Chapter 164 Shattered Hopes
Luke was determined he was choosing the path truly made for him. His felicity was on peak. The idea of proposing was sending flutters to his whole being.
A week before their final exams. Luke decided to approach Peach. An expensive ring resting in his pockets, the speech repeating in his mind.
He was nervous, yes, but he was mostly certain. After their night in the library, he was convinced that Peach was his future and won’t say no either.
“Peach.” Luke called, rushing to her side. He saw her standing in the garden, studying for the exams, her expression unreadable.
“What?” She asked coldly, flipping the page, not bothering to acknowledge his presence.
He approached her, his face lit with a vulnerability he thought he had murdered but it revived upon seeing her. His heart was pounding.
"Do you have a minute? I.. uh… I want to tell you something." he breathed out, a soft chuckle escaping. The agitation rapidly increased.
“What is it?”
"I have been thinking about what you said. About needing someone in your corner. I want to be that person. Permanently." He paused to get her reaction.
Her eyebrow twitched, closing the book, “What?”
He began to reach for the box, his fingers trembling, maintaining the grin as he shifted to one knee, gaining attention. Mouths were dropping, eyes from around sparkling as Luke took a deep breath.
"I don’t want you to go back to London alone. I want-"
"Luke? A word."
The cold voice of the Dean cut through the air. Behind him stood two campus security officers. Luke froze, his hand still in his pocket.
Furrowing his brows to ponder what he did to earn such a grimace. “Yes, Sir.” He nodded and walked to him in his office.
The second they were shut out from others, whispers started revolving around but Luke was sure of his absolute performance and behavior. He knew he was loved by all.
“Is everything okay, Sir?”
“I did not expect this from you, Luke. You have seriously disappointed me.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
He swallowed hard, “What happened?”
"There has been a serious allegation filed against you," the Dean said in disappointment.
"A claim of academic coercion and harassment, supported by 'evidence' found in your shared research files."
Luke’s heart plummeted, "What? That’s impossible. I haven't—"
"The claim was filed by your recent report partner," the Dean interrupted, averting his gaze as Luke stood in horror.
"Due to the nature of the evidence, we are to revoke your degree but… Your Brother, William, had pleaded very badly to find an alternative.”
“In his words, we have decided to not revoke the degree. But you have been given immediate suspension for a month. You will not be permitted to take your final exams this session either."
Luke’s world tilted. He couldn’t look at the Dean, his chest constriction as unwanted tears began to fill his eyes. His body trembled, realizing even in this situation, the only person who helped him was his brother.
“Here is your letter. You must leave now.” He ordered, handing him the letter that felt no less than a stain on the character he spent 4 years building.
“... I didn’t do anything, Sir. This is a mistake.” He whispered.
“We have evidence of what you made her do in the library. We don’t need justifications. You are truly a disappointment.” He said with disgust, throwing him out of the office.
Luke could feel humiliation swallowing him. The people that used to admire him, that praised his personality all around, were glaring at him.
Peach ripped him off the position he was so proud of. She had stripped him bare of his dignity.
With a crushed heart, his steps dragged outside, falling on Peach who was still where he left her. The velvet box containing the ring fell from his hand.
"Peach?" he gulped, the name prickling in his throat, "What is this? Tell them it’s a mistake."
She finally met his eyes. There was no warmth there. Only the cold sharpness of the girl who had promised to destroy him four years ago.
"It wasn't a mistake, Luke," she enunciated with a sick smile, holding her head high, "It was the plan."
The silence that followed was deafening. The security guards moved in, taking Luke by the arms. The shock in his eyes slowly curdled into an irrecoverable agony.
He ripped his arms away from the guards for a split second, stepping toward her. He didn't look angry. He looked wretched.
"You did all of this... for a grade? To win a rivalry I thought we had moved past?" He let out a hollow, broken laugh.
“I am Peach Harrison. Everything belongs to me and if I can’t have it.”
His eyes widened in appall, stepping away, unwanted tears silently rolling down his cheek, “You… turned me against my own brother… I fought with him for you, Peach. How could you?”
She held her head high, she had finally got what she wanted. She took whatever he was so proud of.
“I destroy it. Either the position or the… relationships.”
Luke’s anguish converted into wrath, glaring at her with pure resentment. Leaning forward, his teary eyes stared dead into hers.
"You’re empty. You really are your father’s daughter," Luke spat, the words dripping with a venomous clarity.
"You have proved me that you were, are, and will always be… unlovable,”
He turned and walked with the heavy, shattered gait of a man who had lost everything. Not his degree, but his soul.
She simply scoffed, folding her arms at her chest that was frightening by each passing second. His tears were unknowingly piercing her heart too.
A tear pricked in the corner of her eyes. She could feel the ache building in her. She envisioned this sight many times but today, it felt… horrible.
She turned to leave, clutching her chest to control the pain, wiping the tears but her foot hit something on the floor.
A small, navy velvet box had fallen from Luke’s pocket in the struggle.
With shaking hands, she picked it up. She flicked the lid open. A diamond caught the light, brilliant and mocking. Tucked into the velvet was a small, hand-written note:
“To the only person who cared, who stayed when I strayed. Stay with me forever now, will you? — Luke”
The box slipped from her fingers. The words 'unlovable' echoed in her mind, over and over, amplified by the sight of the ring.
He hadn't just noticed her. He had loved her. And she had used that love to dismantle him brick by brick.
"Oh God... what have I done?"
But it was too late. There is nothing that could be done.
She had won the war, but as she stared at the ring, Peach realized she was the only one left standing in the ruins of a life she didn't want anymore.