Perhaps my words had some effect, for Zachary stopped seeking me out.

But that only lasted for a few days. After that, he insisted on handing me his notes and would sometimes stubbornly stay behind to walk me through exercise questions.

"Aren't you going to Prestwick University with me to study finance? You're still not very good at math."

For once, I didn't argue back. After all, in his eyes, I was still that girl who followed him without hesitation no matter what he did.

Perhaps in this new life, even if we couldn't be husband and wife, we could still be friends.

Yet whenever I grew tired from studying and looked up, I caught Vivian glaring at me.

One month before the SATs, I walked out of the school gates and headed to the bookstore across the street to buy some reference books.

Zachary rushed toward me, holding Vivian in his arms. Her face was pale, and her clothes were stained with blood.

Before I could react, he had already blocked my path. "Natalie Hooper!"

His voice was heavy with suppressed fury. "Do you really hate her so much that you hired someone to beat her up outside the school?"

I froze and looked at Vivian in his arms. Her eyes brimmed with tears. One side of her face was swollen, and her gaze was filled with fear as she looked at me.

I frowned, a wave of absurdity washing over me.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said.

"You have no idea?"

Zachary let out a cold laugh. Some students nearby began turning to look at us.

"When those girls slapped her, they clearly said that Ms. Hooper told them to teach her a lesson. Who else would resort to such dirty tricks if not you? So your good temper was just an act after all," he said.

I looked at Vivian as she sobbed. "Natalie, I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have taken Zach from you."

As she spoke, her body trembled even more violently.

I looked at Zachary and said calmly, "I didn't do it. I wouldn't stoop to using such methods."

"Where's the proof? Who would believe you?" Zachary asked.

He wouldn't listen to my explanation at all. Vivian's tears and accusations had completely clouded his judgment.

He paused for a moment, as if making up his mind. Then he spoke slowly, his tone icy. "Viv, hit her back, just like they did to you."

Those words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I stared at Zachary in disbelief. I couldn't believe he was asking Vivian to hit me. Growing up, not even my parents had ever hit me.

Vivian seemed startled as well. She shook her head frantically. "I can't do that, Zach. How could I—"

"Go!" he shouted.

He gently pushed Vivian in front of me, then grabbed my arms tightly. "She owes you this. As long as I'm here, no one will ever hurt you again."

More and more students gathered around, their whispers like the buzzing of mosquitoes.

Under everyone's gaze, Vivian appeared even more helpless and fragile. She looked at me, her tears flowing harder. Her hand trembled slightly as she raised it.

She finally seemed to make up her mind. She closed her eyes and swung her hand with force.

A sharp slap rang out, and a burning pain spread across my face. She didn't hold back, hitting me hard enough to make my ears ring.

I tried to struggle, only to be met with Zachary's painful grip as a warning. But when he saw blood running from my nose, he froze for a moment. He seemed surprised by just how strong Vivian was, and his gaze flickered briefly.

Yet when he saw Vivian collapse onto the ground, shaking uncontrollably after hitting me, he immediately released me.

He held her tightly in his arms. "It's alright now."

He looked at me. "If you apologize properly right now, I'm still willing to tutor you. We can still go to Prestwick University together. Haven't you always wanted us to move out? By that time, we could even buy a house near campus—"

I looked at Zachary and suddenly laughed. "Prestwick University? You can go there with Vivian. I won't be going."

Did they seriously expect me to play nanny for them again like I did in my previous life? They could dream on.

With that thought, I rushed forward and slapped Vivian hard across the face right in front of Zachary. I stared at them coldly. "Remember this. This is what I actually did."

The slap, fuelled by sheer anger, made Vivian's cheek swell instantly. She shook uncontrollably from the pain.

"Natalie!" Zachary shouted, his voice thick with disbelief and fury. "How dare you? You can't even be bothered to pretend in front of me anymore, can you?"

I took a deep breath, my tone steady. "When was I pretending? I simply hit someone openly, right in front of you. Since I'm going to be framed anyway, I might as well make it real."

I bent down and picked up my backpack. After brushing the dust off, I slung it over my shoulder. "Zachary, take Vivian and stay far away from me."

I looked him straight in the eye and enunciated each word, "Just looking at the two of you makes me sick."

As soon as I finished speaking, I turned around and walked away.

Standing behind me, Zachary completely lost his temper. "If you've got the guts, don't contact me again. When we get to Prestwick University, don't expect me to care about you."

Who cared? I ignored him.

The people around us silently parted to make way. They stared at me, a strange mix of emotions in their eyes, but I paid them no attention.

From that day on, my relationship with Zachary became noticeably strained. Even though we were in the same class, I treated him as if he didn't exist.

He made several attempts to talk to me, but I ignored him each time. When he tried to make peace with a cinnamon roll, I threw it into the trash in front of everyone.

The confusion and irritation in his eyes deepened, and eventually, he began ignoring me as well.

Yet none of that mattered to me anymore.

The SATs finally came to an end. I walked out of the exam hall into bright sunlight.

I took a deep breath. Mom and Dad were waiting outside, their smiles proud and relaxed.

Mom wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "How did it go?"

"Pretty well."

I smiled as I spoke, though all I could think about was my application to study abroad.

Even before the SATs, I had already received an offer from a university in Norell. Once my SAT scores were submitted, I would receive the official notice and head to Norell to begin my studies.

"That's great. Let's go home. I made all your favorite food!" Mom said.

After returning home, I began packing and preparing to leave the country.

There was a delicate box on my desk. Inside were the little trinkets Zachary had given me over the years, along with a thick stack of letters he had written to me.

I opened the box and glanced inside. Then I grabbed it without hesitation and tossed it into the trash bin out in the yard.

Mom stood at the doorway, staring at me in surprise. "Natty, you—"

I dusted my hands and said casually, "They're all useless and should be thrown away."

Mom walked over and wrapped me in a gentle hug. "Good. It's time to move on."

The days before I was to leave the country passed in a blur. I hung out with friends, spent time with my family, and packed my luggage.

I deliberately ignored all news about Zachary and Vivian. All I knew was that Zachary had tried to contact me multiple times, but he had failed each time.

His mom told me that he had cried for hours the day he found out that I had thrown away his gifts and letters. He said that he didn't understand why I had become like this and that he regretted it.

I had no idea what he regretted, and I had no interest in finding out. All I felt was excitement for the future ahead of me.

…

The airport was bustling with people. After checking in my luggage, I took one last moment to say goodbye to my parents.

Mom's eyes were red-rimmed as she reminded me, "Once you get there, make sure you video call us every day."

"Alright, Mom. Don't worry," I replied.

Dad gave my shoulder a firm pat. "If you run short on money, just tell me. Don't make things hard for yourself."

I answered them one by one, and we talked a while longer.

Just as I was going through security, Zachary came running, out of breath. He was stopped outside the checkpoint.

"Natalie!" he shouted.

He looked like he had sprinted the whole way, his hair slightly disheveled. "Aren't you supposed to attend Prestwick University with me? Why did your parents say that you're studying abroad? Where are you actually going?"

There was undeniable panic in his voice, but I paid him no mind. I let him scream and cry behind me until the security guards dragged him away.

As the plane took off, I watched the city shrink beneath the window, my mind completely calm. I knew that my new life had finally begun.