A long, long ti passed, but Vivian Quinn heard nothing from Jett Sterling. He lay there, completely still.
She crept closer and saw that he had fallen asleep.
Vivian Quinn breathed a sigh of relief, but at the sa ti, a strange emotion welled up inside her. It felt as if a sharp blade had been plunged into her heart, the pain so intense she could hardly breathe.
Even though she knew he was drunk, she was still deeply upset.
No girl would ever want to be forced upon like that, especially not her, not when she was so sensitive and vulnerable about such things.
Vivian Quinn fought back her tears and straightened her clothes. She went downstairs and made a glass of honey water. It took a great deal of effort, but she finally managed to get Jett Sterling to drink it. Then, she took off his clothes, wiped his face with a towel, and helped him into the middle of the bed before going to sleep on the sofa herself.
...
Early the next morning, when Vivian Quinn opened her eyes, an impossibly handso face, magnified and up close, suddenly filled her vision.
The events of the previous night rushed back to her, and Vivian Quinn instinctively clutched the blanket to her chest. "What do you think you’re doing?"
Jett Sterling’s eyes were clear as he said guiltily, "Vivian, about last night... I’m sorry."
"You’re sober?"
"Yes."
"Good." Vivian Quinn said, her voice subdued. "Don’t drink that much anymore. It’s bad for your health."
"Okay."
"You should leave first. I need to get up and get ready for class."
"Okay."
After they had breakfast, Jett Sterling drove her to the university. "Vivian, I’ll co pick you up after your classes tonight."
Vivian Quinn had no reason to refuse. "Okay."
She walked into the classroom wearing her mask and imdiately felt that the way people were looking at her was strange.
Vivian Quinn paid them no mind and was about to take her seat when she suddenly noticed the large words written on the blackboard.
Vivian Quinn’s brow furrowed. She raised her voice and asked, "Who wrote this?"
No one in the classroom answered her.
"So you have the guts to do it, but not to admit it?" Vivian Quinn said, her tone unhurried. "I’ll ask one more ti. Who wrote this? If it’s not erased within two minutes, I’ll go get your precious Mr. Landon to co find out."
"I wrote it." A female student suddenly stood up, walked over to Vivian Quinn, and sneered down at her. "Vivian Quinn, did I write anything that isn’t true? You throw yourself at any man you see, not even sparing the new teacher."
"If you’ve got the guts, then take off your mask and let Mr. Landon see your face! You don’t dare, do you? You’re right not to, because any man who saw your face would be scared to death!"
"Don’t think you can seduce n just because you don’t limp anymore. You’re hideous, but you sure dream big! It’s always the ugly ones who make the most trouble!"
Vivian Quinn: "..."
"Are you done? If you are, then go erase those words. I have no desire to be entangled with your precious Mr. Landon."
"Oh, still playing innocent? You can’t possibly think Mr. Landon would actually be interested in you, can you? I did my research. The only reason he even rembers your na and gives you the ti of day is because Professor York ntioned you had good grades."
"Fine. If you’re so capable, go on and make your Mr. Landon notice you." Vivian Quinn repeated her demand. "Now, go erase those words."
"I refuse! I’m going to let everyone know just how a hideous creature like you manages to lure in n!"
"Mr. Landon."
"Good morning, Mr. Landon."
Hearing the sudden greetings from other students, the two of them instinctively turned to see Mason Landon walking into the room.
The girl’s deanor instantly changed to one of fawning adoration. "Mr. Landon, you’re here!"
"Shouldn’t you be preparing for class? Why are you all gathered here?" Mason Landon asked.
"It’s nothing. I was just discussing sothing with Quinn."
Mason Landon walked up to the lectern, and his eyes imdiately fell on the words on the blackboard. He frowned. "Who wrote this?"
"I did," the girl admitted without hesitation. "Mr. Landon, you can’t let Vivian Quinn fool you. Yes, her grades are good, and yes, Professor York personally scouted her from the dance departnt, but she’s a total phony! She’s incredibly conniving!"
Mason Landon’s brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
The girl continued, her voice full of drama, "Vivian Quinn is incredibly calculating. Yesterday, when you asked her to be your teaching assistant, why was she so cold and dismissive? Because she was playing hard to get! She wanted to make herself seem special to get your attention."
Mason Landon gave a faint smile. "Is that so?"
"Of course! I would never lie to you, Mr. Landon!" The girl grew more and more agitated. "Mr. Landon, you can’t let this hypocrite deceive you! The truth is, Vivian Quinn is a disgrace to Aethelgard University. She used to be a cripple, and on top of that—"
A cold glint flashed in the girl’s eyes as she suddenly reached out and ripped the mask off Vivian Quinn’s face!
Vivian Quinn had no ti to dodge; the mask was torn right off!
She instinctively threw a hand up to cover her left cheek!
The girl sneered triumphantly. "What are you hiding, Vivian Quinn? What’s the matter? You’ve got the guts to play hard to get, but not enough to let people see your face?"
A cold glint flashed in Vivian Quinn’s eyes.
"You dare glare at ? Move your hand!" Without a second thought, the girl yanked Vivian Quinn’s hand away. The next second, upon seeing Vivian’s face, she froze solid.
The gawking students were all stunned into silence. Only Mason Landon seed completely unsurprised.
"Whoa, what’s going on here?"
"Is that supposed to be Vivian Quinn, our school’s famous ugly girl?"
"I’m losing it. I must still be asleep. Quick, slap and see if I wake up!"
Vivian Quinn had been wearing her hair in a bun lately. With the mask gone, her small, delicate face was on full display for everyone to see.
Her features, each one stunning in its own right, ca together in a combination of unparalleled beauty.
The world seed to fall silent, a hush that was broken only when Ian Sterling swaggered in. "What are you all doing? Playing freeze tag? Holy crap! Who is that?!"
Vivian Quinn barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She walked back to her seat, pulled a compact mirror from her bag, and examined her left cheek. A thin scratch, already beading with blood, marred her skin.
The reason she had covered her face wasn’t out of sha, but because the other girl hadn’t held back—her fingernail had scratched her cheek!
"Vi... Vivian Quinn?" Ian Sterling eagerly hurried after her. "What’s the deal with you? Did you get a face transplant or sothing?"
"Get lost!" Vivian Quinn shot him a look. "Are you blind? I’ve always looked like this!"
"Damn..." Ian Sterling was practically gawking. "You’re this gorgeous? I must have been blind. I can’t believe I ever thought you were ugly!"
Vivian Quinn frowned as she looked at the scratch on her face.
"Your face is injured. Let take you to get that looked at."
"Alright." Vivian Quinn glanced at the other girl, who was still standing there in a daze. "Who knows what kind of germs you can pick up? I should probably go get a tetanus shot."
The female student: "..."
Only after Vivian Quinn and Ian Sterling had left did the people in the classroom finally snap back to reality.
"Holy crap, was I dreaming just now?"
"Was that really Vivian Quinn?"
"You all might have forgotten, but a long ti ago, Vivian Quinn used to be the campus belle..."
In the nurse’s office, the doctor disinfected Vivian Quinn’s cut and put a bandage on it. "Alright, just try not to get it wet. A pretty face like this can’t afford a scar."
"Thank you." After thanking the doctor, Vivian Quinn turned to Ian Sterling, who was still staring at her. "Is it really that shocking? I figured a school bully like you would’ve seen countless won. Why are you acting like you’ve never laid eyes on a girl before?"
Ian Sterling stroked his chin, his expression suddenly serious. "Vivian Quinn, I’m starting to wonder about sothing."
"What is it?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)