He Begged Me, I Rejected Him Before

Chapter 2

Ryder's love-struck debate rant refused to die down.

A whole week had passed, and people were still obsessing over who the mystery girl was—the one who'd dragged that untouchable prince down from his pedestal.

Not many people knew about Ryder and me. Besides one of his lab mates, his advisor, and my bestie Mira, no one had a clue.

After all the speculation, the crowd settled on the most obvious suspect: his lab junior, Jade Ellis.

Rumor had it that Jade and Ryder had been staying late in the lab together every night, grinding through experiments till midnight.

Two people, one room, late nights—everyone figured there was no way nothing happened.

Jade never denied it. When people asked if she'd been the one to dump Ryder, she'd just put on this awkward, hesitant look, like she was dying to say something but holding back.

Everyone drew their own conclusions. Either she was the one Ryder loved and couldn't have, or she was just really, really constipated.

When Mira told me this, I nearly choked on my food and sprayed it all over her face.

What the hell was this nonsense?

"Jade's always had a thing for Ryder, you know. You're not worried she'll slide right in?" Mira said, her voice dripping with implication.

I shrugged. "Doesn't matter. We're already done. He can date whoever he wants."

"I don't do second chances."

The second those words left my mouth, a gust of cold air swept past me. I looked up and saw Ryder walking by—and then storming off, his face dark as thunder.

"Uh oh."

Mira shot me a guilty look.

I was about to say something when my phone buzzed with a new friend request.

The note read: I know you don't do second chances. But how about a first one with me?

Right after that, Ryder posted on his f*******:.

My girl dumped me a while back. That's why I was holed up in the lab. As for Jade, I honestly have no clue what she was even doing there.

Two minutes later, another one went up.

My girl's gorgeous, sweet, and the best person I know. Please stop with the rumors. She gets upset.

Screenshots of those two posts spread like wildfire.

And the general consensus:

No wonder she's still his girl.