15. Social Inequality

Calvin let out a long sigh as he stepped out of the competition committee's office. He tried to act normal, but the disappointment was hard to shake off. The feeling of being underestimated by the dean and compared to William kept replaying in his mind. Walking slowly, he headed to the campus garden, a usual spot for him to reflect.

In the garden, Calvin chose a bench beneath a shady tree. The cool afternoon breeze gently brushed against his face, but it couldn’t calm the heat clouding his thoughts. He gazed at the sky, trying to reassure himself that his business idea was good enough to compete. Yet, the dean’s words still lingered, making his anger simmer.

“Damn it, that man is so annoying!” he muttered under his breath.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached from behind. Calvin turned and saw Amity, the wealthy girl who had always been a kind friend to him—a friend who made him think, for a moment, that their social gap didn’t matter.

That day, Amity was wearing a simple dress, but her beauty still shone through. She seemed surprised to see Calvin there. Torn between greeting him or attending to her own matters, she chose to stop in her tracks and stood still.

“Hi, Calvin,” Amity greeted him in a light tone. Yet, there was something different about her expression today. Her smile seemed flat, as if something heavy was on her mind.

“Hi, Amity. How are you?” Calvin asked, trying to conceal his uneasiness.

Amity nodded slightly. “I’m fine. What are you doing here?”

“Just getting some fresh air,” Calvin replied with a faint smile.

“Oh, I see.” Amity gave a small smile, but her eyes avoided his. “I should get going, Calvin. I... have something to do,” she said, as if making an excuse.

Without waiting for a reply, Amity walked away hurriedly. Calvin could only watch her retreating figure. There was something odd about Amity’s behavior today, but Calvin realized it might have something to do with William, her brother. The other day, William had picked her up and insisted that she leave immediately. Calvin began to understand—it was all because of his financial status. A mayor’s daughter wouldn’t be considered suitable to associate with a poor young man like him.

On the other side of the garden, Amity slowed her hurried steps and eventually came to a stop. She let out a deep sigh, her face clouded with worry.

“I’m sorry, Calvin,” she whispered softly.

The girl resumed walking toward the parking lot, where several big men were waiting for her. They were bodyguards sent by her father to protect and monitor her.

“Miss Amity,” one of them said.

“I didn’t call you. Why are you already here to pick me up?”

“Mr. Cedric wants to see you, Miss Amity. We’re here to escort you to him,” the bodyguard explained.

“Daddy? Fine, take me to him,” Amity replied with a long sigh.

Amity arrived at an upscale restaurant in the city center. Its interior sparkled with crystal chandeliers and elegant table settings. In one corner, she spotted her father, Mr. Cedric, sitting with a middle-aged man she didn’t recognize. Her father smiled as Amity approached.

“Amity, dear, please sit down,” Mr. Cedric said, gesturing to the empty chair beside him.

Amity obeyed his request, although she felt uneasy with the formal atmosphere.

“This is Mr. Yoseph Rodriguez,” Cedric introduced, pointing to the middle-aged man. “He is an important business partner of ours. And this is his son, Jonathan Rodriguez.”

Amity turned to look at Jonathan, a young man with a thin frame, acne-covered face, and unkempt curly hair. Jonathan smiled awkwardly, making Amity feel that something unpleasant was about to unfold.

“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Amity,” Jonathan greeted in a low voice.

“Nice to meet you too,” Amity replied, forcing a smile.

Cedric smiled and began speaking. “Well, Amity, Mr. Yoseph and I were college friends. We were quite close and often collaborated on business ventures. That’s why we arranged this meeting,” Cedric said ambiguously.

“Yes, and?”

“We are very close...” Cedric seemed hesitant to continue.

Amity looked at her father suspiciously, her doubts confirmed when Cedric got straight to the point.

“You’re going to be engaged to Jonathan. I hope you two can get to know each other better.”

Amity was stunned by the statement. She looked at her father with questioning eyes, but Mr. Cedric simply smiled, as if everything had already been decided.

“Dad, what is the meaning of all this?” Amity asked in a low voice, trying to maintain her composure in front of their guests.

Mr. Cedric sighed. “Amity, this is for the good of our family. The Rodriguez family is an extremely important partner. If you marry Jonathan, it will strengthen our business ties.”

“But Daddy! I’m not ready to get married,” Amity protested.

“Calm down. You can continue your studies. The wedding will take place after you finish college. There’s plenty of time for you two to get to know each other. Jonathan is a good man,” Cedric replied firmly, leaving no room for refusal.

Amity felt her chest tighten. She wanted to argue, but she knew her father wouldn’t listen. Besides, the engagement plan with the Rodriguez family had been discussed for a long time. However, she hadn’t expected it to happen this soon.

Mr. Yoseph smiled, patting Jonathan’s shoulder and giving him a subtle look, as if urging him to talk to Amity privately.

“Miss Amity, let’s head over there! The restaurant’s balcony overlooks the beach. The sunset view is stunning,” Jonathan suggested.

Amity looked uncomfortable, but her father’s hopeful gaze was hard to ignore. Cedric seemed desperate, needing Yoseph Rodriguez’s support to fund his campaign in the upcoming election. That was why Cedric had gone so far as to use his daughter as a key to his success.

Left with no choice, Amity followed Jonathan. They sat on the balcony and began talking. Amity sat restlessly, occasionally glancing at Jonathan, who seemed engrossed in his own words. The sun began to set on the horizon, casting a golden-orange glow that should have been soothing, but Amity’s thoughts remained in turmoil.

Jonathan, seated across from her, appeared relaxed. His lips kept moving, talking nonstop.

“Our family owns luxury villas in three countries. You should see the one in Switzerland—it’s in the mountains, complete with a private ski lift,” Jonathan said, smiling smugly. “And my cars—just so you know, I have a collection of rare models owned by only a handful of people in the world.”

Amity forced a small smile, though deep down, she felt disgusted. Jonathan showed no interest in getting to know her. He didn’t ask about her hobbies or favorite food. All his talk revolved around wealth and family status.

“So, Miss Amity, what do you think of our fathers’ plan? I think it’s an amazing idea,” he said, leaning back arrogantly in his chair.

Amity exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the growing annoyance inside her.

“I’m not sure. I believe an engagement is not something that can be decided unilaterally,” she replied diplomatically, gazing at the sea as if seeking an escape.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll love the life I can offer you,” Jonathan replied with a smirk. “I could even buy you a yacht if you wanted. But of course, I need to know if you’re genuinely interested in me!” he added, giving her a flirtatious look.

Amity felt revolted. She was deeply uncomfortable in Jonathan’s presence. He didn’t see her as a woman to be respected but rather as an antique object owned by her father and traded for money. She felt dehumanized.

“Excuse me, Jonathan! I just remembered I have a lesson with my tutor this evening!” Amity said abruptly, standing up to leave.

Without saying goodbye to her father or her prospective in-laws, Amity walked out and immediately hailed a taxi. Jonathan said nothing. He didn’t call her back, but his face bore a sly, arrogant smile.

“Maybe you’re rejecting me now, Amity. But just wait—you’ll be mine!” Jonathan declared.