Rivaster University.

The counselor’s office.

"Eve Vaughn, you’ve disappointed me so much!" the counselor said, looking at her sternly. "I always thought you were a model student, excellent in both character and academics. But I never imagined you’d have issues with your personal conduct! Even if you have financial difficulties, you can’t resort to this kind of thing! Now, even Director Sawyer from the academic affairs office has come in person. You must give me a reasonable explanation!"

Eve Vaughn was completely baffled. "Ma’am, what are you talking about? I... I don’t understand."

At that moment, the director of academic affairs, who was standing to the side, slammed his hand on the desk. "Someone sent an anonymous letter to the school about you. Are you still not going to admit it?"

After speaking, he pulled out an anonymous letter from a drawer, accusing Eve Vaughn of being kept by a sugar daddy, along with photos of her getting into a luxury car.

Eve Vaughn was shocked. She never thought that someone would have taken pictures of Mason Lawson picking her up yesterday.

The counselor reprimanded her. "How can you face your sponsor acting like this? Eve Vaughn, I’ve kept your family’s financial struggles a secret. None of your classmates know, because I was afraid it would hurt your pride! But now you’re resorting to these crooked methods. Who do you think you’re answering to?"

"Ma’am, it’s not like that." Eve Vaughn immediately tried to defend herself. "You can’t just assume I’m doing something improper because of a Ferrari. You shouldn’t make baseless accusations like this."

Director Sawyer shot her a particularly scornful glance. "Then why don’t you tell us what your relationship is with the owner of this Ferrari? A relative? A friend? Your family is so poor that you can barely afford tuition. If you really had a friend like that, the spare change they dropped would be more than enough for you to live comfortably. Why would you still need to apply for financial aid for needy students?"

Eve Vaughn was rendered speechless by their questioning. She couldn’t exactly say that the man was her ex-boyfriend’s uncle and that she’d gone to his house to pretend to be his girlfriend, could she?

The director of academic affairs was notoriously harsh and snobbish. He adjusted his glasses, sneered, and said, "Cat got your tongue? Call your parents right now. Get them over here! Our school has never had such a shameless student!"

Eve Vaughn had no idea that the director had already been instructed by Mrs. Lawson to use this opportunity to completely ruin her! Forcing her to drop out would be best!

Director Sawyer had it all planned out. As soon as Eve Vaughn’s parents arrived, he would immediately recommend disciplinary action for this incident.

If they disagreed, he would make the letter public.

He figured that since Eve Vaughn came from a poor family, they naturally wouldn’t have any connections. In the end, they would likely have no choice but to be pushed around.

Just like that, Director Sawyer took out his phone and said, "Make the call right now. We’ll wait right here! If your parents don’t come today, you’re not leaving this office. We’ll wait with you!"

Eve Vaughn felt incredibly wronged, backed into a corner by them. Her voice thick with tears, she said, "I don’t have parents. My father passed away, and my mother is in a vegetative state after an accident. She’s unconscious in the hospital right now and can’t come."

The counselor felt a bit sorry for Eve Vaughn’s situation and said to the director, "Director Sawyer, Eve Vaughn’s family circumstances were noted in her student file. Indeed, her parents can’t come. How about we just have her write a self-criticism letter to explain the situation this time?"

Director Sawyer shot back, "It’s precisely because of unprincipled counselors like you that we end up with students with no moral compass and a chaotic personal life! A financial aid student getting into a Ferrari after class! If word of this gets out, do you think our sponsors will let the school off the hook? What about our school’s reputation? Do you want to throw it away?"

Rebuked, the counselor didn’t dare say more. She sighed softly and said, "Eve Vaughn, since you claim you didn’t do anything wrong, you should at least explain the full story, right? Besides, Director Sawyer has already investigated. Your roommate said you didn’t come back to the dorm at all last night or the night before. So where were you? And what were you doing?"

Director Sawyer cut in directly. "Explain what? Those are just excuses! Look at how guilty she looks—do I even need her to explain? Eve Vaughn, are you going to make this call or not? You don’t have parents, but don’t you have a guardian? Who is your guardian? Get them here, now!"

Facing Director Sawyer’s relentless pressure, Eve Vaughn knew she’d never get through this unless someone who could actually resolve the situation showed up today. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

She didn’t take the director’s phone. Instead, she took out her own and said, "I’ll make the call outside."

Before the teachers could say anything, she was already walking out, stopping at a corner in the hallway to dial Mason Lawson’s number.

The call connected, and a man’s clear voice came through the phone. "What’s wrong?"

Eve Vaughn felt a sudden urge to cry. She sniffled and said, "Little Uncle... can you come to the university right now? The teachers want to see... see my parents..."

There was a clear pause on the other end of the line. Mason Lawson’s expression darkened.

See her parents? So, Eve Vaughn really thinks of him as her parent! While he’s not that young anymore, he’s hardly old enough to be her parent, is he?

Hearing nothing from him for a long moment, Eve Vaughn asked cautiously, "Can you?"

Mason Lawson cleared his throat. "Explain it clearly. Why do your teachers want to see your parents?"

Eve Vaughn then told Mason Lawson everything that had just happened, from beginning to end.

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and her voice became tinged with tears. "I don’t know what to do. I didn’t know who to call. You were the only person I could think of."

After she finished, the man’s deep voice reached her ears. "Be good and wait for me at the university. I’ll be there in half an hour."

...

Mason Lawson arrived at the university at 7:50 p.m.

Most of the teachers in the office had already left. Only the counselor and Director Sawyer were still sitting there.

On the desk were two just-finished meals, presumably belonging to them. And standing under the fluorescent lights was a lone, solitary young woman: Eve Vaughn.

Seeing this scene, Mason Lawson’s brow furrowed instinctively as he slowly walked into the office.

At the sound of footsteps, Eve Vaughn and the other two all looked toward the door.

Director Sawyer looked Mason Lawson up and down. Although he can’t see the brand of this suit, judging by the cut and the fabric, it doesn’t look cheap, does it?

Director Sawyer also took in Mason Lawson’s leather shoes and watch. Could it be that Eve Vaughn didn’t call her parents, but her sugar daddy instead?

Putting on an authoritative air, Director Sawyer stood up and asked, "And who are you to Eve Vaughn?"

Mason Lawson merely swept a cold gaze over him without answering and walked straight to Eve Vaughn. His voice was gentle. "Have you had dinner? Are you hungry?"

Eve Vaughn froze, lifting her head to gaze in astonishment at the man before her. She never would have expected those to be his first words to her.