This man could also utter such romantic lines in the most serious voice.

My heart skipped a beat, and the chat went wild again.

[Holy moly! This man is a one-in-a-million! He’s handsome and a sweet talker! I’ll officiate your wedding, so get married already!]

[What on earth are those four idiots thinking? Why are they casting aside such a good girl and being simps for that manipulative witch?]

[It’s human nature to be cheap. We never treasure the things we get easily and only regret it after losing it.]

That was true. They probably thought that I would always wait for them.

Tyler was a manchild, Noah was a sweet talker, Ethan was good at fighting, and Mark was quiet but could always read my thoughts.

I was supposed to be the princess they treasured.

They forbade me from talking to other boys and confiscated love letters given to me. According to them, “children” should not be dating while studying.

They took up all my free time.

I once thought that this was the best friendship in the world.

During my third year in high school, I got a full-ride scholarship to an Ivy League university, and I immediately told them about it.

However, Tyler’s expression sank. “You’re going to the capital and leaving us behind for a stupid scholarship?”

Noah then tried to dissuade me, “Layla, you’re a girl. We’ll be worried if you go so far away.”

Ethan even said, “If you go, we won’t be friends with you anymore!”

I was worried about losing them, so I rejected the Ivy League university’s offer right in front of them.

I then told them that I wanted to take the SATs to be together with them, my friends.

They were so happy that they laughed and cheered. They declared that I was their best friend.

Later on, I learned that it was not because they were worried about me leaving them behind. Instead, they were worried that I would no longer be under their control.

A Layla who no longer needed their protection was worthless to them.

During the holidays before my third year in high school, I had gone behind their backs and registered for a summer prep camp. It was for the country’s top physics competition.

Tyler and the others always thought that it was pointless for a woman to study physics.

To not make it seem like I did not fit in, I hid my passion.

On the last day of the summer, I submitted my test an hour ahead. I was about to leave when a cool voice called out to me, “One moment, Layla York.”

I turned around and saw a man in a white shirt and gold-rimmed glasses.

He was staring at me with profound eyes and holding my test paper.

“How did you come up with the solution for this bonus question?” he asked in awe.

I gave him my answer while stammering.

He remained silent for a long time before smiling. That was the first time I saw him smile, and it was like ice melting.

“You’re talented. You shouldn’t let your talents be buried.”

I learned later that he was the exam setter and judge of the summer camp. He was also the physics department’s youngest PhD advisor in the Ivy League university I was set to attend—Samuel Grant.

I got first place, but I hid my trophy and certificate under my bed; I was worried about Tyler and the others finding it.

Samuel then added my number. He never said much and only occasionally sent me some physics articles.

Whenever I was stressed out from homework, he would send me a picture of the trees in the university and how the sun shone on the paths inside.

Underneath, he would send me these words: [I’ll wait for you.]

He had quietly barged into my life and let me know that my world was not restricted to that small town. My social circle no longer consisted of just those four self-righteous people.

Outside, there was wind, light, and a place I never dared dream of going to in the past.

After my SATs, I refused his help to get into the university and insisted on getting in just like everyone else.

Samuel did not try to dissuade me and just said, “No matter which path you choose, I’ll always side with you. But you must always be in control of your own life.”

On the day I checked my SAT score, I stared at the note that said I was a top scorer, and my hands started trembling.

I immediately called Samuel.

He chuckled and said firmly, “What did I say? So, Ms. Future Colleague, when are you coming to the capital? As your boyfriend, I need to treat you to a proper meal.”

His voice was like a steady but warm gust of wind.

At that moment, eighteen years of sadness and indignity were washed out of my body in the form of tears.

To hell with those childhood friends and that stupid promise!

I was not going to entertain them anymore. I was moving forward, dating the man I loved, and living like a proper human!

A comment then appeared before my eyes.

[Congratulations on your metamorphosis! The time has come for you to humiliate those idiots!]

Patience. The show had just begun.

…

At the same time, Tyler, Noah, Ethan and Mark were in an elite university in the capital. They were sitting together with Rose at the center of the cafeteria.

“Look. Isn’t that Rose Blanche? I heard that she got here by recommendation from her department!”

“The four boys with her are so handsome! They’re practically princes!”

“I heard that they grew up together, and they gave up on better universities to be with her!”

As Rose listened to the gossip around her, she blushed and hugged her canvas tightly. “Tyler, thank you. Without you, I might not even have the courage to draw,” she said softly.

Tyler grinned smugly and ruffled her hair. “You don’t have to thank me, idiot.”

Ethan immediately took over the conversation, “Exactly! If anyone dares to bully you, just tell me their names!”

Noah gazed at her with gentle eyes. “Just draw whatever you want. Leave the rest to us.”

Mark said nothing, but he was smiling.

They were quite pleased with their current situation.

They had a beautiful woman with them, and they were hyping each other up. They even gained the wonderful reputation of sacrificing their future for love.

As for Layla? They would only mention her occasionally.

During dinner, Mark suddenly asked, “I wonder how Layla’s doing right now.”

Tyler stopped eating for a moment before sneering. “What else can she do? She’s most likely crying at home every day.”

Ethan huffed. “She’s not picking up my calls, and she even blocked me. She’s become really odd.”

Noah sighed. “That’s how she is. She’ll be fine after fussing over this for a few days. Once we’re settled here, we can go comfort her.”

Tyler’s mind was set. “She won’t be able to survive without us.”

None of them thought that they had done anything wrong. To them, it was only right for Layla to give up everything in her life for them.

Meanwhile, them sacrificing their future for Rose was a show of great love.

The double standard was sickening.

The chat went wild.

[Holy moly! How could these four men be so shameless?! Who made them this way?]

[Comfort her? Are they even worthy of it? Once they see Layla in that Ivy League university, they’re going to be so embarrassed!]

[LOL. I saw them fighting to register for Samuel’s public lectures earlier. They’re trying to get noticed and make a name for themselves!]

[LMAO. Public lecture? We’re about to see Layla’s future husband fight against her exes, huh? How exciting!]

Yes. They were about to walk into Samuel’s lecture.

He was famous within the world of academia. Whenever he held a public lecture, the lecture halls would be filled, and getting in was a difficult task.