"Ma'am, do you have an appointment?"

Sophia Johnson had just stepped up to the entrance of the luxury club when the security guard stopped her. Her delicate face looked a little nervous, and she bit her lower lip lightly. "I’m here to find someone. She said she’s in a private room—Tianxiang Hall."

Tianxiang Hall was indeed one of the VIP rooms in that club, but...

The guard gave her a quick once-over. Simple outfit, no fancy jewelry, but her looks and figure were undeniably impressive, and the way she carried herself didn’t scream ‘gold digger’ either. The kind that usually showed up trying to seduce rich guys for a 'CEO falls in love with me' fairytale. Definitely not her vibe.

Still, people in Tianxiang Hall were not your average guests. If she caused any drama, it’d fall on him.

Just as he was about to ask more politely who she was meeting, a waiter walked out of the lobby.

"Are you Miss Johnson?"

Sophia nodded.

"Please follow me."

With that, the guard stepped aside.

Walking across the shiny marble floor, Sophia glanced around at the rosewood furniture, antique vases, and traditional calligraphy scrolls decorating the place.

She didn’t really know much about this stuff—only that it all screamed “expensive.”

She shifted her eyes back to her phone screen and reread the messages.

Hodierna Davis: I’m drunk, come get me.

Hodierna Davis: [Location]

Hodierna Davis: [WeChat transfer – 1000 RMB]

Hodierna Davis: Get a cab and come. Now!

That bossy tone? Totally normal for a rich girl like Hodierna. Sophia had already gotten used to it.

Same dorm, same major, but Sophia always knew Hodierna didn't like her much.

The girl loved flexing her branded clothes and bags in front of her, especially since Sophia was a scholarship kid with barely enough to get by. Plus, she liked treating her like an unpaid assistant.

Sophia might look soft and easygoing, but she wasn’t someone who’d take crap without pushing back.

After having a few of her orders turned down, Hodierna switched to using money to ‘persuade’ her. Not that Sophia minded—free cash wasn’t something she could afford to pass.

Besides, four years in the same dorm—unless things got really ugly, she didn’t want to make it worse.

She did the math—round trip cab fare tonight wouldn’t even hit 200. She’d still pocket 800. Not bad.

Also...

Sophia glanced down at her brand-new dress, a flicker of disappointment flashing through her soft features.

It was her birthday. She’d actually planned a sweet surprise for her boyfriend.

But he suddenly “had something to do.” That stung a bit.

Still, people get busy. She could understand.

Just earlier that week, she’d burned almost all her savings—everything she’d earned from part-time gigs and scholarship awards over the years, leaving only her grandma’s remittance—to buy him a watch.

Her finances were basically on life support. With Hodierna tossing her this opportunity, turning it down would just be stupid.

Granted, if her boyfriend found out she ran this far for a few bucks, he’d probably pinch her cheek again and scold, "You’ve got a loaded boyfriend—why the hell would you go do stuff like this?"

But Sophia figured... they were just dating, not married or anything.She wasn’t some sugar baby waving around a contract—what did his money have to do with her anyway?

Sophia Johnson never thought earning her own money was something to be ashamed of.

Even though Alexander Rutherford had made that snide remark about her being “cheap,” she tried to brush it off, thinking maybe he only said it because he cared in his own weird way.

Just as she was smiling to herself, reminiscing about her boyfriend, a waiter pushed open the door to one of the private rooms.

Sophia instinctively turned to thank him, but the second she looked up, the words caught in her throat.

Inside, two people were deep in a kiss—like, really going at it. And she knew both of them way too well.

Her pupils shrank, and she froze on the spot like someone just yanked the soul out of her body. She almost lost her balance.

“S-Sophia?”

“Little sis-in-law?!”

On the sofa, Alexander had one hand gripping the woman’s waist, his other tilting her chin up as he kissed her like his life depended on it.

He stiffened instantly, then quickly shoved the girl away.

“Ugh!”

Hodierna Davis let out a soft yelp, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with flirtatious charm.

“Senior, what was that for?”

She wriggled right back into his arms like a snake in satin.

“You’re being so mean, you hurt me.”

But Alexander didn’t spare her a glance. He just stared at the pale-faced Sophia standing at the door.

He looked like he wanted to push Hodierna away again, but halfway through, he changed his mind. His hand froze mid-motion, and the next second he pulled her close again, leaning in without a care.

Sophia’s face had gone paper-white. Her lips trembled, and her voice was barely audible, like a bubble about to pop.

“This is that urgent thing you said you had tonight?”

Alexander didn’t respond. Instead, he scowled like he’d been wronged.

“What are you doing here? Were you following me? Spying on me?”

“And with that outfit… who were you trying to seduce coming here dressed like that?”

The sarcasm and nastiness in his tone broke her completely. Tears spilled over before she could stop them.

She wore a simple white dress; her soft, wavy black hair was pinned with a tiny silver flower clip. She looked innocent, effortless—but her figure still turned heads.

Milky skin, long legs—she stood there like a fallen angel, all beauty and sorrow.

It was no exaggeration to say she was the campus goddess of Jingda.

Even Alexander’s buddies swallowed hard, feeling awkward.

Sure, Hodierna was hot, but Sophia? Total goddess energy. The girl practically glowed.

How did Alexander have the heart to make her cry like this?

Eadwulf Hopkinson tried to smooth things over with a chuckle.

“Come on, Alex. She’s your girlfriend. Even if she did follow you, it just means she cares. No need to bite her head off.”

"Sophia, don’t stand there. Come in and sit."

Alexander just scoffed.

“Didn’t you always act all noble? Rather sling tea or run errands for pennies than touch my money. And now look at you, in a place like this—figured out a more profitable hustle?”

