Morgan Olsen was the most popular girl at Oxnard University—the kind that countless guys secretly admired. That was until one day, when her private photos suddenly exploded across the campus forum.

Overnight, her reputation was destroyed. Her guaranteed recommendation for graduate school was revoked, and even when she walked across campus, strangers openly asked her, “So how much for one night?”

The photos spread like wildfire, and only one person had them—her boyfriend, Dean Lyon.

Completely shattered, Morgan ran to find him, desperate to demand an explanation. However, just as she was about to push the door open, she heard one of Dean’s friends laughing.

“Dean, that move was ruthless. The moment those private photos dropped, Morgan’s reputation was gone, and her grad offer was gone too. Let’s see if she dares to compete with Hazel for anything ever again.”

Another voice chimed in, laughing even harder. “That’s nothing. If she knew that for the past two years, Dean had never liked her at all, or that because he did not want to touch her, he brushed her off during the day and sent his brother to sleep with her at night… Now that would be a gut-wrenching blow, wouldn’t it? Hahaha!”

The words hit Morgan Olsen hard. She clapped a hand over her mouth, barely stopping a scream from escaping. Her face drained of all color, turning deathly pale.

After saying that, the speaker nudged the handsome young man sitting beside Dean Lyon with his elbow, grinning.

“Hey, Jake, how does it feel sneaking around with your brother’s girlfriend for two whole years? I’m dying to know.”

The boy called Jake looked almost identical to Dean. He lifted his glass, lips curling into a careless, mocking smile.

“Tch, what do you think? It’s top-tier,” he said lazily. “Fair skin, soft body, and she sounds great when she cries. She can even take all positions without complaints. Why else do you think I’ve been preparing to transfer schools lately? Moving to Oxnard University makes it way more convenient to keep sleeping with her.”

At last, Dean, who had remained silent, spoke. His voice was as cold and detached as ever, completely devoid of emotion, yet every word cut like a blade, carving Morgan apart inch by inch.

“It’ll be over in a few days,” he said calmly. “If you want to have your fun, do it now. Once Hazel’s spot in grad school has been confirmed, I’ll cut things off with Morgan and formally pursue Hazel.”

“Oh my! Dean, you’re finally going after Hazel?” The group of friends immediately erupted.

“We’ve all seen how devoted you’ve been to her all these years—spoiling her since childhood and giving her anything she wanted. With only one guaranteed graduate slot that Hazel wants so badly, and Morgan being her strongest competitor, you really went all out. Getting close to Morgan, dating her, and then stabbing her in the back like this… That’s ruthless. Genius! You deserve to get the girl finally!”

Every sentence hit Morgan in the chest like a sledgehammer. Her entire body went cold.

So this was the truth, and it was ugly, cruel, and disgusting.

She stared at the group inside, at how they were laughing and drinking as if nothing mattered. Afraid that she would completely lose her mind if she stayed even one more second, she turned abruptly and fled. She ran blindly, tears pouring out uncontrollably as the world around her blurred and twisted.

Growing up, her parents had been extremely strict. She had never dated before, as she had always thought romance was troublesome and pointless. However, that all changed in freshman year.

She had been walking past the basketball court, arms full of books, when a ball suddenly flew straight toward her. She shut her eyes in terror, but the impact never came. A tall, cool figure had stepped in and blocked it for her.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself staring into a pair of deep, indifferent eyes, the sunset casting a golden glow behind him. Sweat dotted his temple, and his sharp features looked almost unreal. In that moment, her heart skipped a beat.

Later, she learned that he was Dean, the undisputed campus heartthrob of Oxnard University, who was born into immense wealth, with multiple campus buildings donated by his family. He was incredibly handsome but painfully impassive. Girls lined up for him from the university gates all the way to another continent, but he treated everyone with distant politeness, everyone except Hazel, his childhood sweetheart from the music department.

Morgan knew they were from completely different worlds. Hence, she buried that fluttering feeling deep inside and threw herself into her studies, becoming the unchallenged top student year after year. Yet somehow, her “chance encounters” with Dean began happening more and more often in the library, lecture halls, and even the cafeteria… He always seemed to appear around her.

Until one night, exhausted from studying, she fell asleep at a library desk. When she woke up, she realized she was leaning against Dean’s shoulder. Startled, she jerked away, her face burning. He caught her wrist instead, dark eyes fixed on hers, his voice low.

“Morgan, would you like to be with me?”

Her mind went blank. Overwhelming joy drowned her thoughts, and she nodded in a daze.

After they started dating, Dean was… strange. During the day, he was distant. He rarely initiated contact, and their dates felt mechanical, like tasks to be checked off. Yet, at night, he became someone else entirely—intense, insatiable, and almost frightening in his passion. He also liked to take intimate photos when desire overtook him.

She felt uneasy at times, but blinded by love, she made excuses for him. She assumed he was naturally cold and busy during the day, but because he loved her, he lost control at night. However, she never thought that the cold man during the day was the older brother, Dean, and the passionate man at night was the younger brother, Jake Lyon.

To them, she was nothing more than a disposable toy, a substitute for desire. Their ultimate goal had always been the same—to steal everything she had worked so desperately for and offer it up to another woman.

