Chapter 3

I ignored him, turning on the shower and letting the cold water pour over me.

My mind cleared up instantly.

Outside the door, Ethan's voice grew agitated. "Audrey, if you don't open this door, I'll kick it down!"

"Do you think playing hard to get will make me want you more?!"

"You—"

Before he could finish, I wiped the water from my face and opened the door.

When I opened it, Ethan still had his phone in his hand, clearly texting someone.

I glanced at it — it was Chloe's chat.

Everything suddenly clicked.

He panicked for a second, quickly dimming the screen. "Don't misunderstand, I was just worried you'd do something crazy, so I was asking Chloe to help."

"Audrey, do you want this or not?"

I didn't look at him, walking straight for the door. "Move."

He paused, then grabbed my wrist. "What do you mean?!"

"Audrey, why are you acting so innocent?"

"You called me to 'save' you, and you're dressed like this. Weren't you trying to seduce me?!"

"You've been my persistent shadow for years, always around. Now I'm being 'generous' and actually giving you a chance, and you're throwing a fit?"

He was right. I'd been his simp for so many years, and I was truly tired.

I looked at him, taking a deep breath. "Ethan, from today on, I don't like you anymore."

"What?" He stopped dead, his face filled with disbelief.

Before he could react, I grabbed my things and walked out of the room without looking back.

Then I pulled out my phone, opened my college application page, and deleted the local state university.

Immediately after, I dialed Harvard University's admissions office. "Hello, Professor, this is Audrey. I accept the early admission offer to Harvard."

Thinking back to how I'd rejected it for Ethan, I felt incredibly stupid.

Just then, someone called out to me. "Audrey!"

I looked up. It was Liam.

Chloe was with him, a smug look on her face.

Chloe saw me at once and immediately clutched Liam's arm. "Liam, I didn't lie to you, did I...!"

"I told you I saw her check into a hotel myself!"

"It's only been what, a few days since the SATs?! She couldn't wait! Now that you've seen it, you should give up on her!"

But Liam just pulled his arm away and quickly walked up to me. "Audrey, are you okay?"

I looked at him, my thoughts a little fuzzy.

There wasn't much about him in the diary.

I only knew he was the heir to the Cooper Corporation.

I only knew that Ethan had touched me to cut off Liam's feelings for me, all to secure his own relationship with Chloe.

Before I could think further, Chloe was already pointing at me, yelling, "Audrey, I know you like Ethan!"

"But you can't be that desperate! You finished your SATs and immediately ran off to have sex with him?"

"You know Liam, he—"

I took a deep breath, then turned and looked at her carefully.

The me in another timeline, who endured so many years of agonizing, absurd life—wasn't it all because of her?

I smiled, then raised my hand and slapped her hard. "Chloe, I didn't do anything tonight!"

"If you dare to slander me again, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Almost simultaneously, a figure crashed into me. "Audrey! Are you crazy?!"

It was Ethan, who had rushed out after me.

He stood in front of Chloe, then turned and yelled at me, "Audrey! What did Chloe say that was wrong?!"

"You're the one who's shameless! You were willing to drug yourself just to get me to sleep with you!"