Joanna Sullivan grew even angrier and retorted, "So, you replaced me on purpose? Mason, even if we’re not a couple anymore, we don’t have to be enemies, do we? Besides, have you really forgotten all the moments we shared? Why are you doing this to me?"

Mason Lawson’s expression was cold and severe. "I can part on good terms, but what about you?" he said, each word sharp. "You keep scheming against Eve Vaughn, and now you dare to target the Shaw Family. Do you have any idea who the Shaws are?"

Joanna’s heart skipped a beat. ’So, Miss Shaw ran and told on me. I thought she was the type to keep her cool, but I guess she’s nothing special after all.’

With that, Joanna immediately put on a wronged expression. Her voice choked with emotion as she said, "Mason, am I really that despicable in your eyes? Don’t you remember how you misunderstood me last time, with that video of Eve Vaughn and Julian Lawson? You still haven’t apologized for that. And now, you’re going to slander me based on a few words from Regina Shaw and Eve Vaughn!"

Mason did feel a pang of guilt about that. He had, in fact, been wrong to blame Joanna for what Charlotte Vaughn had done. He looked at her and said coolly, "Fine. I apologize for misunderstanding you last time."

Joanna gave a bitter laugh. "It certainly isn’t easy to get an apology out of Mr. Lawson."

But Mason went on, "That was then, this is now. Spouting all that nonsense in front of Regina Shaw was just your way of shoving filth down my throat. You’re determined to make me sick. Since that’s the case, I see no reason to continue this partnership. I’ll have the finance department calculate the contract termination fee and pay you out."

Joanna exclaimed indignantly, "That’s insulting! Do I need money? Do you really think I, Joanna Sullivan, am short on cash?"

Mason smiled as if he understood everything. He nodded. "You’re right, of course you don’t need money. I’m well aware of the Sullivan Family’s financial situation. But I also know that you, Joanna Sullivan, are an incredibly vain woman. Ever since you left that international dance troupe, your fame is nowhere near its peak. You can no longer participate in many international competitions. Do you know why I was willing to give you the Lawson Jewelry endorsement?"

A flicker of emotion and longing surfaced in Joanna’s eyes. Her voice trembled as she said, "A while ago, when Neil Kane came to tell me in person, I knew... I just knew you still had feelings for me. You might hate me for leaving without a word, for breaking our engagement, but the more you hate me, the more you must love me!"

"You’re wrong!"

Mason’s stern face was an emotionless mask. "That endorsement was a gesture of apology because I knew I’d misunderstood you before," he said. "But I never expected you to be so clueless, to actually try scheming against the Shaw Family."

It was only then that Joanna realized Mason had truly changed. He no longer had any tolerance for her, let alone any love.

In the past, even when they fought, Mason, though proud and reluctant to apologize verbally, would always find other ways to show he was sorry. He would do anything just to make her smile. Back then, she could feel the depth of his love for her.

But now, he was strictly business with her. His apology was just that—an apology, devoid of any other emotion.

Joanna stared at him, unblinking. "Are you really worried about me scheming against the Shaw Family? Do you care about Miss Shaw? The one you care about is Eve Vaughn! You’re afraid this fire will spread to her. You’re afraid Old Mr. Lawson will eventually make a move against her, aren’t you?"

Mason’s gaze darkened. "I’m willing to be good to Eve Vaughn. As long as I don’t let her go, she will always stay by my side. As long as I forbid it, she can never leave me."

His words stunned Joanna.

’So my willfulness back then really did hurt him this much.’ But at the same time, she was no longer as discouraged as she’d been moments before. ’After all,’ she reasoned, ’the only reason Mason is with Eve is because of the trauma I inflicted on him. That’s why he found someone like her—a woman who looks just like me and is easy to control.’ She was convinced that if she just kept apologizing, if she wasn’t so willful and proud, if she was willing to humble herself before Mason, then surely, he would no longer need a substitute like Eve Vaughn.

So, with tears welling in her eyes, she looked at him with a heart-rending pitifulness. "Mason, everything I do is just to get back to your side. Even if you cancel the endorsement, I won’t hate you. I’m the one who owes you too much from the past. I’ll wait for you, for as long as it takes, until the day you forgive me."

Mason swiveled his chair around, turning his back to her. "You can leave."

No acknowledgment, just those cold words. Joanna clenched her fists, the pain of her nails digging into her palms paling in comparison to the ache in her heart.

...

「Rivaster University. Dorm Room.」

Eve Vaughn’s phone buzzed with a message from Mason Lawson.

He suggested that she should try to become friends with Regina Shaw. He said the Shaw Family was prominent and that Regina, like Eve, was a straightforward person, so they would probably get along.

He added that being friends with Regina would be beneficial for Eve’s future.

Although Eve knew Mason’s advice came from a good place, she felt that friendship should be pure. It shouldn’t be for personal gain, and it certainly shouldn’t be about latching onto someone powerful for connections.

Still, Eve had to admit she was growing to like Regina more and more.

She might be harsh, but Eve suspected she was the type to have a bark worse than her bite.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have helped her and Mason out like that.

But she wasn’t an idiot; she could tell that Regina really didn’t like her.

’Under the circumstances, how was she supposed to brazenly ask to be friends?’

Though a million thoughts were racing through her mind, in the end, Eve just sent back two words: "I understand."

After all, this dorm room drama was girl stuff. If she complained about it to Mason all the time, he would probably get annoyed.

After messaging Mason, Eve took a deep breath and walked over to Regina Shaw.

Regina frowned at her and asked irritably, "What are you doing just standing there?"

Ready to be met with a cold shoulder, Eve put on a bright smile. "I just wanted to thank you properly," she said. "Senior Shaw, can we be friends?"

Regina’s face was impassive. "Be friends? Why? So I can run cover for you and Mason Lawson for the rest of my life?"