I applied for leave to return to my hometown so I could arrange Mom's funeral.

I only wanted to apply for a leave of absence, but the university expelled me due to my "terrible conduct that affected the university's image."

The scholarship funds that I had planned to use for Mom's funeral were also revoked.

I fell to my knees in the office, pleading with the faculty to return my scholarship. That was when I saw Fiona.

She was clinging to one of the university's shareholders as she mocked, "So what if you've got both the brains and beauty? You've thrown away your dignity just for money!

"You probably aren't aware of this, but you could've gotten that ten grand. My mother works as a cleaning lady for the Carrells, so I knew that Luke was filthy rich."

Her eyes turned venomous as she continued, "You're just a little prettier than I am. So why did he reject me but add you on his own volition? If I couldn't get what I wanted, why should you have been able to get it so easily? Anyway, I got the scholarship today, and I'm feeling fantastic. Here's ten bucks."

She pulled out a ten-dollar bill from what was supposed to be my scholarship fund and threw it at my face.

Then, she leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Just sell your body if you're desperate for money. I was kind enough to Photoshop your face and get you good buyers. You really should be thanking me."

That was when everything became clear to me. Fiona had orchestrated nearly all of my misfortune. I was in such a state of despair that I leaped off the university rooftop moments later.

However, when I opened my eyes, I realized that I had returned to the day that Luke posted his recruitment notice.

Fiona had stopped me in my past life for fear that I would easily get my hands on that ten grand. Well, I was going to do just that and save Mom!

I lowered my gaze to Fiona, who was struggling to stand. Her face was twisted in pain.

I parted my lips and said coldly, "Go ahead and report me. I refuse to believe that the faculty will revoke my scholarship just because I got myself a part-time job."

Fiona, caught off guard by my confidence, muttered under her breath, "Stop lying to yourself. A plus one? More like a high-class escort."

Then, she seemed to regain her confidence the longer she spoke as she added, "As your roommate, I'm just trying to steer you away from making a mistake. Why are you being so stubborn?"

Luke then sent me a message saying that he would arrive at my dormitory soon. I ignored Fiona and got ready to leave.

Luke was already waiting next to his Rolls-Royce.

Unfortunately, the pest, Fiona, blocked my way at the dorm entrance, gripping my arm tightly. "I can't just stand idly by as you ruin your life! Are you seriously going to sell your body like that?"

When she noticed that she had gotten everyone's attention, a flicker of satisfaction appeared in her eyes as she donned a worried expression. "You can't sell your body just because you're desperate for money! You're my roommate. If you really need help, I'm willing to starve myself just to help you."

She acted as though she was doing this for my sake.

Just then, an irritated voice cut through the air. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting? I'm just looking for a plus one! What do you mean by selling her body? Are you trying to get my ass beat?"

The person speaking was furious and frustrated. Soon, a tall figure appeared before us.

Fiona instinctively flinched when her eyes landed on Luke.

Meanwhile, Luke hadn't even recognized her due to the heavily edited picture she had sent him.

When Fiona realized this, she immediately regained her arrogance. "How am I in the wrong here? Why do you need to find a pretty female university student you don't even know just to be your plus one?"

Then, she pointed at Luke and said disparagingly, "Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you're rich? How dare you offer ten grand just to buy a woman's chastity!"

Luke was beyond livid.

He frowned and questioned me sharply, "You could've just said that you didn't want to go. Why did you have to make your roommate put on this whole act? Is the money not enough?"

Fiona had deliberately spoken in my defense as she wanted to provoke Luke and ruin my chances. Her lips curled into a small smirk when she noticed that he was getting worked up.

I immediately shook her off. "Those who are guilty assume the worst in everyone! You keep saying that I'm selling my body. What's with that? Are you perhaps guilty of that?"

Her face turned red with humiliation as she pointed at me, utterly mad. "You ungrateful wretch! I was only trying to help!"

Luke had no interest in watching a catfight, so he turned to leave.

Fiona was more than thrilled to see him storm off. She had flown into a rage just moments ago, but now she was smirking like a cat who had gotten the canary. "Well, you won't even have the chance to offer yourself up even if you want to now."

Before I could respond, some of the onlookers recognized her.

"Hey, isn't that Fiona? I heard her family's pretty loaded. She's always wearing designer brands!"

"She's a wealthy heiress, alright. She's so beautiful and kind too. Look at her trying to do good by her roommate. Honestly, a shameless woman like that deserves whatever's coming for her. Maybe she'll finally regret her actions if she catches some shameful diseases."

Fiona had said the exact same thing to me in my past life, and I was naive enough to believe her.

However, she coldly rebuffed me when I desperately begged for her help after Mom fell ill. "Die if you can't afford the treatment. How's that my problem?"

That was when I knew that her so-called kindness was nothing but a cruel joke. She had thrown every degrading insult known to man at me.

If I were still the naive freshman I was in my past life, I might've crumbled under the pressure like a soggy wet wipe. Sadly for her, I've heard worse comments than that.

So, I didn't bother wasting my time explaining myself. I knew now that the more I tried to defend myself, the worse it would look for me.

Mom needed the money to live. So everyone else could shove their opinions where the sun didn't shine!

I ignored all the scornful gazes piercing my skin as I caught up to Luke and pointed at Fiona, explaining, "She's the girl who propositioned you in that screenshot. She's jealous that you picked me and was trying to provoke you."

Luke blinked in realization, and his expression softened a little. However, his voice was far from welcoming. "So what if she was? This has been humiliating. I'm spending ten grand to get a plus one. Yet, I'm getting cursed at for it?"

I immediately knew what he was getting at and apologized sincerely. "Surely, a generous person like yourself wouldn't hold a grudge against a silly girl, yes?"

His mood, which had improved slightly, got visibly better.

I pressed my advantage, saying slyly, "The banquet's about to start. It won't be easy for you to find someone else now. Besides, you picked me, didn't you? Doesn't that mean I fit your requirements perfectly?

"And you've already spent the money, so the least you could do is actually bring a plus one that pleases your eyes, no?"

Luke immediately turned bright red. He snapped, "What are you even on about? Stop flattering yourself!"

Then, he spun on his heel and stalked off.

My heart sank at the sight. I was just about to reach out to him when Fiona suddenly grabbed my arm in a vice-like grip.

"The counselor is coming! You can't leave! The counselor's here to reprimand you for your disgraceful lifestyle! Yet, you're not even the least bit sorry."

My anxiety was through the roof as I watched Luke leave, but I couldn't break free from Fiona's grasp, no matter how much I struggled.