Chapter 4

In the days that followed, the whole school exploded with gossip.

Stella started posting anonymously on the campus forums like crazy, leaking details about her "relationship" with Kael.

She blended werewolf fiction with reality seamlessly:

"Help! What's it like dating a billionaire heir? He's 6'4", the star of the hockey team, usually cold as ice but privately so gentle—only with me. His possessiveness is insane; he gets jealous if another guy even looks at me."

"He has a rare genetic condition. He loses control on full moon nights, and I'm the only one who can calm him down. That night, he held me and said I was his only salvation."

"He said at the Spring Ball, he's going to make us official. And propose."

The post shot straight to the top of the campus forum. The whole school was trying to figure out which girl had caught Kael's eye.

Stella dropped hints on purpose, and soon, everyone had identified her.

Plus, plenty of people at the celebration party had seen Stella helping Kael to a room. Everyone assumed Stella was Kael's girlfriend—the future mistress of the Hale family.

Stella completely lost touch with reality. Everywhere she went, people swarmed around her, calling her "Mrs. Hale." International students from wealthy families who used to look down on her were now trying to be her friend.

Meanwhile, I kept my head down, spending my days in the lab, quietly attending classes and running experiments, as if this school-wide scandal had nothing to do with me.

Only occasionally would I feel a burning gaze land on me. When I looked up, all I'd see was an empty seat.

I knew it was Kael.

I couldn't figure out why. He'd clearly seen through Stella's scheme. So why hadn't he retaliated? Why was he playing along, letting everyone believe they were actually together?

This question reached its peak when Stella called me again.

Her voice dripped with smugness, mixed with frustration:

"Clara, let me ask you something. What's the deal with Kael's genetic condition? Why does he lose control on full moons? Is there a way to make him only remember me when he's out of control?"

I replied flatly, "I'm just a sophomore. Not a doctor. I don't know."

"Aren't you supposed to be some biology genius? You don't know something this simple?" Stella exploded. "I'm telling you, I've already slept with Kael! But aside from putting on a show with me at school, he won't even touch me in private! I need to get pregnant fast to lock down my position as Mrs. Hale!"

"Help me one more time. Find a chance to drug Kael again—this time, I have to get pregnant! If you don't cooperate, Mom and Dad will cut off your tuition!"

My hands were shaking with rage. I refused coldly: "I'm not helping you. You want to drug someone, do it yourself. Don't contact me again."

I hung up and blocked all their numbers.

But I never imagined their madness would go even further.

A few days later, I heard from classmates that my parents were going around Boston's business circles bragging that their daughter was about to marry into the Hale family.

Business people who used to look down on them were suddenly circling around them. Especially a man named Jim, who used to sneer at their little restaurant. Now he'd come to them with a high-return restaurant investment opportunity, saying he was doing it as a favor to the Hale family—helping them get rich together.

My parents didn't think twice. They poured in everything—their life savings from running the restaurant for over a decade, the money from mortgaging the house, all of it. They even took out high-interest loans.

The moment I heard this, my heart dropped.

The Hale family's restaurant empire spanned all of Boston. This Jim was almost certainly Kael's man.

I understood immediately. Kael's false kindness toward Stella wasn't affection.

It was a trap.

First, give them a taste of sweetness. Dangle the bait and let them bet everything they had. Then, in one swift move, drag them straight to hell.

He wanted to destroy their reputation and bankrupt them completely.

Realizing this, a cold sweat broke out down my spine.

This man was far more terrifying than I'd imagined.

And Stella and my parents were still dreaming of marrying into wealth,

completely unaware they'd already walked into an elaborately laid trap.