Vida noticed a phone recording them, and she immediately pushed Lucas away from her body. Without wasting a second, she hurried toward where the new guy was standing and demanded, "Who are you, and why are you recording us?"

The guy was about to speak, but Vida interrupted him again. "Give me the phone!" she snapped, not giving him any chance to explain himself. She had completely misunderstood the whole situation.

The guy's face darkened with anger. Without saying a word, he smashed the phone right in front of her, then turned and walked away.

Vida stood there in shock.

Did I just accuse an innocent person? Or is this some new trick they planned?

Still confused, she hurried after the new guy and called out, "Wait! But who are you? I've never seen you before!"

The guy did not stop. He only replied coldly, "Aren't you supposed to be too smart to be doing that kind of thing in the hallway?"

Vida had no response. She felt disappointed in herself and slowly turned around to check for Lucas. But Lucas was nowhere to be found.

She immediately brought out her phone and started calling him, but the calls would not connect. She refused to give up and kept trying again and again. Eventually, it rang, but Lucas declined the call. He had already won the bet and no longer needed her for anything.

Still worried, Vida decided to go to his house to find out what was happening. When she got there, she was told that Lucas had not returned home yet.

With no other choice, Vida quietly went back home.

As soon as she entered the house, she greeted her mother. "Good evening, Mom."

Her mother looked at her carefully and asked, "I hope you're fine?"

Vida forced a smile. "Yes, Mom."

She then went straight to her room, dropped her bag, and lay down on the bed immediately.

Her mind was restless.

What exactly happened in school today? Why did Lucas disappear like that? Why did that new guy smash the phone?

She kept asking herself many questions until she eventually fell asleep.

The next morning, Vida woke up earlier than usual. She got dressed quickly for school and hurried first to Lucas's house.

There, she was informed that Lucas had not slept at home. He had spent the night at Raymond's house.

Vida went silent for a moment, then said softly, "Thank you."

She left and continued on her way to school.

As she walked, she spotted the new guy ahead of her. She rushed toward him and said, "Because of you, I haven't heard from my boyfriend Lucas. He didn't even sleep at home. Besides, you still haven't told me your name."

The new guy looked at her with disbelief and said, "How can you be crying over a guy who clearly doesn't care about you?"

Then he walked away.

Vida hurried after him angrily. "Who are you to say that? What do you even know?"

But the guy simply brushed her off and continued walking.

When Vida got to school, she saw Lucas laughing with Raymond at a corner of the compound. A girl was sitting comfortably on Raymond's lap. Vida was about to approach them when she overheard their conversation and froze.

Lucas said proudly, "Guy, you owe me one thousand bucks. I won the bet."

Raymond shook his head. "But you know you didn't really win. You were supposed to take Vida's virginity."

Lucas laughed carelessly. "That doesn't matter. As long as I kissed her and touched her body, that's enough. It would have happened too if not for that busybody who interfered by collecting the phone from the guy you sent. Vida wouldn't have noticed anything."

Vida felt as if the ground beneath her had shattered.

"So all along... I was just a bet," she whispered to herself. "And the new guy was trying to help me, but I made everything worse. No wonder he said those things to me. I didn't even allow him to explain himself."

Pain filled her chest.

Then suddenly, Vida stepped out of her hiding place and said loudly, "Lucas, clap for yourself."

Lucas turned, startled.

"So I was a bet?" Vida asked, her eyes full of tears and anger.

Lucas burst into laughter. "Wait... did you actually think I loved you?"

Vida tried to speak, but Lucas slowly walked toward her and continued with cruel words.

"Do you think a guy of my class would stoop so low to date someone like you? You're not even beautiful. You don't dress well. Have you ever looked properly at yourself in the mirror before coming to school? If you did, even you wouldn't love yourself."

Raymond laughed loudly and shook Lucas's hand.

"Bro, that was good!" he said as both of them laughed harder.

Vida's hands trembled. Without warning, she stepped forward and slapped Lucas hard across the face.

The sound echoed.

Then she turned and walked away.

Lucas, humiliated, became furious and rushed after her, ready to attack. But before he could reach her, the new guy suddenly stepped in.

He grabbed Lucas, pinned him to the ground effortlessly, and said coldly, "Your family must be disappointed in you. That's why you pour your frustration on innocent people. Vida just happened to be one of them."

Lucas struggled, but he could not free himself.

The new guy leaned closer and warned him, "Stay away from Vida. If you don't, what I'll do to you next, you won't like it."

Then he released Lucas and walked away calmly.

Lucas got up angrily and immediately attacked Raymond.

"Why didn't you do anything?" he shouted.

Raymond pushed him off and said, "Do you even know who he is?"

Lucas frowned. "Who?"

Raymond answered, "His name is David Davenport... the only heir to the Davenport Group."

Lucas scoffed. "So?"

Raymond looked at him in disbelief. "Guy, you really don't understand. His family is the richest in the city. They are extremely wealthy and powerful."

Lucas still did not believe it, so he quickly searched the name online.

The results stunned him.

Luxury companies, skyscrapers, business empires, and headlines about the Davenport family filled the screen.

Lucas swallowed hard.

"But why would someone like him defend Vida?" he asked. "Does he know her? Or is there something else?"

Then his eyes widened.

"Wait... he was the guy that interfered yesterday!"

Raymond stepped back nervously. "Did you just say it was him?"

Lucas nodded slowly.

Raymond shook his head. "Then let's stay away from Vida. I sense danger ahead."

But Lucas clenched his fists stubbornly. He refused.

Raymond sighed deeply. "You're on your own."

And with that, he walked away, leaving Lucas standing there in fear and confusion.