Morgan finally could not run anymore. She collapsed into an empty alley, curling in on herself as she sobbed, her cries painful. Just then, her phone rang. It was her parents calling. Her hands trembling, she answered.

Her mother’s shrill voice exploded through the line instantly. “Morgan! What are those shameless photos on the school forum? The tutor has notified us! Do you have any idea how much disgrace you’ve brought to this family? You’ve humiliated us!”

Her father’s furious shouting echoed faintly in the background. “Did we raise you so that you could embarrass us at university? You disgusting, shameless thing!”

Morgan could not speak. Her chest hurt so badly she could barely breathe.

Her parents had always been harsh. They would only offer the faintest hint of a smile when she ranked first or won awards. So, she studied relentlessly and controlled herself strictly to become perfect, just to earn a little more of their love. However, now that something had truly happened, they showed no concern or trust—only endless berating and disgust.

“Crying again, huh? All you know how to do is cry!” her mother snapped coldly. “Grad school is a lost cause now. We’ve bought you a plane ticket overseas for the end of the month. Get out. Leave. When people forget about this in a few years, you can come back.”

Morgan’s heart finally went numb.

She replied dully into the phone, “Okay.”

She would go abroad, but this time, she would never return.

After hanging up the call, she returned to the apartment she shared with Dean, moving like a walking corpse. There, she began packing mechanically. Everything Dean had given her over the past year, from necklaces to bracelets, plush toys, and lipsticks, was picked up one by one and tossed straight into the trash. Those things she once treasured as proof of love now felt like nothing more than cruel jokes.

Just as she threw in the last necklace, the door unlocked. Dean—no, Jake—walked in.

He imitated Dean’s voice perfectly, though his tone was gentler. “Morgan, what are you putting in the bin?”

Morgan looked up. Her eyes were red as she stared at the face almost identical to Dean’s, yet younger and more brazen. It felt as though her heart was being torn open all over again, the pain so sharp she could barely breathe.

“Don’t these look familiar to you?” Her voice was hoarse, laced with mockery.

The smile on Jake’s face stiffened for a brief moment before he smoothly changed the subject.

“Why are your eyes so red? Is it because of what happened on the forum today? Don’t be sad. I’ve handled it. Those posts are gone. No one will dare gossip about you again. As for grad school, losing the spot isn’t the end of the world. You’re only in your third year. You can try again next year. Or just quit school altogether and come work at my company. I’ll take care of you.”

Pain stabbed deep into Morgan’s chest. Her nails dug hard into her palm. Those two brothers were such fine actors.

Before she could speak, Jake naturally pulled her into his arms, his chin resting against the top of her head.

“Alright, don’t cry. It hurts me to see you like this.”

His familiar scent surrounded her. Then came soft, lingering kisses along her neck, and his hands began to wander. In the past, she would have responded shyly. Today, however, her entire body felt cold, and nausea churned violently in her stomach. She shoved him away with all her strength.

Jake stumbled back, clearly caught off guard. Surprise flashed across his eyes before he quickly suppressed it, his voice remaining gentle.

“What’s wrong? Are you not in the mood today?”

“I don’t feel well.” Morgan turned her head away, her voice rough.

He studied her for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Alright. I’ll go take a shower.”

Without forcing the issue, he turned toward the bathroom. Meanwhile, Morgan continued packing numbly, erasing every trace of them from the apartment. When she was done, she collapsed onto the bed, her back facing the bathroom.

Not long after, Jake came out, still damp with steam, and lay down beside her. He stayed quiet for a while. Then, as if he could not hold back, he moved closer and hugged her from behind. Warm kisses landed on the back of her ear and along her neck. Morgan endured it stiffly.

Then, in her hazy, half-conscious state, she heard him murmur a name in desire, “Hazel…”

That name stabbed Morgan in the chest. She jolted awake, blood rushing cold through her veins.

So it was not just Dean. Even Jake, too, was thinking of Hazel every time he slept with her?

She shoved him away again, teeth clenched, her voice trembling uncontrollably. “I told you… I don’t feel well today!”

Jake froze at her intense reaction. Seeing how unstable she looked, he paused and then sighed as if conceding.

“Okay, okay. I won’t touch you. I’ll just hold you while we sleep, alright?”

This time, he kept his word, only wrapping an arm around her from behind. Morgan lay stiffly in his embrace, silent tears soaking into the pillow. She endured the overwhelming pain and disgust until, near dawn, exhaustion finally dragged her into a shallow sleep.

When she woke up the next morning, the space beside her was empty. She used to find it strange that Dean never went to school with her, but now she understood. It was because the one sleeping beside her at night was Jake, while the real Dean had never bothered to be intimate with her.

She got out of bed numbly, washed up, and prepared to go to campus to handle her withdrawal paperwork. She had barely arrived at school and hadn’t even reached the academic office when a classmate rushed over and stopped her.

“Morgan! You’re finally here! Your tutor wants you in his office immediately. He said it’s urgent!”

Her heart sank for no clear reason, a sense of dread creeping in. Nevertheless, she walked to her tutor’s office and knocked.

