Photos

"The photos was spread since yesterday. They also filled the university's website, bulletin board and weekly magazines."

Arthur coolly zoomed in on a photo of Livy that had been randomly taken that night. There were four photos that were taken on purpose, it was very clear in the photo that she was with a man and hugging each other. Everything else was not clear. He also read the headlines on the university's global website, finding them referring to Livy as a rich man's mistress.

His jaw tightened.

It was a photo where Livy was drunk and he picks her up at a hotpot restaurant that night. Which made him want to swear at Dave again for causing Livy trouble.

After he looked at the photos again, he realized this photographer was a bit sneaky. From the angle of the photo, it deliberately made Arthur look unrecognizable, whereas Livy's was almost all clear.

Arthur shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

Who did this? Is that his enemy? Did they try to threaten him through Livy?

"Find out who spread this photo and remove all photos from the university's website and magazine." He placed the tablet on the table, leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.

"Is there a need to give the university dean a warning?" Evander asked, noticing Arthur's frowning face.

"Do it." Arthur then massaged his throbbing temples and asked, "Where's Livy?"

"Still at home."

Arthur didn't say anything more, took the tablet and went back to the forum page to read the students' comments. He had only read about five of the comments, but his heart was already burning at how vicious they were about Livy. They called her a slut, a mistress, a night girl and so on, declaring her not a good girl.

Since he couldn't vent his anger directly, it affected his mood, wrenched his chest, leaving him short of breath. He pressed his chest uncomfortably, his gaze blurred, the letters he saw immediately shattered and scattered in his vision.

Arthur sighed. His eyes did it again, sliding out of focus and then blurry again. He threw the tablet back on the table, his head wouldn't stop throbbing between his eyes, now his chest was tight too and his bones ached.

In his heart, he knew why he was experiencing this. It means that his body is at the threshold again. For two full days, the monsoons rained down on the earth—it was his worst enemy since he was paralyzed. Whenever the monsoons offered a chill, it chilled to his bones and left them all in excruciating pain. Coupled with the various problems that come forcing him to work extra hours, he even spends his time off to keep himself busy.

"You okay?" asked Evander when he saw sweat forming on Arthur's forehead.

Arthur blinked, but the black spots that were originally small almost filled the corners of his eyes. He hissed as the discomfort was accompanied by a roll of nausea in his stomach.

Unsurprisingly, all this pain working together wanted to take him down.

"M'fine," he croacked.

But he knew that was a sign that he wouldn't be well for the next few days.

***

"Shit! Where the heck is Livy? Why hasn't her phone been active since earlier?"

Sarah paced back and forth in the dorm room restlessly. That afternoon, she was rushing back to the dorm when she got the photos from a college group featuring a photo of Livy with a man hugging each other. Even worse, it was clear from the photo that Livy was drunk.

"Oh my God, how is this?" Sarah bit her lip and sat on the edge of her bed. "I should have saved Arthur's contact so I could call him. Uh, no-no. How should I reach him? He's a busy man. Is he taking calls from strangers?"

Besides, if Arthur asked what the problem was, Sarah might not be able to keep a secret. Actually she was sure that the man in the photo was Arthur, but on the other side of her heart, she also had doubts.

What if it wasn't Arthur? Wouldn't Arthur be angry and disappointed?

"Livy, you sure got yourself in trouble, huh? I just found out you can even drink, okay!" she grumbled again.

When she put her phone down, it rang. She hurriedly took it, but instead of Livy, it was a message from her private group chat.

The group only contained four people, including her. On the chat page, the conversation has started. Janet was the first to upload four photos. One photo was Livy with a black-haired stranger, another when Livy was in the man's arms, then when they were in the car and the last when Livy left the restaurant with a blonde man.

"Isn't this Dave?" She muttered.

Janet: [Sarah, is this true? She looks like your friend. Is it really her?]

Kalie: [It was so obvious that it was her. Who was that man? Sarah you should warn your friends. The dean won't be happy to see these photos, I think these photos has been widely circulated.]

Sarah typed angrily, [I know it's my friend, but don't speculate anything without knowing the truth. Media can be manipulated. Don't be stupid!]

Kalie: [Media can be manipulated, but violations are violations. She was drinking with the men and these photos went viral dragging uni's name. The reputation of the uni will deteriorate. You think the dean will defend a person like this rather than the good name of the uni? Get ready, she will definitely be kicked out.]

Kicked out?

Is it really that bad?

Indeed, they were at the age of growing up. The choice to drink alcohol is their own decision, because they are not underage anymore. But no one can escape the consequences of their actions, and Livy is really considered to tarnish the name of the university.

Even harsher terms have been pinned on her. Plus previously Livy was placed in the VIP Dorm even though she was just an ordinary scholarship holder.

Everyone speculated that the scholarship was just a cover. Actually Livy entered through the back door and was assisted by an 'insider'. This news has been getting wilder lately.

An incoming message on the phone again distracted her. There was a line of replies, but she focused on one message.

Abigail, [Is this your friend who got that special privilege?]

Good grief.

Even Abigail, her introverted friend came out of hiding and commented?

Abigail is the same as Livy, both of them entered through the achievement and scholarship paths. She had thought Abigail didn't think much of Livy's privilege, but she knew about this too. Naturally, if she were in Abigail's position, she would be annoyed that Livy was getting such privileges.

