Just like in my previous life, Lucy's post exploded overnight. The backlash was fierce—people said she'd shattered their worldview. Someone even dug up our dorm information. After that, whenever the three of us went out—even without Lucy—we were met with rolling eyes and open hostility.

"That's them. They think just because they look decent, they can mess around. They've ruined our university's reputation."

"I heard the university's top scorer is among them. Bet she cheated her way to the top with her body."

Last time, I'd made Lucy delete the post in time, so things hadn't escalated this badly. This time, not only was she affected—all three of us were dragged down with her.

Joey grabbed the two of us and stormed back to the dorm, seething with anger.

Lucy was washing her feet when we got there. The towel in her hand looked oddly familiar. I glanced at where I kept my towels—and my heart sank.

That was my face towel.

I'd caught it this time. But if I hadn't—how many times had she already used it?

The thought of wiping my face every day with a towel she used on her feet made my skin crawl.

I rushed over and snatched it from her, furious.

"What are you doing? Why are you using my face towel to wipe your feet?"

I wasn't pretending. I was genuinely angry.

Lucy didn't look the least bit embarrassed at being caught. Instead, she sounded perfectly justified.

"I'm pregnant with a rich man's kid now. You should feel honored I'm using your stuff. If you serve me well, I might even ask my future husband to give you a janitor job after you graduate."

She wasn't wrong about one thing. It had been half a month since she posted on the forum. During that time, she'd been staying out overnight and had us cover for her with the dorm supervisor. Clearly, she was already pregnant.

As for who the man was, she never gave a name—only that he was rich, dressed head to toe in designer brands, and while we were still riding shared bikes, he was already driving a luxury car.

Based on her description, there was only one person at our university who fit.

Nick Swarton, the richest heir in all of Samreen City.

Hearing her say that made my blood surge.

"I don't need you to hand me a job. I have hands and feet of my own. And that still doesn't give you the right to use other people's things without permission."

Lucy let out a cold laugh.

"Do you have any idea how hard it is for university students to find jobs these days? Still pretending to be noble? You'd better not regret it. If you can't find work after graduation and come begging on your knees, I won't let my husband help you."

As she spoke, she stomped her foot hard into the basin, splashing water all over me.

Joey had already been on the verge of exploding. If not for what had just happened, she wouldn't have held back this long.

"Lucy, deal with your own mess yourself. Don't drag the three of us down with you. Get on the forum right now and clarify that this was your personal behavior and has nothing to do with us! Because of you, we're getting criticized everywhere we go!"

Joey planted herself in front of me, hands on her hips, shouting.

Lucy rolled her eyes.

"I'm doing this for your own good. I know the three of you are too embarrassed to admit it, but you've been jealous of me for a long time, haven't you? Stop pretending to be pure."

Joey was so angry that her face turned red.

"You—what nonsense are you talking about? We just want to study in peace. Don't project your filthy thoughts onto us!"

Lucy rolled her eyes exaggeratedly.

"Treat me like this and see what happens. Believe it or not, I can have my future husband make it so you can't even stay in this university!"

"If you've got the guts, have him come after us himself," Joey shot back. "You really think getting pregnant makes you a queen? Everyone out there is calling you shameless, and you actually think you're something special?"

Joey's strength was overwhelming. Lucy flushed with rage, glaring venomously at the three of us, so angry she couldn't speak. Clutching her phone, she burst into tears and ran into the bathroom.

From outside, I could vaguely hear her making a complaint call. Her voice was nothing like usual—pinched and cloying, unpleasant to listen to.

Grinding her teeth, Joey dropped back into her chair.

The other roommate, Carmen Radler, asked worriedly, "She isn't really dating Nick, is she? We really can't afford to offend someone like him."

Joey snorted.

"So what if she is? We're in the right—what's there to be afraid of? Does he really think he can bend the law? We got into this university on our own merit!"

But the moment I heard Nick's name, I glanced at my phone.

There was a message from him.

Nick: [What time do you get out of class? I'll take you to a new restaurant.]

The timestamp was yesterday afternoon.

That's right. Nick and I were childhood friends. How could I not know if he had a girlfriend?

Our chats were always casual—reply when we had time, silent when we didn't. As for whether he had anything to do with Lucy, I'd have to ask him directly to know for sure.

