Ashlee's POV

I looked over at Mareya. Without invitation, she sat down in a chair, a provocative look on her face.

"Five years ago, he was the one who altered your college application, too."

My heart lurched.

"What did you say?"

She chuckled softly, one hand resting protectively over her stomach.

"It was never his clueless sister messing around at all. That was just an excuse. It was him. He changed your first choice from Harlton University to the same college he was going to. He changed it right in front of me."

My mind spun into complete chaos as memories came rushing back.

Back then, Ruben had full access to my college application because I trusted him. But when I received my admission letter, I discovered that my first choice—Harlton University, a top-tier college which I was absolutely qualified for—had been changed to Dirton Institute of Technology.

The exact same college that Ruben was going to.

At that time, it felt like the sky had fallen. I had rushed to confront him, and I'd even suspected that he might have been the one to tamper with my application.

But the moment I rushed to his house, his young sister, Carrie Castille, fell to her knees before me in tears.

"I'm sorry, Ashlee! I didn't know that was your college application! I thought it was just a random form! Please forgive me. I really didn't know."

I had been completely stunned that day.

Ruben immediately sent Carrie abroad and even cut off all her financial support. He then apologized to me, looking deeply remorseful.

"I'm sorry, Ashlee. I've already thrown her overseas as punishment. It's all my fault."

Seeing that Carrie had received such a severe punishment, I no longer had a reason to press the matter. And I figured that, despite everything, at least I'd be going to the same college as Ruben. And so, I let it go.

As it turned out, he had schemed the whole thing. As it turned out, it was all just a carefully staged act. He was the one who had tampered with my application!

Mareya left the hospital room, grinning like she'd accomplished her mission.

I sat on the hospital bed from night to dawn, completely motionless. It felt like my heart had been hollowed out.

Not long after, the door opened again. It was Ruben, returning with breakfast.

I looked over, watching him carefully set the food out, looking as if nothing in the world mattered more than making sure I ate.

How utterly hypocritical.

My voice was incredibly raspy, and it made Ruben look up in surprise. "What?"

"Why did you change my college application?"

His hands froze midair. After a brief silence, he said, "Didn't you want to be with me? Besides, you didn't need to go to Harlton. Castille Group will all belong to you someday. I just wanted you by my side. I didn't want you to have to work so hard."

I snapped and hurled the breakfast at him.

"Ruben Castille! That's my life!" I snarled, shaking my hatred-filled head. "Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed to be able to get into Harlton?"

Piping hot coffee spilled all over him, but he didn't even flinch. He merely stated matter-of-factly, "I love you. That's all."

I lowered my head and let out a bitter, sorrow-drenched laugh.

"Love? You love me, so you're with another woman? You love me, so you want me to raise your illegitimate child? You love me, so you have the right to destroy my life?

"Your love is truly vile, Ruben Castille."

His eyes visibly flinched. "Calm down."

His lips were pressed into a thin, hard line, making him look completely unfamiliar to me.

"I've gotten things ready for the wedding. I hope you can forget all this, and we can live our lives together happily, okay?

"I've already invited your friends and family. If you don't want your parents to be humiliated, show up at the wedding venue on time in two days," he threatened, his expression blank.

"I know you can't bear to leave me either, Ashlee. Be sensible. Don't turn things ugly for everyone."

With that, he turned and left without another glance back.

The room fell into a dead silence.

I closed my eyes and let out a bitter laugh. When I opened them again, only unending hatred and resentment remained.

He thought he could threaten me with my parents? Not a chance.

I immediately gave them a call, told them my plans about leaving the country, and told them to block Ruben entirely.

That very evening, when the plane took off into the sky, all ties between Ruben and me were severed.

However… I chuckled coldly to myself.

I had a massive surprise waiting for him at the wedding venue in two days.