"Isabella Yates, what nonsense are you spouting again?" Eva Miller slammed her hand on the table and stood up, "How can you say such slandering words?"
"Slandering?" Isabella's voice also turned sharp, "Time will prove everything, you'll see for yourself then!"
With that, she tossed her head and strode out of the dormitory.
Isabella walked to the basketball court, a vast empty space accompanied only by the moonlight, as it was late at night.
Her mind kept replaying the scenes from today.
"Who's really despicable? Aren't you also here to hang out with men?"
"We're both the same, except I'm with the richest man in Eastern City."
Sophie Smith's words cut deeply into her heart.
No, she couldn't let her be smug any longer; she had to make her experience the pain of not being able to get what she wants.
She took out her phone and dialed a number.
After a long, long wait, a tall, slim figure appeared in her line of sight.
"Isabella, is something wrong?" Edward Harrison rushed over, breathing heavily, "The drama competition is in two days, and I still can't remember some lines precisely, so I've been rehearsing all night."
Isabella was originally not Edward's partner, but when she heard that Sophie and Edward were very close, she immediately pulled strings and finally became his partner.
"Of course I have something to tell you." Isabella smiled softly, raised her head, and caught his gaze under the bright moonlight.
"If I said I liked you, would you be with me?"
"What?" Edward was startled by Isabella's sudden confession, "I..."
"I've always admired you. I went through so much just to be a part of this play with you, so please, say yes, okay? I don't want you to reject me." Isabella's words were heartfelt, and her eyes, always brimming with tears, made her look pitiful.
Edward, never good at rejecting people and always gentle, feared hurting others with his words. Faced with Isabella's unexpected confession, he was at a loss.
"So if you're not speaking, does that mean you don't agree?" Isabella lowered her eyes in disappointment, "Or is it that there's someone else in your heart?"
He questioned himself inwardly, a figure flashed in his mind, but within seconds, he dismissed it.
"Do you like Sophie?" Isabella pursued persistently.
"No." Edward's voice was clear yet firm. To him, Sophie had always been like a younger sister, a childhood friend deeply connected, but devoid of romantic feelings.
"If that's the case, then why won't you agree to be with me?" Isabella's teary voice reached Edward's ears, "How am I not as good as her? Why does everyone keep supporting her but refuse to accept me?"
"Could you please not cry?" Edward was flustered, he didn't know how to comfort women. He only recalled that when Sophie was upset, a few casual words from him could cheer her up for a long time, but with other women...
Isabella's emotions intensified, ultimately leading her to sit on the cold court, weeping uncontrollably.
"What did you say?" She looked up at him with tearful eyes, full of hope.
"I agree to be with you." Edward said begrudgingly.
Isabella wiped her tears, stood up, and a smile slowly crept onto her face.
She felt a sense of triumphant victory.
Sophie, what you wanted ultimately became mine.