Chapter 7
Vaughn Sterling stared at the “Message failed” notification on his screen in disbelief. He couldn’t wrap his head around it.
He checked the contact name again. It was definitely her. He sent a single period to test it, but the result was the same. Message ailed.
She really deleted him.
They hadn’t even fought recently. Why would she do this?
Vaughn thought back. Ever since that day in the art room when he’d snatched her medicine to give to Corliss Mercer, Elara’s ttitude toward him had turned cold.
They’d had arguments before, but she had never blocked him. Not once.
ust then, a courier van pulled up to the gate.
Vaughn’s phone rang. He walked straight over to the driver.
Are you Vaughn Sterling? I’ve got a package for you.” The courier handed over a massive box. “It’s heavy. I’ll bring it into the yard for
‘ou.”
Thanks.”
Vaughn looked at the box with a frown. He hadn’t ordered anything lately. Had his parents?
As he tore the tape off the top, the acrid smell of smoke hit his nose.
Vaughn’s eyes narrowed. He stared at the charred, blackened heap inside the box for a full thirty seconds, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
Trophies.
These pieces of burnt scrap metal were his trophies.
Vaughn tipped the box over, letting everything spill out. Every single trophy he had ever given Elara for safekeeping had been educed to ash. Not a single one had been spared.
At the bottom of the pile was a shopping bag. He pulled it out and found all the gifts he had ever bought her.
She had sent everything back.
What was the meaning of this? What was she trying to do?
Vaughn stared at the wreckage on the ground, his mind blank.
Elara had always worshipped him. She admired everything he did. He couldn’t believe she’d actually had the heart to burn his rophies.
Even during their worst fights in the past, she had never been this cold-blooded.
Was she really throwing this big of a tantrum over a small bottle of medicine?
Vaughn let out a cold snort.
Even if they were going to break up, he should be the one to say it. It wasn’t her place to dump him.
He immediately dialed her number.
The number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later…”
The mechanical female voice droned in his ear.
Vaughn hung up in frustration. He gave one of the charred trophies a hard kick before grabbing his luggage and leaving for the
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< Chapter 7
airport.
He wanted to see just how long she could keep up this little act of hers.
In the past, whenever they fought, Elara was always the first one to cave and apologize.
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Even though he had already decided to end things with her, he didn’t want to be the one to reach out first this time.
The plane touched down in Metropolis.
Vaughn arrived at the university feeling exhausted. There were dozens of administrative tasks to handle on the first day. After a busy afternoon, his Counselor tracked him down. He needed Vaughn to send over a promotional video for the outstanding freshmen.
As a famous Go prodigy, the Department Head wanted him to prepare a thirty-second self-introduction to be played during Freshman Orientation.
Vaughn remembered his original plan-to broadcast Elara’s private videos during the ceremony. Now… there was no point.
Since Arthur Vance hadn’t actually done anything wrong, Vaughn had no reason to go through with it.
I forgot to prepare it, sir. I’m sorry,” Vaughn told the advisor apologetically. “I’ll send it to you a bit later.”
‘Send it as soon as possible. Don’t forget.”
Vaughn nodded. He went back to the dorm, threw together a quick edit of a video, and sent it over.
University life was exactly as he’d imagined. Between classes and training at the Go Institute for upcoming matches, he barely spent
any time on campus.
Several days passed. His phone remained silent. There was no friend request from Elara.
‘Buzz-
The phone vibrated.
Vaughn froze, mid-move on the Go board. He snatched up the phone, but his eyes dimmed the moment he saw the caller ID. It
wasn’t her.
‘Hello.” He stepped outside. “What is it, Corliss? Slow down.”
Vaughn, the police came to see me today.” Corliss’s voice was thick with tears. “I told them exactly what you told me to say. But hey said the plaintiff is pursuing legal charges. They said it doesn’t matter if I was misled by wrong information; the damage is irreversible. Cyberbullying that leads to death… they said I could be sentenced to up to three years in prison…”
I’m scared, Vaughn. I’m so scared…”
Vaughn’s heart clenched. “So Rowan Vance is actually suing you?”
“Yes,” Corliss sobbed. “I don’t want to go to jail. What am I going to do, Vaughn?”
‘I’ll handle it. If it comes down to it, I’ll take all the blame.” Vaughn’s voice softened. “Don’t be afraid. I promise nothing will happen
to you.”
He hung up, his face grim. He left the Go Institute and hailed a cab to the Aria Institute of Art.
Vaughn entered the administration building. After asking around, he finally found the office for the Oil Painting Department.
“Hello, I’m a high school classmate of Elara Vance,” Vaughn said to the Office Coordinator, his tone polite and humble. “I think she might have lost her phone because I haven’t been able to reach her all day. Could you tell me which dorm building she’s in?”
The coordinator had heard of “Vaughn Sterling” before. He was a celebrity on campus, and she couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances at him.
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‘Sure, let me check for you.” The teacher opened her computer and searched for the name. No results popped up. “Are you sure that’s the right name? Elara Vance?”
Yes, that’s it,” Vaughn said.
He waited for another ten minutes while the teacher made a call to the Admissions Office.
Meru
Mr. Sterling,” the teacher said, looking up from the phone. There is no student named Elara Vance in this year’s freshman class at the Institute of Art. Are you sure you have the right school?”
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