had caused all that commotion out of pure spite.
But now, the billionaire had lumped them all together. She was also being held responsible simply for being the “accomplice” who was there. That meant she would face the same punishment.
They were only six months away from graduating from the College of Performing Arts. If Ianca were expelled from the university now for defamation, all those years of grueling study would have been for nothing.
And for an aspiring actress who wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, youth and a clean record were everything. Studios and production companies would run a background check and think twice before casting a girl who had been expelled for spreading malicious rumors. Her career would be over before it even began.
Ianca was becoming increasingly terrified and angry. At this point, desperation screamed louder than any loyalty. She no longer cared about their friendship.
“Ianca, what do you mean by that?!” Olivia shouted back, her hand still on her cheek, swollen from the slap. She was furious and humiliated because her plan to destroy Caroline had failed miserably. And now, seeing her own ally throwing her to the wolves made her even more enraged. "I'm not the only one who hates Caroline! Don't you dare lie and say you didn't want to see that billionaire throw you in the trash too! I just had the courage to do what you wanted to do. So tone it down and don't play the innocent saint with me!“
Ianca was seething with rage. ”Don't involve me in your madness! I didn't open my mouth in front of him!"
Ianca's mind was working fast. She decided she would crawl to Caroline when she returned to campus later. She would trust Caroline's mercy, considering they had been roommates for years and she hadn't launched a direct attack today. Anyway, Caroline's target was Olivia. Ianca just needed to stay out of the blast radius.
With this selfish thought, Ianca took two steps back, physically distancing herself from Olivia as if she had a contagious disease.
“Olivia, I suddenly realized that we have very different opinions and values. We are definitely not suited to be friends. Starting today, I think we should keep our distance from each other. Don't look for me anymore.”
Olivia's eyes widened in a mixture of disbelief and lethal fury. “Ianca... are you really breaking off relations with me to save your own skin?! Do you really think Caroline will forgive you and let this go?! Don't forget that in the dorm you also called her worse things!” You participated in the gossip! If I get expelled and tell everyone what you said about her, do you think you'll get away with it?!
“How dare you, you jealous bitch!” Ianca shouted, horrified by the blackmail.
“Why wouldn't I dare?” Olivia gave a sick smile, her eyes overflowing with malice. “If I go down and lose my diploma because of this, Ianca, you can be absolutely sure that I'll tie an anchor around your neck and drag you down with me!”
“Olivia, how can you be so rotten and petty?! Your ridiculous plan failed, and now you want me to pay the price for your stupidity too?!”
The two girls, who ten minutes ago had been walking arm in arm and calling each other “sisters,” were now in the middle of the courtyard screaming, pointing fingers, and tearing each other apart like the worst arch-enemies in the world.
Inside the luxurious Lamborghini, silence reigned.
Caroline looked at Nicholas' profile, his eyes fixed on the road, and sighed softly. “Nicholas, don't you have anything to ask me?”
They were stopped, waiting for the traffic light to turn green.
The man turned his perfectly sculpted face to face her and said, “Um, yes. I do.”
“Then ask.” Caroline was ready.