Georgia Thorne’s scalp tingled, and she quickly lowered her head.

Throughout the entire encounter, they were complete strangers to each other.

That evening, Georgia Thorne left with Zane Lennox.

During that time, she didn’t find a single opportunity to speak with Elliot Sheridan.

Or perhaps, there was one time when he clearly saw her walking toward him, but he pretended not to notice and turned to go inside.

When she went in after him, she saw Amanda Thorne nestled in Elliot Sheridan’s arms like a delicate bird.

Under the bright lights, the handsome man and beautiful woman looked like a perfect match.

A figure blocked her view. "They’re a perfect match, aren’t they?"

’Whether they’re a match or not has nothing to do with me.’

Georgia Thorne tilted her head back. "It’s late, and I have class tomorrow morning."

She couldn’t get close to Elliot Sheridan here at all.

Zane Lennox raised an eyebrow and led Georgia Thorne away to say their goodbyes.

Once in the car, Georgia Thorne clutched her phone, her palm slick with sweat.

Downstairs from the women’s dormitory, there weren’t many people around at this hour.

Georgia Thorne took a deep breath. "I have no improper intentions toward you, so please stop joking around with me. I don’t want anything like this to happen again."

"Anything like this?" Zane Lennox frowned thoughtfully. "Are you talking about me publicly saying you’re my girlfriend, or me lying that your parents invited me over?"

"Both!" Georgia Thorne gritted her teeth. "I can’t afford to play these games of you rich young masters!"

With that, she slammed the car door and went into the dormitory.

Zane Lennox watched Georgia Thorne hurry into the dorm, his dark eyes unreadable.

’It’s obvious Georgia Thorne isn’t very welcome in the Thorne family.’

’I heard she’s the illegitimate daughter Jared Thorne had with his mistress?’

’An illegitimate daughter with such a temper. How interesting!’

When Georgia Thorne returned to her room, Nancy Hughes was lying listlessly on her bed.

She immediately sat up. "Georgia, I heard you went out with Zane Lennox today!"

"Sorry, I have to make a call first. We can talk about whatever it is when I get back!"

Georgia Thorne grabbed her phone and hurried frantically into the bathroom.

She called Elliot Sheridan, not knowing if he was still at the Thorne residence.

The call went through and rang for a long time, but no one answered.

Later, the phone was simply turned off.

’Elliot Sheridan... he’s really angry.’

Georgia Thorne emerged from the bathroom, utterly dejected. Her spirits had hit rock bottom.

She went straight to her bed and buried herself under the covers.

Seeing her in a bad mood, Nancy Hughes could only swallow her countless questions, turn off the light, and go to sleep.

Both of them had things on their minds. They stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

Georgia Thorne turned over. "I can’t sleep! You?"

"I can’t sleep either!"

Nancy Hughes turned over and looked at Georgia Thorne with immense envy.

"Georgia, I have a question I want to ask you."

"Go ahead!"

"Let’s say the guy I like falls for my best friend, but my best friend isn’t sure about her feelings for him. Do you think I should still go after the guy I like?"

"If you like him, you should go for it!"

"But... I’d be letting my best friend down!"

"Your best friend isn’t sure about her feelings for him, which means you can compete fairly!"

"Nancy, when you meet a guy you like, you have to chase after him!"

’Otherwise, you’ll end up like me, regretting it for the rest of your life.’

After a torturous night, dark circles appeared under Georgia Thorne’s eyes.

Clearly, her sleep quality last night had been terrible.

Georgia Thorne didn’t receive any calls or texts from Elliot Sheridan. She spent the entire morning lying silently on her desk.

Her eyes were glued to her phone at all times.

Finally, at one in the afternoon, her phone buzzed. She immediately unlocked it.

It was a text message from Owen Sawyer.

He asked to meet her at a location near the university.

The worst-case scenario Georgia Thorne had imagined was Elliot Sheridan being angry.

The absolute worst was him ignoring her for a long time—a week, maybe a month.

