The school doctor was a young, handsome man. Plenty of girls would fake being sick every now and then just for a chance to see him.

"Of course, I remember you. Last year when you fainted from period cramps, I was the one who treated you!" the school doctor said with a grin.

Georgia Thorne’s face instantly flushed. ’Could he not say things like that in front of a guy?’

Her gaze subconsciously drifted to Zane Lennox, but his expression hadn’t changed.

The school doctor noticed Georgia Thorne’s glance. "What, is this your boyfriend?"

"N-No!" Georgia Thorne denied hurriedly.

Zane Lennox scoffed. "Sir, if she’s fine, I’ll be leaving."

Zane Lennox despised scheming girls like Georgia Thorne the most.

’She’d deliberately gotten hit by his basketball just to make an impression on him!’

"Young man, you’re the one who hit her with the ball. Aren’t you going to take any responsibility? The least you could do is walk the young lady back to her dorm!" The school doctor’s eyes narrowed in displeasure, a stern look glinting from behind his plain glasses. "Go wait in the lounge outside!"

Zane Lennox, "..."

Georgia Thorne, "..."

’In reality, she didn’t need Zane Lennox to walk her back.’

Zane Lennox stormed out with a stiff face, slamming the door shut.

The school doctor turned around, grinning. "So, who do you think is better? This guy, or Elliot Sheridan?"

Hearing Elliot Sheridan’s name at school, Georgia Thorne shot up from the bed like a startled deer.

THUMP. Her head smacked right into the school doctor’s nose. The doctor clutched his face. "Ow, my nose!"

"I’m so sorry, sir!" Georgia Thorne apologized, horrified. "Sir, how do you... know..."

She stammered for a long moment, finding she couldn’t bring herself to say his name.

"You’re wondering how I know Elliot Sheridan, right?" The doctor said, still clutching his throbbing nose. In his peripheral vision, he saw Georgia Thorne nodding vigorously.

"It’s simple. Elliot Sheridan is my friend."

"A friend?"

"How else do you think you ended up at the Sheridan Family’s home when you fainted during military training?"

Georgia Thorne, "..."

Georgia Thorne had been hit in the head by the basketball, but it didn’t hurt much. She felt fine after lying down for a bit.

But the school doctor insisted on wrapping her head in a layer of gauze.

"Zane Lennox is a big man on campus. I’m rooting for you to win him over!"

"...Sir, there’s nothing between us!" Georgia Thorne said softly, her head bowed. "Ever since I got with Elliot Sheridan, I haven’t thought about any other men!"

"Nonsense! You should find a handsome guy and cheat on Elliot Sheridan!" the school doctor roared with laughter.

"..." ’Are you sure you and Elliot Sheridan are really friends?’

When Georgia Thorne went outside, she didn’t see Zane Lennox, not that she expected him to wait and walk her back to her dorm.

She remembered what he’d said when he picked her up. Zane Lennox seemed to think she was just another one of those girls trying to throw themselves at him.

Whether by coincidence or by design, after that first meeting with Zane Lennox, a second one followed.

Nancy Hughes would drag her along, and it seemed like they saw Zane Lennox everywhere they went.

Sometimes they would pass each other face-to-face, and Zane Lennox would treat her like thin air, ignoring her completely.

Every time she went to him, it was as if he could never get enough, leaving Georgia Thorne utterly exhausted.

She had always been an early riser, but she’d changed her habits for Elliot Sheridan, sleeping in with him.

At ten o’clock, the two of them woke up in the large bed.

Georgia Thorne rubbed her eyes, a bone-deep laziness washing over her. She curled up in the blankets, wanting to go back to sleep.

She felt the man beside her get out of bed, followed by the sound of running water from the bathroom.

After struggling for a moment, she got out of bed, put on a robe, and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

This was the routine they had settled into. Whenever she stayed the night, she had to make breakfast for Elliot Sheridan.

Sometimes, when she was running late for class and didn’t make it, Elliot Sheridan would punish her severely afterward.

After finishing breakfast, she heard Elliot Sheridan’s voice, "Your phone’s ringing!"

