The Heiress You Threw Away Chapter 03

The Heiress You Threw Away Chapter 03

I wasn’t let out until the next day. One of the Don’s maids finally unlocked the door.

I didn’t bother eating. I went straight to school to sign the departure forms for my exchange program. I wore a mask. I pulled my hat down low. I went in through the side entrance.

I made it halfway across the central square before someone recognized me.

“It’s her! She’s actually got the nerve to show her face!”

One of them raised her phone. The camera was aimed right at me. “Say hi, everyone. The D’Amato bastard’s here for class.”

I raised my hand to block the lens. She sneered. “What are you scared of? Didn’t everyone already see everything?”

My fingers were shaking uncontrollably. Being judged like that—it suffocated me.

I turned to leave. Someone shoved me from behind. My bag fell. Papers scattered everywhere. My acceptance letter slid out.

A girl crouched down and picked it up. “Art Restoration Institute? She’s going abroad?”

“Can’t handle it here, huh? Trying to run away?”

I lunged at her. “Give that back!”

She raised it high. “Relax. Let everyone have a look.”

That piece of paper got passed around the crowd. I ran back and forth, chasing it. Everyone roared with laughter at my desperation.

Just when I thought I’d break, a hand reached through the crowd and snatched the letter cleanly away.

Elias Ren. The Art Department’s advisor assistant. Known on campus for being quiet and reserved. He handed the letter back to me. Then he turned to the group.

“Unauthorized filming is illegal. Distributing private materials without consent is also illegal.”

He tilted his phone slightly. “I’ve already recorded your actions. Would you like me to forward this footage to the dean and the police?”

The girls’ faces twisted. “What’s it to you?”

Elias’s voice stayed calm. “She’s the exchange student I’m responsible for. If you interfere with her paperwork, I’ll submit everything directly to the administration and the authorities.”

The crowd finally scattered.

I shoved my papers back into my bag. My voice came out raw and hoarse. “Thank you.”

Elias looked at me. “You don’t need to thank me. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Such a simple sentence. But it nearly shattered my composure right there.

I forced the tears back. I went to the office and signed every form.

My advisor watched me finish and asked, “We originally scheduled this for next week, but the program’s been moved up. The flight leaves the day after tomorrow at midnight. Can you make it?”

Five days sooner than planned.

I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

My advisor nodded. He sighed. “Elena, get out of here. Don’t let these people destroy you.”

By the time I left campus, it was already getting dark.

I’d barely made it to the bus stop before a group of men blocked my path.

The one in front had his phone out. Those photos and videos were on his screen.

He grinned. A filthy grin. “That’s you in the pictures, right? Don Dante’s used goods. Bet you’re a good time.”

I stepped back. My palms were slick with cold sweat. “What do you want?”

He reached out to grab me. “We just wanna chat.”

I wrenched away. “Don’t touch me!”

They closed in tighter. “Don’t act shy now. That video’s everywhere. Everyone’s heard you moaning.”

My fingers were trembling. I felt inside my bag for the small panic alarm. I was about to press it.

Headlights blazed toward us. The men instinctively shut their eyes against the glare.

Dante jumped out of his car and slammed his fist into the leader’s face. “Who the hell gave you the nerve to touch her?”

The men recognized him instantly. They scrambled away in terror.

Dante turned to me. “Elena, are you okay?”

I backed away from him. “So you can film me again?”

He froze. “I was just trying to protect you.”

“Don’t bother.” I turned and walked into the rain. I couldn’t tell what was running down my face anymore. Rain or tears.