Riches in Disguise

Chapter 2

I really couldn't understand it. Even though I was poor, I hadn't done anything to provoke them. Where did all these hostilities come from?

Lina was still shouting downstairs. It was loud enough for the entire dorm building to hear.

Zack snickered. "You might as well go down. What's the point in hiding?"

Louis took it a step further, yanking the door open and calling out to the crowd in the hallway. "William is right here in the dorm, acting like a coward and too scared to come down!"

Laughter echoed through the hallway, and I forced myself to act like I didn't care at all. With their mocking eyes on me, I walked downstairs, step by step, until I stood before Lina.

I stood still and hadn't looked up. Then, a plastic bag hit me hard.

"William, this is all the junk you gave me. I'm returning it to you! Don't bother me again, got it?"

I looked down at the pile on the ground. Not all the gifts I'd given her were there. The expensive things like necklaces, phones, shoes, and bags remained with her.

The only things tossed back at me were the ones I had made for her myself. Among them was the moon lamp, which I spent an entire month creating.

I tried to stay calm, but when I looked up, my vision blurred for a second.

This was the first time I had loved someone with all my heart. Were all those sweet moments fake?

I couldn't accept it.

"Fine, if we're breaking up, that's the conclusion. But Lina, just tell me one thing, you stop loving me, or did you never love me at all?"

did

Lina's eyes flickered with hesitation for a moment.

But before she could answer, I heard Joshua's voice behind me, mocking me with

a high-pitched, whiny tone. "Lina, did you stop loving me, or did you never love me at all?"

from the crowd, stabbing

got dumped. I was the one who got cheated on. I was the victim here, not the villain! Why was I the one being

didn't

she immediately clung to him, and her tone toward

sincere! You were lying to me from the start, acting like you were some rich kid. But your dad's just

louder, people pointing at

to. I knelt, picked up

hoped for peace, but Zack and Louis weren't about to let it go. They

had enough and slammed my fist onto the table. "Say one more

long pause, Zack scoffed. "You got dumped, and you're still trying to act

Finally, they shut up.

I tried to force myself not to care, I couldn't suppress

answer. She called again in the evening, and I still

day, Mom showed up at school during a class

to her. "Mom, what are

me with concern and said, "I called you so many times, but you didn't answer the call. I was worried. Is someone bullying you at

her to worry, so I forced a smile.

was, from the beginning of the semester, Joshua had spread nasty rumors about me. The more I tried to explain, the more

friend,

I felt useless.

you some things. Do you have enough pocket money? Did

but Dad gave me enough pocket money. Besides,

giving Mom a strange and unfriendly look. She didn't understand those looks, but

gate and personally made

had a meal with her. After all, she had come a

in the mood. Plus, I was afraid my

away, I felt ashamed. Here I was, letting my mom down because of a woman who betrayed

Mom leaned out the car window and waved at me with

many people in this world who loved and understood me. Why waste the time and energy on someone who

felt a renewed sense of strength. I pulled out my phone and sent Mom a message. "Mom, thank you for coming to visit me. It really made me

you talking about? All your Dad and I wanted is for you to be happy. That's