CHAPTER ONE — THE GIRL EVERYONE LOOKED DOWN ON Amara Daniels had learned one important lesson since arriving at Kingsley University: Money could buy almost everything—except dignity. She was twenty years old, beautiful, intelligent, and determined to graduate no matter what life threw at her.Unfortunately, life seemed determined to throw everything at her. Her father had died when she was twelve, leaving her mother to raise her and her younger brother alone. Her mother sold food by the roadside, working from morning until late at night just to put food on the table. Getting into Kingsley University had been a miracle.Staying there was becoming a nightmare.Amara walked across campus that Monday morning with an old backpack hanging from her shoulder. Her shoes were faded and beginning to tear at the sides. She had tried using glue to repair them, but the damage was becoming impossible to hide. She held three textbooks against her chest and hurried toward her lecture hall."Amara!"She stopped.She already knew that voice.Vanessa Whitmore.Amara slowly turned.Vanessa stood surrounded by three friends, dressed in an expensive outfit and carrying a designer handbag.Vanessa looked Amara up and down. Then she laughed."Are you seriously wearing those shoes again?"Her friends burst into laughter.Amara looked down at her feet."Yes."Vanessa smiled cruelly."I think those shoes have attended more lectures than you have."More laughter. Amara swallowed the lump in her throat."Can you please leave me alone?"Vanessa stepped closer."Why? Are you embarrassed?""No.""Then why are you looking down?"Amara lifted her head."I'm looking at your shoes."Vanessa frowned."And?""They're beautiful."Vanessa smiled proudly."Of course they are."Amara shrugged."They should be. They're probably worth more than my mother's house."The laughter stopped.Vanessa's face hardened."Watch your mouth."Amara walked away.She didn't make it far before she heard Vanessa's voice behind her."Poor girl!" The words followed her all the way to class.Amara sat quietly at the back.Her best friend, Zara Benson, joined her."You okay?""I'm fine.""Don't lie."Amara forced a smile."I'm fine, Zara."But she wasn't. During lunch, Amara sat alone beneath a tree and checked her phone.A message from her mother appeared. Mom: My daughter, I'm sorry. I couldn't send the money today. The business was slow.Amara closed her eyes.Her school fees were overdue.Her rent was almost due. There was barely food at home.And she had only enough money left for transportation.A tear rolled down her cheek.She quickly wiped it away."I can do this," she whispered."I just need to survive."She didn't know that someone had been watching her from across the courtyard. A young man wearing a black shirt and expensive watch stood beside a luxury car.His name was Ethan Kingsley.And he was about to change her life. CHAPTER TWO — ETHAN KINGSLEY When Ethan Kingsley walked onto campus, people moved.Not because he asked them to.Because everyone knew who he was.His father was the owner of Kingsley Holdings, one of the biggest business empires in the country. Ethan was the only son.He drove expensive cars.Lived in a mansion.Had access to more money than most students could imagine.And he had a reputation.Handsome. Rich. Arrogant. Dangerous.Some students called him the king of Kingsley University.Others called him the baddest guy on campus.Ethan didn't care. He enjoyed the fear. That morning, he stepped out of a black Range Rover wearing a black shirt, dark jeans, a silver chain, and an expensive wristwatch.His best friend, Jayden Cole, followed him."Bro.""What?""You know people are staring at you, right?"Ethan put on his sunglasses."Let them stare.""You enjoy attention too much."Ethan smirked."I don't enjoy attention."Jayden laughed."That's the biggest lie you've ever told."They walked toward the lecture hall. Then Ethan stopped.Jayden almost bumped into him."What?"Ethan was looking across the courtyard.At Amara.She was sitting beneath the tree, trying to repair her broken shoe.Jayden followed his gaze."Who is that?""I don't know.""You've been staring at her for ten seconds.""I wasn't.""You were."Ethan rolled his eyes.He walked toward her.Amara didn't notice him until his shadow fell over her.She looked up. Ethan stared down at her.One of her textbooks slipped from her lap.It fell to the ground.Ethan picked it up."You dropped this."Amara took it."Thank you."Their eyes met.Something strange happened.Neither looked away.Ethan noticed the sadness behind her eyes.Amara noticed the confidence in his.Then she looked at his expensive clothes."You must be Ethan."His eyebrow lifted."You know me?""Everyone knows you.""And what have you heard?"Amara hesitated."Nothing good."Jayden, standing behind Ethan, burst out laughing.Ethan stared at Amara.She quickly walked away.Ethan Smiled! #vote# EPISODE 3 ( THE BET)....... CHAPTER THREE — THE BET "What the hell are you doing?" Ethan turned. STORY CONTINUES....................

