< Chapter 3
Claim 50 Coins By Check in
Menu
Chapter 3
The simple hug made the boys and girls in the room squeal with excitement.
‘Good luck with your future,” I said before returning to my seat.
I didn’t bother looking at Vaughn’s face. I no longer felt the need to care about his feelings.
Corliss whispered in Vaughn’s ear, “Wow, they look so good together.”
Vaughn didn’t say a word, but the temperature around him seemed to plummet.
After a few more rounds, the atmosphere became even more electric. This time, Vaughn drew a Dare.
Kiss any girl in the room for five minutes.]
The room went silent. Everyone was stunned, waiting with bated breath to see who Vaughn would choose.
Vaughn glanced at me. Our eyes met for a split second before he looked away and turned toward Corliss. “Is it okay, Corliss?”
No one seemed surprised by his choice.
Vaughn wasn’t close to any other girls in class, so it made sense for him to pick his childhood friend.
Corliss nodded shyly.
The next second, Vaughn cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a deep kiss.
Mm…”
Corliss let out a soft moan that made Vaughn’s heart skip a beat. He had never imagined kissing her like this. He was almost too gentle, afraid he might scare her.
Vaughn caught a glimpse of me out of the corner of his eye. I was looking down at my phone, focused on typing a message.
A wave of irritation flared in his chest.
Damn, the Prodigy looks so pure, but his technique is top-tier!”
Genius really is on another level; everything comes naturally to him.”
They look so good together…”
Amidst the cheers and whistles, the five-minute kiss finally ended. Corliss’s lips were red and slightly swollen.
Are we good?” Vaughn asked the Class President.
Yeah, definitely!” The Class President nodded, downing his drink. “Bottoms up, man.”
grabbed my phone and walked out of the room.
As I walked out of the restroom, I bumped into Vaughn’s chest.
Did you do that on purpose?” He gripped my shoulders, forcing me to look up. He looked frustrated. “So now you’re throwing a antrum? You’re the one who started this. If you hadn’t hugged Tobias, I wouldn’t have picked Corliss.”
Really?
Wasn’t this exactly what he had been dreaming of?
I sneered internally, but my face remained blank. “Fine. Then we’re even.”
Vaughn frowned. He felt an odd sense of unease.
At the very least, he expected me to be upset. I should have caused a scene, argued that a hug and a kiss weren’t the same thing, or
16:25
08
< Chapter 3
Claim 50 Coins By Check in
Menu
even ignored him in a fit of rage. I shouldn’t have been this calm.
‘Something’s come up at home, so I’m heading out,” I said.
I turned and walked away.
Vaughn scoffed as he watched me go. He remembered the last time he flew to the United States to see Corliss; I had acted the same way, pretending not to care. In the end, I had crawled back to him, promising never to get jealous again.
He wanted to see how long I would last this time.
He certainly wasn’t going to be the one to apologize.
When I got home, I pulled out my suitcase and started packing my clothes.
I found the gifts Vaughn had given me-jewelry, plushies, scarves, bags… they were all high-end luxury brands.
packed them all into a box and scheduled a courier to pick them up in nine days. The destination: Vaughn’s house.
took the photos of us off my desk and burned them with a lighter. Then, I deleted every single picture of him from my phone.
For the next two days, I didn’t contact him.
was busy. I had received an email from Lumière Academy asking for my enrollment materials, including my graduation certificate, portfolio, and awards.
My previous award-winning paintings were currently being exhibited in the school’s art room.
When I arrived at the school building, I didn’t expect to see Vaughn and Corliss walking together.
Elara, what a coincidence! We meet again,” Corliss greeted me with a smile. “Your school is so big. It’s even prettier than my high
chool in the states.”
Enjoy your tour. I’m busy,” I said.
used my key to open the art room door. Corliss and Vaughn followed me inside.
Vaughn told me you’re an amazing artist,” Corliss said, looking at the oil paintings on the wall. She saw several with my signature. Wow, they look so realistic.”
Thanks.” I began taking the frames down and placing my work into a large bag.
/aughn walked over. “You’re taking them all?”
He remembered me saying that it was an honor to have my work displayed for younger students to see.
I’ve graduated. I’d rather keep them as a personal collection,” I explained.
ust then, my phone rang. It was the Art Instructor. He asked me to go to his office downstairs to pick out a few more paintings to ill the empty spots on the wall.
Okay, I’ll be right there.”
I hurried out of the room.
When I returned with the new paintings, the smell of smoke hit me. It was coming from the art room.
A fire?
I froze for a second before rushing inside. A bright orange flame was roaring in the middle of the room.
“What happened?!”
I sprinted forward only to realize the source of the fire was my pile of paintings!
My mind went blank. I tried to put it out, but it was too late.
16.25
0.8%
< Chapter 3
Seven paintings were completely destroyed, reduced to nothing but black ash.
Claim 50 Coins By Check in
I stared at the scene, unable to believe my eyes. For a moment, I hoped I was just having a nightmare.
‘I-I’m so sorry!” Corliss was fidgeting with her fingers, her eyes welling with tears. “I saw how well you painted and got curious about oil paints. I heard someone say high-quality oil paint is hard to ignite, so I just… I wanted to see if it was true. I didn’t think it
would burn like this…”
Hearing that, the blood rushed to my head. I lost my mind. I raised my hand, ready to slap Corliss across the face.
Elara! Don’t you dare lay a hand on her!”
Vaughn rushed over and grabbed my wrist, pinning my hand back before it could land.
!
