Chapter 3

Just like that, I ended up in Ethan’s class.

But life at school was anything but easy.

On my first day, a group of boys cornered me in a grove of trees.

Lucas slowly stepped out of the crowd.

He kicked me hard and said arrogantly,

“Listen up, Avery Bennett. If you dare bully Ethan, I’ll make you regret it.”

Before he had even finished speaking, fists and clubs rained down on me.

If a security guard hadn’t happened to pass by, my injuries would have been much worse.

I spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and staggered toward the restroom.

Just as I was about to enter the women’s room, a group of girls surrounded me. “Ethan! Help us stop this creep! He’s trying to get into the girls’ bathroom!”

Ethan blocked my path and shoved me hard.

“Avery Bennett, you really are a pervert! Yesterday you were collecting women’s underwear, and today you’re sneaking into their bathroom!”

The girls watching whispered among themselves.

“Oh my God. He’s obviously done this before. We need to tell a teacher and get him expelled!”

I braced myself against the wall, fighting the pain, and managed to say,

“Let me explain…”

But before I could finish, Ethan and the girls dragged me into the women’s restroom.

They locked me in a tiny supply closet and poured bucket after bucket of cold water over me.

When I began drifting in and out of consciousness, they took turns slapping me.

Ethan planted his shoe on my face and grinned viciously. “You love the girls’ bathroom so much? Now you can stay as long as you want.”

Between my injuries from the grove and the freezing water, I was struggling to stay conscious.

Seeing that, Ethan pulled out several documents and held them out to me.

“Why should you be first in line for the inheritance? I won’t accept it.”

“Sign these papers giving up your inheritance rights, and I’ll let you go.”

I gave him a cold look and shook my head.

I had no interest in the Hawthorne fortune, but I wasn’t going to submit to something this humiliating.

When I refused to obey, Ethan gripped my face and slapped me again and again.

Once he got tired, he let the girls take over.

“Come on! Hit him hard! Teach him a lesson!”

After hundreds of slaps, my cheeks felt as if they were on fire.

My whole body went limp, and I crumpled to my knees.

“Still won’t sign?” Ethan demanded.

I lowered my head without answering.

Everything they did to me today would become evidence against Ethan and Lucas tomorrow.

I could endure it.

Ethan smiled. He took out a photo and flashed it in front of my face.

“These are your adoptive parents, right? I’ve already asked Lucas to keep a close eye on them.”

“If I get upset… well, you understand.”

“Ethan Hawthorne!”

I clenched my fists and screamed.

He was actually threatening my adoptive parents over an inheritance.

I struggled to stand, but Ethan tripped me effortlessly.

“The choice is yours.”

His smile was sinister.

I took the pen and signed my name with a trembling hand.

Ethan accepted the papers, looking thoroughly satisfied.

Then he swaggered away, leaving me locked in the tiny restroom closet to fend for myself.

Luckily, a custodian passed by and let me out.

But the story had already spread through the entire school.

I was expelled for misconduct on my very first day.

Ethan, meanwhile, earned the teachers’ praise for bravely coming forward to expose me.

When I got home that evening, Mr. Hawthorne was standing outside the dining room with a wooden switch.

He fixed me with a fierce stare. “You disgraceful brat. On your knees.”