Part 2My Boyfriend Gave My Scholarship to a Poor Girl

The next morning, a huge Hermès gift box was delivered to my dorm door.

My roommates let out a collective gasp.

"Oh my God, it's the latest collection! Stella, Noah spoils you rotten!"

"You guys are so in love! I'm totally jealous!"

Inside the box was a card, inscribed with Noah's elegant handwriting.

"Countdown to cool-off period: 144 hours."

My roommates' envious glances surrounded me.

In their eyes, I was a princess held in the palm of a top heir's hand, the absolute winner in this game of love.

I only felt an endless wave of sarcasm.

He thought money could buy anything, could smooth over any hurt, even my shattered dignity and trampled heart.

I calmly took out my phone, snapped a photo of the bag that I hadn't even had a chance to really touch.

Then, with practiced ease, I opened a luxury resale app and started listing the item.

Title: [EX'S CONSOLATION PRIZE, practically new, unboxed only. Serious offers only.]

Once the listing was up, I shared the link with Chloe, asking her to keep an eye out for reliable buyers.

Chloe's call came through instantly.

"Stella, are you crazy? Listing it on a resale site right after getting it? You'll lose a fortune!"

"I won't be using it anyway."

I didn't really care.

Still on the phone, I dragged a pre-packed suitcase from the deepest corner of my closet.

"Chloe, I'm flying to the UK in five days. Full scholarship to Oxford."

"What?"

Chloe went completely silent. I could almost picture her jaw dropping.

"When did you even—"

"I applied ages ago. Just in case."

I smiled. This was probably the best decision I'd ever made for myself.

After hanging up, a message from Noah popped up.

"Did you get the gift? Why aren't you replying? Don't you like the color? I can get someone to exchange it for you if you don't."

I couldn't be bothered to reply, so I simply muted his chat.

I started calmly packing my luggage, contacting a familiar international courier service for pickup.

Just as I sealed the last box, my mom's call came in.

The moment I answered, her gentle coaxing began.

"Stella, honey, are you and Noah having a spat? Noah even came to me complaining."

"Mom, we broke up."

"What nonsense are you talking?"

My mom's voice suddenly rose.

"Stella, how can you be so unreasonable? For someone from our background to even get a Harrison, that's pure luck on your part."

"Girls shouldn't be so headstrong. Someone from Noah's family, willing to lower himself to sweet-talk you like this, he's already gone above and beyond. Don't push it too far and throw away your good life!"

I took a deep breath, cutting her off.

"Mom, what if I don't want this 'good life'?"

A long silence followed on the other end.

Then, my dad snatched the phone.

"Don't you dare! Stella, we've worked our backsides off raising you all these years, not for you to be so stubborn! If you mess up this engagement, don't even think about coming back home."

"Beep—"

The line went dead with a harsh beep.

Clutching my phone, standing in the middle of my chaotic dorm room, I suddenly felt incredibly light.

Good.

Let's cut ties. Clean and absolute.

That evening, a confirmation email from Oxford University popped up in my inbox.

I stared at the lines of text for a long time, then slowly, deliberately, typed out my reply, confirming my enrollment.

The moment I sent it, I let out a long breath.

Finally, I was escaping.