Chapter 31

Elena's POV

"Elena!" Chloe's shrill voice cut through the morning quiet. She appeared in my father's doorway, her expression twisted with annoyance. "Mother says you need to clean the bathroom before daddy's nurse arrives."

I continued organizing Dad's medications without looking up. "I'm busy."

"That wasn't a request," she snapped, stepping into the room.

"And that wasn't acceptance, If Elaine wants the bathroom cleaned, she has two functional hands."

Chloe's jaw dropped. "You can't talk to me like that! This is our house—"

"It's my father's house," I corrected calmly. "Paid with his money. "

Her face flushed scarlet. "You bitch! You think because you have some rich boyfriend now, you can mouth off? Clean the goddamn bathroom or—"

"Or what?" I met her gaze steadily. "You'll tell mommy? Run to Elder Ambrose? I'm not afraid of you anymore, Chloe."

She stormed closer, finger jabbing toward my face. "You will regret this. Mother and I have put up with your ungrateful attitude for too long. We deserve—"

I cut her off by dumping Dad's bedpan directly onto her designer shoes.

Her scream could have shattered glass. "YOU DISGUSTING—"

"Oops," I said flatly. "Looks like you'll need to clean that up. And yourself." I turned back to my father. "Close the door on your way out. Dad needs his rest."

My father stirred, his eyes fluttering open at the commotion. "E-Elena?"

"I'm here, Dad." I sat beside him, helping him take small sips of water. "Hungry? I made oatmeal."

He nodded weakly, and I began feeding him one spoonful at a time. His hands trembled too much to hold the spoon himself, and each successful bite felt like a small victory.

---

By mid-morning, I needed to retrieve more belongings from my dorm. The campus felt strangely foreign after just a week away. As I approached my building, I noticed a crowd gathering in the central quad. Rose petals formed a massive heart on the ground, surrounded by flickering candles.

None of my business. I skirted the edges, intent on my mission.

"Elena! Wait!"

I froze at the familiar voice. Ethan jogged toward me, clutching an enormous bouquet of roses.

"Please, just five minutes," he pleaded. "I've been waiting here for hours."

I glanced at the rose petal heart. "This is your doing?"

"For you," he confirmed. "I made a terrible mistake. The biggest mistake of my life."

A small crowd had gathered, watching with interest. Ethan had always loved an audience.

"I'm not interested," I said flatly.

"Olivia and I are over," he insisted, dropping to one knee and producing a small velvet box. "I love you. I never stopped loving you. Forgive me?"

A month ago, this might have worked. A month ago, I was still the girl who believed in fairy tales.

"Get up, Ethan. You look ridiculous."

His confident smile faltered. "But—"

"No. Whatever game you're playing, I'm not interested. Not in your flowers, not in your ring, and especially not in you."

"Is this because of that older guy?" his expression hardened. "You're choosing him over me?"

"I'm choosing myself," I replied simply. "Goodbye, Ethan."

The dormitory hallway was mercifully quiet when I reached my floor. Most students were either in class or enjoying the weekend elsewhere. I unlocked my door, relieved to find the room empty.

I worked quickly, filling two large suitcases with clothes, books, and personal items. My scholarship covered housing through the end of the semester, but I had no intention of staying here longer than necessary.

I was zipping the second suitcase when voices in the hallway made me pause.

"...completely obsessed with him," Olivia's voice carried through the door. "Won't stop texting, calling, showing up wherever he is."

"And he's super rich, right?" her friend Jennifer asked.

"Dominic Lucchesi is probably the wealthiest bachelor in the city," Olivia confirmed. "And the rumors about him are *not* exaggerated. The man is a god in bed."

My stomach twisted painfully as I continued packing.

"Better than Ethan?" Jennifer asked.

Olivia laughed. "Please. Ethan is a boy. Dominic is all man."

I shouldn't care. I had no right to care. I'd ended things with Dominic. Whatever he did now was none of my business.

So why did each word feel like a knife twisting in my gut?

"Did he really buy you that bracelet?"

"Platinum and diamonds," Olivia confirmed smugly. "He said it reminded him of me. Bright, flawless, and treasured."

I slammed my suitcase shut harder than necessary. Their conversation stopped.

The door swung open, revealing Olivia in a silk robe. "Well, well. Look who finally showed up for her pathetic belongings."

Jennifer appeared behind her. "So you're the ex, huh? The one stalking him? Sending crazy texts?"

I froze. "What?"

"Don't play innocent," Olivia smirked. "Everyone knows you've gone full Fatal Attraction since he dumped you for me."

"I haven't contacted Dominic in weeks," I said, realizing too late I'd taken her bait.

"They say you've been telling people you're still together, that he bought you an apartment?"

My head spun. "I've been at home caring for my father. I haven't even been on campus."

"Right," Olivia rolled her eyes. "That's why Ethan just embarrassed himself with that proposal? Because you haven't been manipulating everyone?"

"Ethan did that on his own," I snapped, moving toward the door.

"You can't stand that Dominic upgraded," Olivia blocked my path. "Found someone who knows how to please a man like him. Someone who isn't a frigid little prude."

"Move, Olivia."

"Make me," she challenged, eyes glittering with malice.

I shouldered past her, refusing to engage. Her voice followed me down the hall: "By the way? He calls out my name when he comes now, not yours!"

Outside the building, I spotted one of Dominic's cars. My heart stuttered painfully. I turned to take the long way around when a scream cut through the air, followed by the sound of someone hitting the ground hard.

I turned to see Olivia sprawled at the bottom of the steps, clutching her ankle and wailing dramatically.

"She pushed me!" Olivia shrieked, pointing at me. "Elena pushed me down the stairs!"

All eyes turned to me, standing frozen with my suitcases.

Then, cutting through the crowd, came Dominic. His cold gaze swept from Olivia to me.

"She's lying," I said quietly. "I never touched her."

"She's been threatening me for weeks!" Olivia sobbed. "And now she's trying to kill me!"

"This is a serious accusation," Dominic said coolly. "One with legal consequences."

"I'm pressing charges," she declared through tears. "I want her arrested."

Panic clawed at my throat. I couldn't afford legal troubles. My father needed me.

"Dominic, please," I whispered. "You know I wouldn't do this."

"Do I? You've made your feelings about Olivia quite clear."

"I saw it!" Jennifer called. "Elena pushed her!"

This couldn't be happening. Who would care for my father if I was arrested?

"Please," I begged, hating my desperate tone. "Don't do this. I didn't touch her."

"I'll have my attorney handle this," Dominic said coldly. "The campus has security cameras. If you're innocent, they'll show that."

"I cannot deal with legal issues right now," I pleaded. "My father needs me."

He studied me, his expression giving nothing away. "I've seen you sincere before, Elena. That's not how you beg."

The words hit me like a physical blow. My cheeks burned with humiliation.

"If you want my help," he continued quietly, "you'll have to do better than that."