Turning off the stove, Georgia Thorne sprinted back to the master bedroom.

Elliot Sheridan was holding the phone. He glanced at the screen. "It’s a call from Amanda Thorne."

"Give it to me!" Georgia Thorne stood on her tiptoes, reaching for the phone.

She walked right into his trap. Elliot Sheridan hooked an arm around her slender waist, lifted her up, and kissed her on the lips.

"Stop messing around, give me the phone!" Georgia Thorne’s face was flushed, and she didn’t dare to look at him.

"You’re the one who lunged at me, and you’re telling me to stop messing around?"

The man’s dark eyes were too deep, a cluster of light gathering within them that seemed about to devour her.

After a year together, she knew exactly what that look implied.

Georgia Thorne’s voice softened, like a kitten’s purr, which only made Elliot Sheridan want her more.

But the second half of her sentence was just as important.

"I’ll let you off the hook this time."

Elliot Sheridan gave her the phone and turned to leave, giving her some space.

Taking a deep breath, she answered the call. "Sis, what’s up?"

"Dad wants you to come home tonight!"

"But I have to work tonight, Sis..."

Georgia Thorne bit her lip. She was making excuses, trying to avoid going back to the Thorne Family home if she could.

Amanda Thorne cut her off impatiently. "Tonight, you’re coming home, even if you have to quit your job! If you don’t show up tonight, my mom will personally come to the school to find you!"

"...I get it. I’ll be there."

At the Thorne Family home, the person Georgia Thorne disliked the most was Hayley Sullivan.

Hayley Sullivan was notoriously sharp-tongued and harsh, unable to tolerate the slightest imperfection. She could turn a tiny issue into a world-ending catastrophe.

Having to go back to the Thorne Family home, Georgia Thorne’s mood instantly hit rock bottom.

She washed up, changed into clean clothes, and tied up her hair.

When she came out, Elliot Sheridan was drinking milk. Georgia Thorne walked over to him. "I have to go home tonight."

Back at the Thorne Family home, Hayley Sullivan immediately tossed a bag at her, demanding she put on what was inside and come downstairs.

Caught off guard, Georgia Thorne was hit squarely by a corner of the bag. It hurt a little.

She went upstairs and opened the bag. Inside was a ladylike dress.

’What is she plotting now?’

She changed into the dress and went downstairs. Accustomed to T-shirts and jeans, she felt awkward in a skirt and cautiously held on to the railing as she descended.

As the saying goes, fine feathers make fine birds.

Hayley Sullivan gave Georgia Thorne a strange look. The dress completely changed her aura.

Georgia Thorne felt a little awkward. She heard Hayley Sullivan say coldly, "Let’s go. Your father is waiting at the restaurant."

’A restaurant!’

The moment she heard that word, panic set in. Her fingers gripped her skirt tightly.

The events of last year were still vivid in her mind—a complete nightmare. If Elliot Sheridan hadn’t been passing by and happened to save her...

Hayley Sullivan turned around and saw Georgia Thorne standing frozen. "What, are you afraid I’m going to sell you?"

Georgia Thorne lowered her head, remaining silent.

’She’d already done something like that once. It wasn’t impossible she’d do it again.’

Despite her fear, Georgia Thorne still got in the car.

「The Restaurant」

Georgia Thorne followed anxiously behind Hayley Sullivan, her feet treading on the red carpet as she scanned her surroundings.

’If this is really what I think it is, I...’

The door was pushed open, and Georgia Thorne followed Hayley Sullivan inside. Bright lights illuminated the entire private room.

Jared Thorne was sitting alone at the dining table. He started to stand when he saw them enter, then settled back into his seat.

Georgia Thorne sat down on a chair, her heart pounding with anxiety.

’In a place like this, she could already guess what kind of scene was about to unfold!’

Sure enough, a few minutes later, three people entered.

When Georgia Thorne saw the man walking in last, her eyes widened—Zane Lennox!

’How could it be him?!’

Jared Thorne wanted to get closer to the Lennox Family, so he had approached Zachary Lennox.

Zachary Lennox had suggested their children meet. If they hit it off, the matter would be settled.