Chapter 2

After that, Chloe became a full-blown paparazzi, documenting every aspect of Ashley's life, especially when she showered.

Due to years of neglect, the bathroom door had a large hole that hadn't been reported or fixed.

This made things incredibly easy for Chloe.

Every day, she'd creep in with her phone, taking photos.

At first, she was cautious, constantly glancing back at me.

But each time Ashley showered, I'd pull my bed curtains shut and pretend to sleep, intentionally creating opportunities for Chloe.

Over time, once she caught on to this pattern, she became increasingly brazen.

Just like in my previous life, that sleazy guy kept sending her gifts after getting a taste of her.

A ten-gram gold ring, a Chanel bag, and a Valentino ostrich feather coat.

But they were all cheap knock-offs.

His lavish displays of affection were so public that even Ashley knew Chloe was dating a rich guy.

One day, Chloe received another gift.

Ashley, who had been filing her nails, paused, watching Chloe unbox the package with obvious envy. She said in a passive-aggressive tone, "There's no such thing as a free lunch. Be careful not to get scammed."

Chloe's hand, holding a small knife, hesitated for a moment, then she shrugged indifferently.

*Yeah, if anyone's getting scammed, it won't be her, Chloe. No need to worry.*

My fists clenched, and I struggled to suppress a laugh.

This time, it was a sapphire necklace. Chloe carefully lifted it from the box.

The jewel hung in the air, catching a beam of sunlight.

The blue sapphire was crystal clear, refracting dazzling light in the sun, sparkling brilliantly, almost blinding.

Even Ashley, who had been disdainful just moments before, gasped.

"That's a Louis Vuitton sapphire necklace. One of those costs over three hundred thousand."

Chloe's hand, holding the necklace, trembled. She clearly hadn't expected the man to be so generous.

Immediately, her face twisted with even greater greed.

She grabbed Ashley's shoulders, showering her with flattery.

"Ashley, you really are the heiress of a major pharmaceutical company. You're so knowledgeable."

Ashley's eyes sparkled, and she proudly swept a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I like hearing that."

She glanced at Chloe, then pointedly at me, lifting her chin and speaking in a condescending tone. "Even though I'm at the same school as you two, once we graduate, we'll return to our respective social classes. Be smart and listen to me, and maybe I'll be kind enough to pull some strings for you later."

Chloe was a small-town girl from a humble background. She'd tricked that man into her life, and her future was still uncertain.

She lowered her head, her face falling with self-consciousness.

I folded my arms, rolling my eyes. *Such a show-off.*

Chloe stared at the necklace longingly for a while.

She looked up at Ashley repeatedly, then finally rose and, as a gesture of goodwill, placed the necklace in Ashley's hand.

Her face was full of hope. "Ashley, you promise, right?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Ashley's face.

Her eyes were now filled only with greed. She eagerly put the necklace around her neck.

She grabbed her phone and snapped a flurry of photos.

Chloe subtly tugged Ashley's collar down, making her look even more alluring.

Then, more secret photos.

I leaned back on my bed, watching their little drama unfold with interest.

Actually, what Ashley had said earlier—"There's no such thing as a free lunch"—was absolutely true.

She said the words, but she herself was deeply entangled in the trap.