“Come in.”

She pushed the door open. As expected, Hazel was already inside. When Hazel saw her, a flash of smug triumph and provocation crossed her eyes before she quickly returned to her usual fragile, pitiful expression.

The tutor’s face was livid. The moment he saw Morgan, he slammed two printed assignments onto the desk.

“Morgan! Hazel! Explain this to me!” he snapped. “Why are your assignments nearly identical? Even the typos are the same! Academic misconduct is a serious offense! Integrity comes before talent! Whoever plagiarized, confess now, and the school may show leniency!”

Hazel immediately spoke up, her voice aggrieved yet resolute. “Professor, my assignment was absolutely written by me. I don’t know why it’s so similar to Morgan’s, but I definitely did not plagiarize.”

Morgan looked at the two assignments, her heart sinking into despair. Still, she forced herself to speak calmly, “Professor, my assignment was also completed independently. I did not plagiarize.”

The tutor rubbed his temples in frustration. “Both of you claim you wrote it yourselves, so where’s the proof?”

Hazel answered at once. “Professor, I have a witness.”

The office door opened again. Dean stepped inside, his long legs carrying him forward.

He did not even spare Morgan a glance.

Turning directly to the tutor, Dean said calmly, “I was there when Hazel stayed up late to finish her assignment. There’s no way she plagiarized. As for why there’s overlap…”

He paused before finally looking at Morgan. “That’s something you should ask someone else.”

The tutor knew about Dean and Morgan’s relationship. Now, seeing that Dean not only refused to protect his girlfriend but was openly testifying for Hazel instead, and factoring in the Lyons’ background, it instantly tipped the scales for him.

His expression darkened with fury as he pointed straight at Morgan. “Morgan! What else do you have to say for yourself? The evidence is clear! I’m extremely disappointed in you!”

Morgan stared at Dean in disbelief. If this had happened before, she might not have understood why he would treat her like this. However, now that she knew the truth, she understood it all perfectly well.

For Hazel, he could fake a relationship with her. For Hazel, he could post her private photos publicly. Hence, it was no surprise that he was now pinning the offense of plagiarism onto her to protect Hazel. The pain tore through her chest, but she also knew that any explanation would be meaningless after Dean’s words.

The tutor dismissed Dean and Hazel first. Then, he harshly reprimanded Morgan again, declared her assignment void, and recorded the incident in her academic file.

Morgan left the office in a daze. The moment she stepped into the hallway, she saw Dean leaning against the wall alone, clearly waiting for her. She stopped in her tracks, looking at the man she had loved for two years, the man who had deceived her, used her, and hurt her from beginning to end.

Her voice came out hoarse and trembling. “Dean… don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

He looked up, his eyes calm and indifferent as ever. “Hazel accidentally deleted her assignment yesterday. It was close to the submission deadline, so she asked to use yours as a reference.”

A reference? Was copying it word for word, down to the same typo, considered a reference?

Morgan found it hard to breathe.

Dean continued speaking in that cold, pleasant voice that now sounded unbearably cruel. “You’ve lost your spot in grad school. Hazel is still competing for hers. This assignment is important to her. As for you…” He paused briefly. “Since you’re in this situation anyway, it doesn’t really matter anymore.”

Everything he said revolved around Hazel. He never once considered how she felt or how much this would hurt Morgan.

The overwhelming grief and rage finally drowned Morgan. She could not hold it in anymore. She broke down, screaming and crying hysterically, pouring out every ounce of grievance, pain, and despair she had been suppressing.

It was probably the first time Dean had ever seen the gentle, obedient Morgan in such a state. His brows knitted slightly in confusion. Whenever they disagreed in the past, all it took was a faint frown from him, and she would immediately give in, no matter how unreasonable the request was, even if it meant handing her assignment over to Hazel.

So what was going on this time?

“It’s just an assignment,” he said, frowning as he grabbed her wrist. “Why make such a scene? Enough. Haven’t you always wanted to have a meal with me? I have time today. I’ll take you.”

Morgan forcefully shook his hand off. The motion carried all the despair and anger she had bottled up for far too long.

“I’m not going!” Her voice shook with emotion, her eyes red as she glared at the man she once loved with her whole heart. “Dean, I’m not that pathetic! If you don’t want to eat with me that badly, then don’t ever eat with me again!”

With that, she turned around and ran from the suffocating place.

Dean stood where he was, watching Morgan leave. It was the first time she had resisted him so fiercely—one could even call it defiance. A trace of confusion and displeasure appeared on his face.

The Morgan he knew had always looked at him with careful admiration and unquestioning obedience. She never disobeyed him. If he frowned even slightly, she would immediately reflect on herself and then soften her voice to appease him. Now, the light in her eyes seemed to have gone out, replaced by something he could not understand—cold despair and distance.

He wondered. Was she just throwing a tantrum over the assignment? If she were, how immature of her.

He did not chase after her. To him, this really was nothing more than a trivial matter. Comforting Hazel required effort, but comforting Morgan? There was no need. She would calm down on her own.

With a detached expression, Dean looked away and walked off in the opposite direction.