The four of them stepped in, blocking my view.

Adrian flashed his student council president badge. "Stay away from Serena. You're broke. Don't get ideas, or you won't graduate from Alverton U."

Then he looked at me. "Serena, he didn't say anything weird, right?"

I shook my head, blank.

They relaxed.

"Your birthday's at the end of the month," Adrian said. "We'll take you to an auction. Buy you something nice."

Right. The fake birthday I made up.

I slipped back into character.

"You remembered...? I'm so touched. But I've never been to an auction. What if I embarrass you?"

They told me not to worry.

Before the auction, a gown was delivered to me.

I frowned.

My limited-edition custom dress should've been in my closet. Why was it in their hands?

Then it clicked.

I pulled up Chloe's account.

Of course—she was live.

"Taking the poor girl out to see the world again. The dress? I lent it to her. I never repeat outfits."

She covered her mouth, laughing, flashing a sapphire ring the size of a pigeon egg.

"She probably can't even walk in heels. Think she'll face-plant?"

My face went cold.

The dress. The earrings. The ring. The necklace.

All mine.

I walked out like nothing happened.

The four of them were waiting at the entrance. Chloe held up her phone, ready to catch me humiliating myself.

The second I stepped in, heads turned.

"She's gorgeous."

"Which family is she from?"

The four of them stared like they'd forgotten how to blink.

Chloe's smile cracked.

I flipped my hair. Please. Do you even know who I am?

The jewelry auction started.

I couldn't care less.

They kept pushing, so I pointed at a necklace at random.

"Three hundred thousand," Timothy called.

"Five hundred thousand," Henry said coolly. "Not letting you have this one."

"Eight hundred thousand," Adrian added.

Chloe's eyes went red with envy. She tried to jump in—couldn't get a word out.

They kept bidding. Three million.

Timothy and Henry backed off.

Adrian was about to take the win when Finley cut in. "All in."

He crossed his legs, slipped an arm around my shoulders. "Told you I'd win Serena's birthday gift. I keep my promises."

When it was over, the necklace sat in my hands.

Speechless.

When I said I didn't want it, I meant it. I'd already tossed pieces like this aside.

Chloe strutted over. "Finley, I like this too. Give it to me?"

She shoved a few crumpled bills into my arms. "Jewelry matches the person. You should stick to the dollar store."

I looked at Finley, eyes glossy. "I don't deserve something this expensive. You can take it back—"

He panicked. "Who says you don't deserve it?!"

He brushed the corner of my eye, then shot Chloe a look sharp enough to cut glass. "It's her birthday. You're trying to grab her gift? Is that appropriate? She was happy. You made her cry. Apologize."

Chloe went tomato red. Tears on cue. She spun and ran.

That night, the livestream fired up again.

On camera, Chloe wedged herself between the four of them, crying hard.

"Why did you treat me like that today?!"

Adrian handed her a tissue. "It was just acting. We had to make that country bumpkin buy it."

Finley smirked. "Did you see how devoted she looked? Dumping her's gonna be epic."

Timothy shrugged. "Relax. When we get paid next month, I'll buy you the most expensive necklace."

Henry nudged his glasses up, a shadowed smile on his lips. "Buying stuff? Boring. Making her pay it back ten, a hundred times—that's the fun part."

The live chat blew up:

[Getting emotional over crumbs? I'm dead]

[When she finds out it's fake she's gonna lock herself in the bathroom and sob]

[You better stream the meltdown. I'm waiting.]

Chloe lit up at the camera, all sugar and fake innocence. "Next Monday's the grand finale! Eight p.m., open-air theater—live broadcast of 'Cinderella Gets Dumped.'"

I smiled.

Perfect. Monday was the day I reported back to Dad.

The next few days, they were tense. Kept asking if I loved them.

I leaned into each one, eyes soft, like I'd hand over my whole heart.

Just enough to keep them calm.

A few days later, my dorm entrance was drowning in flowers.

Four bouquets. Four letters. Same line in every one: Monday, 8 p.m. Don't be late.

That day, I got dressed. "Carefully."

The gown they "gave" me. The "expensive" jewelry they'd sold back to me.

Every little setup? I took it.

Before I even reached them, someone blocked my path.

"Serena!"

I looked up. The same guy who'd warned me before.

"Don't go. You'll regret it." He was sweating, already pulling up Chloe's livestream on his phone. "They've been playing you from day one!"

I tilted my head, smiling like we were talking about the weather. "I know. But who's playing who? That's still up for debate."

I walked past him without slowing down.

Waiting for me wasn't just the four of them. Chloe was there too—plus a ring of people with phones up, ready for the show.

They dropped the sweet act. Finally.

Adrian sneered. "You didn't actually think we were confessing, right?"

Finley laughed. "We played you for a month and you thought you were the main character?"

Laughter burst around us.

Someone chimed in, "She's probably already planning her rich-girl wedding. Poor people really do have wild dreams."

My eyes went red on cue. My voice shook. "So... the flowers, the dates, the auction... all fake?"

Timothy lifted his phone, livestream blazing. "Not just fake. The whole internet's been laughing at you. You've been the joke for a month."

Henry ripped the necklace off my neck. "Chloe's stuff isn't for you."

Chloe strutted over, circling me. "Clothes really do matter. In my dress and jewelry, you almost pass. Too bad the fantasy's over."

She stepped behind me and tugged. The zipper slid down my back.

"Take it off. Give it back."

Whistles cut through the crowd.

I stayed still. No arguing. No panic. I just smiled and lifted my hand—

Slap.

The crack snapped through the air.

Chloe froze, hand pressed to her cheek, eyes wide.

All four of them blew up.

"You wanna die?!"

"We humored you and now you're cocky? You think you're on our level?"

"I'll strip you and make you walk back to the dorm naked!"

Before they finished, someone appeared behind me.

A coat settled over my shoulders.