CHAPTER ONE THE WRONG PLACEThe rain had been falling for almost two hours.Amara stood beneath the broken roof of the bus stop, hugging her worn handbag tightly against her chest as cold drops of water splashed against her shoes.She checked the time on her cracked phone.7:43 p.m.“Great,” she whispered.Her bus had disappeared nearly forty minutes ago, her phone battery was at twelve percent, and her stomach had been growling since afternoon.She closed her eyes and sighed.It had been another terrible day.Her lecturer had embarrassed her in front of the entire class because she couldn't pay her outstanding school fees. Her part-time employer had called to tell her that they no longer needed her services.And now the rain had decided to finish what the day had started.Amara looked up at the dark sky.“Is this really necessary?”Thunder rumbled.She rolled her eyes.“Okay. I get it.”She laughed bitterly at herself.Maybe she was going crazy.Her life had become a collection of problems with no solutions.She had no rich parents to call. No boyfriend to rescue her. No influential relatives.All she had was herself.And lately, even that didn't feel like enough.A black SUV suddenly sped past the bus stop. SPLASH!A wave of muddy water hit her from head to toe.Amara froze.Her mouth dropped open.For three seconds, she simply stood there, staring at the vehicle as it disappeared down the road.Her white blouse was covered in mud.Her skirt was soaked.Her hair was dripping.She slowly looked down at herself.Then she screamed.“ARE YOU SERIOUS?”The SUV's brake lights suddenly appeared in the distance.It stopped.Amara folded her arms.“Oh, so you can stop now?”The SUV reversed slowly until it returned to the bus stop.The driver's door opened.A tall man stepped out.He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his shirt slightly open at the collar. Rain slid down his dark hair as he walked toward her.Even under the terrible circumstances, Amara couldn't deny that he was ridiculously handsome.Sharp jaw.Cold eyes.Broad shoulders.The kind of face that belonged on magazine covers.He stopped a few feet from her.“Are you alright?”Amara stared at him.Then at her clothes.Then back at him.“Do I look alright?”His eyes moved over her muddy clothes.“I suppose not.”“You suppose?”He raised an eyebrow.“I didn't see you.”“You didn't see me?” she repeated incredulously. “I was standing right there!”“I said I didn't see you.”“You nearly drowned me with your car!”His expression remained annoyingly calm.“I apologize.”“Your apology doesn't clean my clothes.”“No.”“And it doesn't fix my evening.”“No.”Amara stared at him.Why was this man so irritating?“Are you always this insensitive?”His jaw tightened slightly.“Are you always this dramatic?”Her eyes widened.“Dramatic?”“Yes.”“You splashed dirty water all over me and I'm dramatic?”“You're shouting.”“Because you ruined my clothes!”He glanced at his expensive wristwatch.“I'll pay for the cleaning.”Amara laughed.Not because it was funny.Because she couldn't believe what she was hearing.“Oh, wow.”“What?”“You think money fixes everything.”His expression changed.Just slightly.Something dark flashed across his eyes.“Usually, it does.”“Well, it doesn't fix this.”She turned away from him.“Have a good night, Mr. Money.”She heard him sigh behind her.Then—“Get in the car.”Amara turned around.“Excuse me?”“I'll drop you off.”She laughed again.“Absolutely not.”“You'll get sick standing in the rain.”“I'd rather get sick than enter your car.”He stared at her.For the first time, irritation appeared clearly on his face.“You're stubborn.”“And you're arrogant.”His eyes narrowed.“Get in.”“No.”“Fine.”He turned and walked back toward his SUV.Amara smiled triumphantly.“Good riddance.”He stopped.Without turning around, he said, “If you die of pneumonia tonight, don't blame me.”She rolled her eyes.“Don't worry. Your conscience is clearly not capable of suffering.”He got into the SUV.The door slammed.Seconds later, the vehicle disappeared.Amara watched it leave.“Idiot.”She wiped rainwater from her face.Then her phone vibrated.Battery: 5%.She groaned.“This day hates me.”---THE NEXT MORNINGAmara walked through the gates of Sterling Heights University with her head lowered.She had barely slept.After waiting another hour at the bus stop, she eventually managed to find a cheaper ride home. She had spent the night washing her clothes and trying to figure out how she would pay her school fees.She was exhausted.But she couldn't afford to miss another lecture.As she entered the main building, whispers suddenly followed her.“Isn't that Amara?”“Yeah.”“I heard she got suspended from the scholarship list.”“Seriously?”“Apparently, she hasn't paid her fees.”Amara pretended. TO BE CONTINUED.