So I quickly typed back.

Me: [Let's go today.]

He replied almost instantly.

Nick: [I'll pick you up after class.]

When Nick's Ferrari pulled up in front of the women's dormitory, it caused an immediate uproar.

Everyone in the dorm crowded by the window to watch. Joey couldn't help but sigh.

"That car is insanely expensive. We'd have to work for several lifetimes to afford it. Some people are born with a silver spoon; others are born to be workhorses."

Lucy, on the other hand, stroked her nonexistent belly, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and looked at us with open disdain.

"See? Believe me now? My future husband is a rich heir. You poor things—take a good look. This might be the last time you ever get to see something like this."

I curved my lips into a faint smile.

Nick spotted me standing by the window and lifted a hand in greeting. Lucy saw it too and immediately waved back, excitement flashing across her face.

I ignored her and headed out. As I reached the door, Lucy slammed her shoulder hard into mine, snapping angrily, "Watch where you're going, okay? If you hurt my baby, could you afford to compensate me? I'm pregnant with the heir of a wealthy family. Why are you in such a hurry—trying to get close to my husband's luxury car?"

I let out a cold laugh. How dumb.

Still, to keep her from blaming me if anything happened to her "child," I stepped aside and let her go first.

Lucy took advantage and still acted smug. She swayed her hips as she walked, then turned back and spat at me, "Good that you know your place. You reek of poverty."

In truth, my family's background was no different from Nick's. I'd simply always kept a low profile. The brands I wore were mostly foreign luxury labels that few people here recognized.

Besides, I didn't even have a driver's license. The Lamborghini my father gave me for my eighteenth birthday was still sitting unused.

So her words didn't anger me. I was curious instead—whether Lucy's dream of marrying into wealth would actually come true.

By the time I got downstairs, Lucy was already seated in the passenger seat of Nick's car. Envious looks were cast her way from all sides. Nick, however, kept his eyes fixed on the entrance of the dorm building and didn't notice her at all.

When I reached the car, Nick frowned slightly.

"What took you so long? You made me wait, although I'm the one treating you to a meal."

I almost laughed. When we were little, Nick had always followed me around like a shadow. I'd thought he'd outgrow it, but apparently, university hadn't changed him one bit.

I raised a brow and glanced at Lucy.

She seemed to catch my look and, in a show of triumph, leaned toward Nick and cooed, "Honey, let's go. I know you just wanted to show me off in front of my roommates. That's enough, our baby and I are starving."

Nick finally turned around. The shock on his face was unmistakable. He pointed at himself.

"Honey? Me? Baby? Miss, who are you?"

Given how well I knew Nick, he wasn't lying. Which meant the liar was someone else.

Things were getting interesting.

Lucy instantly exploded.

"Nick! You slept with me and got me pregnant, and now you're trying to deny it?"

Before she finished, she looked at me, realization dawning on her face.

"I get it now! It's this bitch Tricia who seduced you, isn't it? I admit she studies well and has a bit of looks, but you can't abandon our baby and me for her!"

I felt nothing at all. I took it as a compliment.

Nick was even more horrified. He hurriedly explained to me, "Tricia, I swear I have nothing to do with her. I don't even know who she is!"

I lifted a brow. "So… are we still eating?"

He nodded furiously.

I continued, calm as ever. "Then where am I supposed to sit? On the hood?"

Nick immediately went over and yanked Lucy out of the car. She let out a scream.

"Nick, be careful of the baby!"

Nick acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. After pulling her out, he turned and ushered me into the seat.

Lucy collapsed onto the ground, throwing a full-blown tantrum, crying and wailing.

"How can mistresses be this shameless nowadays? Stealing someone else's man! I'm already pregnant, and she's openly provoking me! Is there no justice left in this world?"

The onlookers' gazes toward me shifted, filled with suspicion and judgment. Nick didn't care in the slightest. He floored the accelerator and sped away.

While we were eating, Nick kept explaining himself nonstop.

"I don't even know that crazy woman. Pregnancy, husband—none of it has anything to do with me. Heaven knows my conscience is clear. You know I only love you!"

Yes—Nick and I were engaged.

Our families needed a business alliance, and beyond that, we'd grown up together. The elders wanted us together and arranged our engagement early on.

