CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: BETTER THAN YOU

I slid into the booth just as Mindie plopped down across from me, already halfway through a glass of iced tea. Mindie and I had settled into our usual lunch spot on campus, tucked beneath the shade of a tree near the arts building. She’d brought fries, I had a sandwich, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could breathe.

“Took you long enough,” she said, eyeing me with a half-smile. “You look like you haven’t slept.”

“I haven’t,” I muttered, reaching for my food. “Long night.”

Her brows pulled together. “What happened? Are you okay? Did that snake Elliot show up again?”

“No,” I said quickly, brushing my hair behind my ear. “Well... yes, but that’s not what this is about.”

Mindie leaned in, lowering her voice. “What did he do this time? Because I swear if he—”

“Mindie,” I interrupted gently. “It’s fine. Really. I can handle him.”

She stared at me for a beat longer, like she didn’t believe me—but finally nodded. “Okay. So... how are you holding up? With your dad, school, everything?”

I let out a breath. “It’s been rough. But I’m figuring it out.”

“I can help, you know,” she said. “I have some savings. It’s not much, but—”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Thanks, but I’ve got it handled.”

She frowned. “Jas...”

“I got a job,” I said before she could press. “It’s not glamorous, but it pays well. Really well.”

Her eyes lit up. “Wait, seriously? What kind of job?”

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. I couldn’t tell her the whole truth. .

“I’m tutoring,” I said. “For a... very rich family. Private sessions. Their youngest needed help with academics and some other stuff.”

Mindie’s shoulders dropped in relief. “Oh thank God. I thought for a second you were—never mind. That’s great, Jas.”

I gave her a small smile. “Yeah. It’s not bad. The kid’s a handful, but I like her.”

“And the pay?”

“More than enough,” I said honestly. “I can help my mom, keep up with school, and still breathe.”

Mindie raised her glass. “Then we celebrate. Because my best friend is out here surviving in style.”

I laughed, the sound surprising even me. “Barely.”

“Well, better barely than not at all,” she said with a grin.

I nodded, my fingers playing with the edge of the napkin. I sighed inwardly. How do I tell her about Gareth, Elliot’s threats, or how I’d cried myself to sleep in a coat that didn’t belong to me?

Sitting here with Mindie, felt... normal. And I needed normal right now.

Mindie sighed in relief. “Thank goddess. I was starting to think you were gonna drown in everything. I’m really proud of you.”

I smiled. I didn’t deserve a friend like her.

“Well, well. Look who finally decided to crawl out from under the rock.”

The voice cut through the air like a knife, shattering the peaceful atmosphere. I instantly stiffened.

Clarissa. I rolled my eyes, trying to keep my composure. Clarissa had been a thorn in my side since elementary school, ditching our friendship the moment she learned about my learning disability. Now, at university, Clarissa seemed hell-bent on making my achievements seem like frauds.

She stood a few feet away with two of her ever-loyal shadows flanking her sides. Her long red hair was styled in perfect waves, and she wore her usual smug smile.

Mindie narrowed her eyes. “Here we go again.”

Clarissa stepped forward, eyes locking onto me. “Jasmine Lowett. Still pretending to be someone you’re not, huh?”

I took a slow breath. “What do you want, Clarissa?”

She pouted dramatically. “I just wanted to say hi. It’s been so long since we talked. Remember how we used to be best friends?”

I said nothing.

“You were always tagging along,” she added with a giggle. “Until, of course, you started failing your spelling tests and couldn’t even keep up. That was embarrassing for me, you know.”

Mindie looked up. “You done?”

Clarissa ignored her, her gaze locked on me. “But now look at you. Top marks. People say you’re getting ahead. They say that you’re sleeping with professors, but I don’t think so. You only want to sleep with alphas, don’t you? That’s why you still bothered to crash the engagement party!”

“I can’t believe she thinks Elliot would choose her over Isabella Laken! The audacity!”

“Jasmine had always been pining after Elliot pathetically...I guess the party was her last attempt to get with him.”