But then Owen Sawyer took out a check and placed it on the table.

"Secretary Sawyer, what is the meaning of this?" Georgia Thorne suddenly felt her composure slipping.

"This is President Sheridan’s intention. Please accept this check for five million. Also, President Sheridan has always been generous to women. You may choose any property you like as a breakup fee."

Georgia Thorne’s eyes suddenly stung with tears. She didn’t take the check.

"I want to see him!"

"I’m sorry, but President Sheridan’s schedule is packed recently. He cannot meet with irrelevant people," Owen Sawyer replied formally.

’So, in Elliot Sheridan’s eyes, I’m already an irrelevant person!’

"Can I really not see him? I want to explain things to him!"

’If I explain everything clearly, Elliot will definitely still want me.’

Owen Sawyer shook his head. "Miss Thorne, I advise you to take this money and be sensible. President Sheridan despises clingy women the most. He’ll find it repulsive."

"Repulsive? I’ve been with him for a year!" Georgia Thorne murmured, her eyes red.

"It is precisely because of that year that President Sheridan is being so generous to you, Miss Thorne. Don’t wear away what little goodwill he has left for you!"

Owen Sawyer stood up abruptly. "Miss Thorne, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave!"

In the quiet milk tea shop, after Owen Sawyer left, Georgia Thorne sat alone.

For a long while, she still couldn’t process the news Owen Sawyer had delivered.

’Without Elliot Sheridan’s protection, what would become of her?’

Jared Thorne had never valued her as a daughter, and Hayley Sullivan loathed her for being the extra illegitimate child who had ruined her harmonious family.

’They would probably be eager to throw her into another man’s bed.’

Her gaze fell on the crisp check on the table. Her vision gradually blurred, and finally, a tear wet the back of her hand.

After waiting all night, all she got was a breakup from Elliot Sheridan.

Georgia Thorne cried for an hour before leaving the milk tea shop.

She returned to her dorm room, feeling weak, and saw Nancy Hughes.

She grabbed her hand and asked, "Do you know where Zane Lennox is?"

Nancy Hughes looked at her. "What’s wrong, Georgia? Why are your eyes so red?"

"Where is he!" Unable to control her anger, she raised her voice and roared.

Having known Georgia Thorne for a year, Nancy knew she was always good-tempered. She was startled by her angry roar.

"At this time... he’s probably playing basketball!"

Hearing this, Georgia Thorne took off, running hastily toward the basketball court.

On the basketball court, Zane Lennox’s leaping figure was met with the cheers of many female students.

Georgia Thorne clenched her fists and, ignoring the attempts of others to stop her, rushed in front of Zane Lennox.

Zane Lennox controlled the ball, dribbled it twice, and flashed a smile. "Here to watch me play?"

The basketball court was crowded, and many of the female students were there for Zane Lennox, the heartthrob of Portmire U.

And now, his publicly acknowledged girlfriend had suddenly appeared, so all the girls looked at Georgia Thorne with envy.

With red-rimmed eyes, Georgia Thorne glared at the smiling Zane Lennox.

Raising a trembling hand, she swung it forcefully at his face.

SLAP! The entire world fell silent.

All eyes focused on Georgia Thorne. The girls around them covered their mouths in shock.

’What’s going on? Aren’t they boyfriend and girlfriend? Why did Georgia Thorne just slap Zane Lennox?’

’Is Zane Lennox trying to dump her?’

Because of that slap, quite a few of the girls grew secretly excited, sensing an opportunity.

Georgia Thorne had slapped him with all her might.

Her fingers were so numb they had almost lost all feeling.

Five bright red finger marks immediately appeared on Zane Lennox’s cheek.

Having been slapped in public, and by a girl no less, Zane Lennox couldn’t very well hit back.

He flew into a rage out of humiliation. "Georgia Thorne, are you crazy!"

"If I’m going crazy, it’s because you drove me to it!"

Georgia Thorne roared, and the fragile dam of her tears instantly broke.