Another guy muttered, “Alright, Alex, that’s enough. You’re taking it too far.”

But the more they tried to defend Sophia, the more pissed off Alexander got."Look at you. The second you show up, everyone starts defending you. Feeling smug now? If you weren't always acting so above it all, maybe you wouldn't be broke."

Every word out of Alexander Rutherford's mouth felt like a slap. Sharp and cruel, they made Sophia Johnson tremble, shattering the last bit of trust she had in him.

Sophia had always been the quiet type—not the kind to fight back. Her nails dug into her palm, the only outlet for her frustration.

"Oh hey, Sophia, what are you doing here?" Hodierna Davis slurred as she rubbed her temples, pretending to be too drunk to remember sending that message.

"Why are you two arguing?" she added sweetly. "Sophia, don't get the wrong idea. I lost a dare, that's all. Me and Alex? It's nothing."

Despite her words, Hodierna leaned into Alexander’s chest like she belonged there, making no move to step away. Her eyes were full of smug satisfaction.

Sophia didn’t respond. She just stared at Alexander, her voice low and hurt. "Why?"

Everyone at school knew Alexander came from money. But she'd never thought of him as her way out or wanted anything from him. In fact, when he first showed interest, she'd turned him down flat.

But he hadn’t lashed out or disappeared. He stuck around for half a year, even ended up in the hospital after stepping in to protect her once.

It had made her believe he was different.

She’d ignored her grandmother’s warnings to stay away from rich boys and gone all in.

But now, it was clear he’d never really respected her. Just like Hodierna, he looked down on her.

"I thought you cared about me."

Alexander let out a laugh, taking the drink Hodierna handed him. He took a gulp, leaned in to kiss Hodierna right in front of Sophia, and made her giggle.

Turning back, he swirled his drink with a smirk. "Are you that clueless or just playing dumb? Even if I had feelings for you, what about you? Did you ever really care?"

Sophia felt like her heart was being ripped apart. Her eyes turned red as she watched the two of them flirt.

"You call that love? Those cheap lunchboxes, those random tokens? Some forced small talk and you think that’s supposed to mean something?"

"Then what did you want from me?"

Alexander gave Hodierna another kiss and scoffed, "You seriously think I’d date a girl who won’t even sleep with me?"

Sophia's face went pale. She bit her lip. "So that’s all I ever was to you?"

"What else? You think I was after your ‘purity’ or your broke-ass life?"

Each word hit her like a slap. Whatever light was still left in her eyes faded away.

She wiped her tears with shaking hands—but refused to let herself break down. No matter how messed up she felt, she wasn’t going to scream or beg. She needed to leave with what little pride she had left.

"I get it now."

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Alexander Rutherford, we’re done."

The smirk on his face froze. "What did you just say?"

"I said we’re breaking up."

Bang!Alexander Rutherford shoved Hodierna Davis off and stood up, slamming his glass onto the table. Shards flew everywhere. “Sophia Johnson! Say that again if you dare!”

Sophia stared at the glass fragments scattered near her feet, stayed silent, then turned to leave without a word.

“Sophia!”

She paused for a second.

But the voice behind her followed with a cold threat, “You really wanna break up with me? Don’t come crawling back—I don’t do second chances.”

“Sure, got it.”

She replied softly, eyes lowered, voice calm to the point it drove Alexander even crazier.

Watching her walk away without hesitation, he nearly flipped the whole table.

Sophia Johnson. She was doing just fine without him.

Eadwulf Hopkinson rubbed his temple helplessly. “Seriously? What was the point of that?”

He knew damn well Alexander had feelings for her, yet kept stabbing at her heart like he didn’t.

Alexander snapped, “You think she really means it?”

He'd only asked her to spend more time with him, and she straight up turned down a new research opportunity from her mentor, which she would never usually do.

She was always super frugal, but still blew her savings on a designer watch just to surprise him.

“I know what she’s like—she’s all in when she loves someone. Trust me, she’ll come back soon with her tail between her legs.”

Eadwulf was speechless. His buddy was clearly too full of himself.

“The area around Tian’nan Club's hard to get a cab at night. It’s super late, too. She’s out there all alone—what if something happens? Alexander, maybe go after her?”

Alexander dismissed it. “She’ll deal. What could possibly happen? Honestly, she needs a little scare—it’ll humble her a bit. Kid’s too used to being spoiled.”

“Huh? Nate, you leaving?”

Alexander turned toward the voice.

Nathaniel Grant stood up from a single-seater sofa, casually rolling up his sleeves. Tall and lean, with sharp features and a chilling aura, he didn’t even need to say a word—his presence alone was enough to make people tense up.

He’d been sitting there quietly the whole time, observing like an outsider. Honestly, that was more his thing. If he had voiced any opinion, now that would have been terrifying.

“You heading out, Nate?”

Nathaniel gave a slight nod.

Alexander dropped the cockiness and forced a smile. “Can I ask you for a favor?”

Nathaniel’s dark eyes calmly locked on him. “What kind?”

“Could you… drop Sophia off somewhere busy on your way out? Doesn’t have to be school, just somewhere she can catch a ride.”

Nathaniel nodded indifferently.

Alexander finally relaxed.

There might be guys eyeing Sophia, but definitely not Nathaniel.

Not only did he come from serious background, the guy acted like he’d taken a vow of celibacy—cold to everyone, no exceptions. No way he’d ever go for his friend’s girl.

As Nathaniel left the private room, he could hear Alexander warning the rest not to even think about Sophia.

The rest of the group laughed awkwardly. Some did feel a twinge of regret, though.

They’d all grown up in the same circles, with families closely tied together. No one wanted to mess up that dynamic over a girl.