Very few people knew about it.

As for whether I loved Nick, I wasn't sure. Maybe I was just used to his presence. He had good character, treated me well, and honestly, there was nothing about him I could fault.

Seeing how nervous he was, I couldn't help but smile. In the end, I simply nodded.

"I believe you."

Only then did Nick finally relax. He bought me so many gifts that I could barely carry them all in one hand.

But when I returned to the dorm, Lucy lunged at me and grabbed my hair, yanking hard enough to make my scalp ache.

"Bitch! I told you to find a baby daddy too, and you pretended to be all high and mighty. Then you turned around and seduced my man and humiliated me in front of everyone! Bitch!"

Joey and Carmen rushed over to pull her off me. Lucy lashed out at them as well.

"Birds of a feather flock together! You two aren't any better. Were you planning to wait until Tricia succeeded and then become my man's fourth or fifth woman? I'll teach you to steal my man!"

When Lucy saw the designer bags in my hand, she completely lost it. She charged over, snatched them away, and screamed,

"Nick hasn't even bought me things this expensive! Shameless bitch! If I don't have it, what right do you have to?"

Considering that Lucy was pregnant, none of us wanted to be responsible for causing a miscarriage. We held back as we tried to stop her. She took our restraint as guilt, grabbed my things, and threw them straight into the bathroom, setting them all on fire.

Joey and Carmen looked at me, confusion and surprise flickering in their eyes.

I knew they were afraid I really had become what Lucy accused me of—a mistress. I simply shook my head at them.

Fortunately, I'd kept the receipts. Altogether, the items were worth around forty thousand. When Lucy finally finished her tantrum and came out, I spread the receipts in front of her.

"Pay up. Or I'll call the police. Deliberate destruction of property—at this amount, it's enough to land you in prison."

Now that I knew Lucy's baby daddy wasn't Nick, I could confront her without fear. Besides, I'd never intended to let her off the hook.

Lucy's face darkened. She slapped me hard across the face. I wasn't prepared, and the blow landed solidly.

"Bitch! This is my man's money—which means it's my money too. How dare you ask me for compensation? Where do you get the nerve?"

If not for her pregnancy, I would've fought back immediately. I let out a cold laugh.

"Then let's call the police."

Lucy put her hands on her hips, righteous and defiant.

"Go ahead! Whoever doesn't call is a coward! I want to see whether the police side with me or with you, you shameless mistress!"

The police arrived quickly. After hearing the facts, they spoke sternly to Lucy.

"Destruction of another person's property requires full compensation. Otherwise, you'll have to come with us."

Lucy broke down, disbelief written all over her face.

"How much did Tricia pay you to take her side? She's a poor university student—if it weren't for my man, how could she afford these things? Half of my baby daddy's assets are mine. Who are you to say otherwise?"

The female officer standing nearby finally lost patience.

"Are you legally married? If not, it has no legal effect. You did destroy someone else's property—that's a fact. How she obtained it is none of your concern."

Lucy went crazy. She shoved past the officers and shot me a venomous glare before storming to the door, shouting back, "I'm going to find Nick right now!"

The police were about to chase after her, but I stopped them.

Of course, I wanted to see—when Lucy had nowhere else to go—whether the person she turned to would be Nick.

Lucy didn't come back that night. But in the middle of the night, I received a call from Nick.

"Tricia… I'll buy you the things again. Just… don't make Lucy compensate you."

I froze.

Could Nick really be involved with Lucy? Could the child in her belly actually be his?

The thought struck like a bolt from a clear sky. Had I trusted the wrong person? Twenty years of affection, and I'd still failed to see him clearly.

Grinding my teeth, I replied with a single word—"Fine"—then hung up, blocking Nick immediately.

A man who betrays once deserves no second chances.

Joey must have noticed my expression. She asked worriedly, "Tricia, what's wrong? Did Lucy cause trouble again?"

It took me a long time to find my voice. I shook my head numbly, staring at my phone in silence.

In my previous life, because I stopped Lucy, she never posted for a baby daddy. Naturally, Nick was never involved. But my choices this time had changed the trajectory of everything. The story had slipped beyond my control.

There was only one thing I was certain of. I would never let Lucy get what she wanted.

The suffering I endured in my last life—she would pay for it in blood.