Part 1My Boyfriend Gave My Scholarship to a Poor Girl

My boyfriend rejected my NYU scholarship offer on my behalf, giving the spot to Lily Davis, a student from a disadvantaged background.

I broke up with him.

But he just said:

"During the last campus popularity contest, I chose you, not her, even with all the pressure. Lily's family is so poor; she was really counting on that scholarship."

He spoke as if placating an unruly child.

"Still mad? Once we're married, you'll have everything you desire. Why get so worked up over her?"

I stared at his nonchalant face:

"I said we're breaking up. Didn't you hear me?"

He finally frowned, then quickly smiled again:

"Alright, I'll give you a week to cool down. Happy now?"

He was so sure I couldn't possibly leave him.

But what he didn't know.

I had already received a full scholarship offer from Oxford University, and in five days, I would be flying to the UK.

"You're breaking up with Noah Harrison?"

My best friend Chloe's incredulous voice came through the phone.

"Stella, are you insane? Noah's dad is a top billionaire, and you're just dumping him?"

I held my phone away from my ear, leaning back against my headboard to scroll through the campus forum.

The top-pinned post on the campus forum glared at me with a blazing red title: [Noah Harrison Gave Lily Davis the Scholarship to Shame Her!]

The comments below were even more 'interesting.'

"LOL, isn't Lily always acting so virtuous and high-minded, claiming she despised the rich? How could she possibly accept this NYU scholarship spot?"

"Noah must have done this for Stella."

Reading those comments, a wave of nauseating disgust washed over me.

They thought Noah was standing up for me.

Only I knew that this NYU scholarship slot, which I had slaved countless nights over and fought tooth and nail to secure, was just tossed aside to someone else with a casual "compensation" from Noah.

"Stella, are you even listening? Say something!"

Chloe was practically losing her mind on the other end.

I tapped open Lily's Ins profile; her latest post was from half an hour ago.

No photo, just one line of text:

"A gift that landed in my lap. And while I may scoff at it, it's what I'm owed."

I screenshot it and sent it to Chloe.

"See? That's his 'explanation' to me."

Chloe went silent. After a long pause, her voice came through, dry and strained.

"...So, the scholarship really was from him to Lily? But why? Didn't he despise Lily?"

"Every time Lily messed with you at school, wasn't he always the first one to rush to your defense?"

Yes, why?

I used to believe he was on my side.

I used to think those acts of 'revenge' were because he loved me, and thus hated anyone who hurt me.

But the truth was, every superficial act of payback only led to a very real compensation for her.

And I, the one who was deceived, was the only fool who gave genuine love.

"Chloe."

I spoke softly.

"Hmm?"

"Noah and I, we're really over."

"No misunderstanding."

On the other end of the line, Chloe gasped.

I knew what she wanted to say—that Noah came from a prestigious family, that he was gentle with me, the perfect boyfriend everyone envied, and I shouldn't be so impulsive.

But all they saw was what he wanted them to see.