Chapter 5
I pulled out my phone and opened our joint savings app, calmly reading aloud:
“Rylan, November 2023, deposited $2,000, withdrew $15,000.
Rylan, December 2023, deposited $1,800, withdrew $8,000.
Rylan, January 2024, deposited $1,700, withdrew $12,000…”
As I continued reading the increasingly large amounts, the murmuring around me gradually diminished until there was complete silence, with everyone looking confused.
“Wait, what? That can’t be right.”
“She’s obviously making this up,” another voice chimed in. “Depositing $2,000 but withdrawing $15,000? That’s ridiculous. Do you two even have $15,000 combined for living expenses?”
Comments flew back and forth, with absolutely no one believing what I was saying while another classmate added, “Your lies are just pathetic. Even if you’re trying to claim he spent the money himself, at least make it somewhat believable. Who’s going to buy this nonsense?”
Rylan looked at me, his voice dripping with disappointment: “Even now, you’re still trying to slander me? Ask yourself honestly, how have I treated you these past years? Why are you doing this to me now?”
He tilted his head back, vulnerability etched across his face as he continued, “We planned to get married after graduation, and not only did you abandon me when I needed you most, but now you’re spreading lies about me in front of everyone… What did I do wrong to make you hate me so
much?”
With this, his eyes were red–rimmed, filled with sadness.
Seeing this, his roommate Dax couldn’t stand it anymore and pushed me roughly.
“If he’s withdrawing so much money every month like you claim, weren’t you both using this savings app? Then just show us the actual records instead of reading them out. The app doesn’t lie. What are you hiding?”
My fingers turned white as I gripped my phone tightly, and seeing my reaction, Dax quickly snatched the phone from my hand and scrolled through the content on the screen.
After a moment, his face twisted into a mocking smile. “You didn’t even bother to fake this properly. It clearly shows that you added these withdrawals yourself, but you’re claiming Rylan spent it. Do you really think anyone’s going to believe you?”
Meanwhile, Rylan closed his eyes, a tear rolling down his cheek, and with his sickly appearance, anyone would feel moved at the sight.
Suddenly, Rylan’s sister rushed forward to stand between us, glaring at me furiously. “You’re not welcome here. Just leave. My brother isn’t fully recovered yet. Do you really need to upset him right now?”
Her voice rose with emotion as she continued, “I’ve checked everything. You eat at restaurants outside campus because you think the cafeteria is beneath you. But do you know what my brother eats? He’s over six feet tall, and he often can only afford plain bread with a tiny portion of peanut butter.
With mounting anger, she pointed at me accusingly, “You used his money to keep yourself looking healthy and glowing, and now you’re trying tr the blame on him? Have some basic human decency! I don’t want to see you–get out!”
Upon hearing his sister’s outburst, my classmates began pushing me toward the exit while the influencer’s camera remained fixed on my face, clearly hoping to capture my humiliation.
Some gossip–hungry students who had glimpsed my phone screen snickered openly, one of them remarking, “She can’t even commit to her lie properly. She accuses others of spreading rumors about her, but she’s the one bringing the fakest evidence.”
Seeing that I refused to leave, Rylan’s sister became furious and marched straight up to the influencer.