Sarah immediately replied,

[Anyway, you don't have to share this photo. If necessary delete! Livy is my friend, she must have her reasons. She is a good girl.]

Sarah paused for a moment and continued,

[And you, Abby, the privilege that she's gotten isn't because of the scholarship pathway. But there is a reason behind it and I can't reveal it yet. So, it has nothing to do with the university being unfair to scholarship students. Ok? Do you understand?]

Abigail read it, but didn't reply.

Sarah sighed. If she could reveal that that privilege was actually what a 'husband does to his wife', she would definitely not be this difficult.

She really appreciated Livy's decision that she didn't want her married identity to be exposed.

In the end her phone still kept ringing because of an incoming message, but now she ignored it and rolled around on her bed in annoyance.

"Shit, I really have to ask Livy. Where the heck is she, jeez!" Sarah ruffled her hair. "Could it be, she has seen these photos and is sad alone?"

Thinking of this, Sarah grew even more agitated.

The next morning, Sarah woke up quickly and headed to the university. She had no classes this morning and was hoping to find Livy there. Before she waited for Livy at the gate, she first entered and headed for the bulletin board. There were many people gathered in front of her.

Sarah immediately cut through the crowd and arrived at the board, and her eyes immediately widened.

There were more photos than submitted in the campus group. From these photos, it was still the same background as the photo she received before. Namely, Livy with a strange man, oddly enough she still can't recognize him. It was clear there that Livy was heavily drunk and she was hugging the man. They even got in the car together.

"What did you guys see? You guys believe in cheap gossip like this?" Sarah shouted at the gathered people and they all sneered at her.

Sarah pulled one of the closest.

"Hey, you, who has the key to this bulletin board? I want to pull out these useless pictures!"

Because Sarah looked so angry, the person she asked was confused.

"I don't know, but this photo can be used as a warning for others. Then no one can trespass again," the person replied.

Sarah wanted to hit him so badly, but couldn't.

She asked others, the result was the same. In fact, they sneered at her for defending the wrong person. These photos was a bad thing on campus. Everyone should see it as a warning, why would she want to take it? So they thought.

Everyone even accused her of being a person with the same reputation, that is, a woman of the night. So these photos made it kind of look at herself.

Sarah was getting angry. Too bad, she couldn't fight that many people alone.

Suddenly someone else came through the crowd. She easily unlocked the bulletin board. This shocked everyone, including Sarah. At that time, she was speechless, she saw that the person who had just arrived was a tall, very beautiful girl. Her hair was auburn and fell straight down her back, her skin was white, and her nose was aquiline.

There are many famous beauties on this campus, Sarah knows this one too. Her name is Amara Zamiel.

Amara opened the board easily with the key and she immediately took the photos without saying anything. Everyone has nothing to comment on. After the photos were all taken, she locked the board and just walked away.

Sarah gaped.

"Uh, wait!"

By the time she came to her senses, Amara had already gone far away. Sarah didn't waste any time and chased after the girl, but the noise of the courtyard almost made her lose track. Fortunately, Amara is tall, Sarah easily finds her again in the back corner of the building.

"I've pulled all the photos. But the others have already made their way across the website."

Amara's voice was heard. She was on the phone.

"Yeah, I made sure there weren't any more photos on the bulletin wall."

Sarah narrowed her eyes at the girl's words.

"No, bro. Livy is kind girl, I'd love to help her. After all it's for your benefit too. Yeah, see you later."

Amara hung up and she turned around, by then Sarah had blocked her way with a big smile.

***

"Young Lady, is there anything else you need for the next week? Let me prepare it," said the maid right after Livy left the room.

Today she only had an afternoon lecture, so she was lazing around at home before heading back to the dormitory.

Livy, who just turned on her dead phone, looked up. "Nothing. My needs are complete."

"Is that something you'll be bringing with you?" The maid pointed at the tote bag in Livy's hand. It was the writing kit she bought at the convenience store yesterday.

"Yes, only this."

"Let me get it to the car."

Livy handed over the tote bag. After the maid left, she saw that there were many incoming notifications. Most of the missed calls came from Sarah and the others were only notification messages from campus groups, the university's global website, emails and Sarah's successive messages.

She opened Sarah's message first.

[Livy, You are in big trouble!]

[You will die, your name is everywhere. You committed an offence. You will be kicked out!!!!!]

Livy didn't read the other messages because they were more or less the same. She was immediately drawn to the photos Sarah had sent her. Her eyes widened in shock.

"What is this? This is a photo of me together with ..."

Livy tried to calm down and saw the campus chat group. From the unread messages, it contains photos of her with Arthur while drunk and there were also photos of her with Dave, they were all scattered. Many people cursed her and said that she was a prostitute. She was terrified.

There were a lot of emails too, when she opened them it was a message from the dean asking her to come over. The message was sent this morning.

Livy was speechless.

She will die. Sarah was right, she was in big trouble.

Why does her phone have to turn off when there is a problem like this? She was supposed to have class yesterday Monday but the lecturer suddenly canceled the class. Why was she only thinking of turning on her phone now? No no no, she had to calm down first, she had to find out what was going on. Who spread her photos with Arthur? Why did the news headlines on the university's website say that she had committed a major offense and tarnished the university's name. Even she is called to be a rich man's mistress?

Oh God.

Livy trembled, she immediately searched for Sarah's name and called her.

... to be continued ...

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So anyone still reading this?