CHAPTER ONE — THE GIRL WITH THE WORN-OUT SHOES Amara Daniels hated walking across the university campus. Not because she hated school. She loved school. She hated the way people looked at her. Her faded backpack hung from one shoulder as she hurried toward the lecture hall, holding three old textbooks against her chest. Her shoes were worn out. Her clothes were simple. And compared to the students around her, she looked like she didn't belong. "Look who's here," a girl's voice suddenly mocked. Amara stopped. Vanessa Whitmore stood with her group of friends, dressed in an expensive designer outfit. Her eyes traveled from Amara's shoes to her faded backpack. "Girl, are those shoes older than you?" The girls laughed. Amara lowered her eyes. "Leave her alone, Vanessa," Zara said, stepping forward. Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Why are you always defending her? Is poverty contagious?" More laughter. Amara felt her eyes burn. She turned and walked away. She refused to cry. Not here. Not in front of them. But when she reached the bathroom, she locked herself inside a stall and finally allowed the tears to fall. Her phone vibrated. It was a message from her mother. Mom: I'm sorry, my daughter. I couldn't send your allowance this week. Things are difficult. Amara stared at the message. Her heart sank. She had barely eaten that day. Her school fees were overdue. And now she had received another warning from the university. She wiped her tears. "You're going to survive this," she whispered to herself. But she didn't know that someone was about to enter her life and turn everything upside down. Someone she would initially hate. Someone who would hurt her. Someone who would eventually save her. Ethan Kingsley. CHAPTER TWO — THE RICHEST BOY ON CAMPUS The entire campus went silent whenever Ethan Kingsley arrived. A black luxury car slowly entered the university gates. Students turned. Whispers filled the air. "That's Ethan." "He's so handsome." "Look at that car!" "His father owns half the businesses in this city." Ethan stepped out. Tall. Young. Ridiculously handsome. Black shirt. Silver chain. Expensive watch. His expression was cold enough to make people move out of his way. He wasn't called the richest and baddest guy on campus for nothing. He had money. Power. Influence. And absolutely no patience. Jayden walked beside him. "You know, bro, one day you're going to smile and the whole campus will collapse." Ethan smirked. "Then I'll stop smiling." They walked toward the lecture hall. And that's when Ethan saw her. Amara. She was sitting beneath a tree, desperately trying to repair the strap of her old shoe. Ethan stopped. Jayden followed his gaze. "Who?" "Nobody." But Ethan kept staring. Amara suddenly dropped one of her books. Ethan walked over. He picked it up. "You're dropping things." Amara looked up. Their eyes met. For a second, neither spoke. "Here." He handed her the book. "Thank you." She reached for it. But Ethan noticed her hands trembling. "You okay?" "I'm fine." She grabbed the book and stood. Ethan noticed her worn-out shoes. He said nothing. But Vanessa had seen everything. And she wasn't happy. CHAPTER THREE — THE BET "What the hell are you doing?" Vanessa stormed toward Ethan. Everyone nearby turned to watch. Ethan looked at her calmly. "Helping someone." "Her?" Vanessa laughed bitterly. "You don't help people like her." Amara's face fell. Ethan's expression changed. "People like her?" Vanessa crossed her arms. "Don't pretend you don't understand." Ethan looked at Amara. Then back at Vanessa. "You have a problem?" "Yes." She pointed at Amara. "I bet you can't even make that girl fall for you." Jayden laughed. "Vanessa, don't do this." But Ethan's ego had already been challenged. He stepped closer. "How long?" Vanessa smiled. "Thirty days." Ethan smirked. "Fine." Amara looked confused. Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Thirty days. Make her fall in love with you." Ethan laughed. "And when she does?" "Break her heart." Ethan's smile became colder. "Deal." Neither Ethan nor Vanessa noticed Amara standing a few feet away. She had heard everything. Her heart shattered. She looked at Ethan. Their eyes met. For the first time, she saw something beyond arrogance in his eyes. She saw cruelty. Amara picked up her bag. "You're disgusting." She walked away. Ethan's smile disappeared. For some strange reason... Her words hurt. CHAPTER FOUR — THE BULLY From that day, Ethan made Amara's life miserable. He deliberately sat beside her in class. He stole her pen. He mocked her clothes. He called her "Scholarship Girl." Sometimes, he would walk past her with his friends and say loudly: "Careful. Don't breathe too close. You might catch poverty." Everyone laughed. Amara pretended not to care. But every night, she cried. She began skipping meals. She stopped attending social events. She stopped answering Zara's calls. Her grades started dropping. One afternoon, Amara sat alone behind the library. She stared at her phone.