“Watch your mouths,” I said through clenched teeth, trying to sound calm. I pretended not to listen to Clarissa and her minions, but their screeching voices were hard to ignore. Someone must have told her I was there at the engagement party, since I hadn’t spotted her at the venue.

Clarissa’s lips formed into a fake little pout. “Oh, Jazzy. Still, playing it cool? I’d be mortified if my fated mate picked someone else for his fiancée. And not just someone else—Isabella freaking Laken? You must feel like dirt.”

I groaned inwardly. Someone had leaked the news that I was Elliot’s ex-mate. “Is that supposed to bother me? Not everyone gets to be the daughter of a professor and a supermodel. Some of us have to work twice as hard just to get by.”

But Clarissa wasn’t done. Her lips curled, and her voice dropped low.

“Still holding your head high, even with a father rotting in prison?” she asked sweetly. “I guess shame really does skip a generation.”

My hand froze around my sandwich.

Mindie’s eyes shot to me, wide and waiting for me to explode.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I set my sandwich pack down gently and met Clarissa’s gaze, steady and unblinking.

“You know what’s wild?” I said calmly. “Even with my father behind bars, I’m still doing better than you.”

A murmur rippled through the girls behind her.

Clarissa’s fake smile faltered. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” I said. “Better grades. Better rankings. Better reviews from every professor who’s ever taught us both. What’s your excuse, Clarissa? Oh right... Daddy had to donate a building just to get your name on the admissions list.”

Her eyes flashed. “That’s not true.”

“Isn’t it?” I tilted my head, letting my voice stay calm. “Because I saw your family’s name carved real pretty on that fancy lab wing. Must be nice to buy your way through life.”

“You think you’re better than me?” she hissed.

“I don’t have to think about it,” I said with a shrug. “I have proven it in every exam. Every semester.”

Clarissa’s face was crimson now, her fists clenched at her sides. The girls behind her looked unsure—some even embarrassed.

Mindie grinned. “Dang, Jaz.”

I smiled, keeping my eyes on Clarissa. “Don’t worry, Clarissa. Maybe if you studied half as much as you gossiped, you wouldn’t need another donation to pass your finals.”

Her jaw dropped. “You little—”

She took a step forward like she was about to lunge at me, fists clenched and eyes burning. One of her friends reached out to stop her.

“Clarissa, don’t—”

But she shoved the girl’s hand away, seething. “You think you’re clever, huh? Just wait. I’ll make you regret that.”

“Oh no,” I said with mock concern, placing a hand over my chest. “Should I be shaking?”

She glared at me like she wanted to slap the smirk off my face, then spun around and stormed off.

Mindie burst out laughing beside me. “Holy crap, Jasmine. That was savage.”

I shrugged, trying not to grin too hard. “She started it.”

“She always does. But the look on her face when you roasted her? Priceless.”

We walked a bit, still chuckling, until Mindie glanced over at me. “Oh, by the way, don’t forget the scholarship award ceremony is tomorrow.”

I stopped. “Wait, that’s tomorrow?”

She gave me a look. “Yes. Don’t tell me you forgot.”

“With everything going on, yeah, kinda.” I rubbed my forehead. “But I’ll be there. I mean... I have to be. I really hope I get it. I need that money.”

“You deserve it,” Mindie said. “I’ll be at the front row, cheering the loudest.”

We hugged quickly before splitting off to our classes.

Later that afternoon, I waited near the campus gates, phone in hand. Gareth’s assistant had messaged earlier: Driver arriving at 3:15. Be ready.

At exactly 3:15, a sleek black car pulled up, catching the attention of almost everyone nearby.

The tinted window lowered just enough. “Miss Lowett?” the driver called.

“That’s me,” I said, stepping forward.

“I’ve been sent to take you to Mr. Laken’s estate.”

As I climbed into the backseat, I heard a whisper behind me.

“Who is she?”

“That car’s definitely not from around here.”

I ignored them and shut the door. The driver nodded at me in the mirror, then pulled into traffic.

But as we left I felt a prickly sensation crawling up the back of my neck. I glanced back through the window but saw nothing. Still, the unease persisted. A pair of unfriendly eyes were definitely watching.