Under Sharon Lowe’s fiery, jealous glare, they casually left the dorm room.

Once they were out of the dorm, Aria burst into laughter. "Evie, you’re unbelievable! You nearly drove Sharon Lowe mad with anger just now."

"Serves her right! I didn’t even want to deal with her, but she’s always the one starting trouble with me."

The two of them headed to the cafeteria as they talked.

After getting their food, they had just sat down when they noticed Nina Steele at the next table.

Aria shot Eve Vaughn a look, gesturing toward Nina, and whispered, "Look, she got the free soup again today, with a thirty-cent portion of rice. Sigh, it’s so sad."

Seeing Nina Steele’s sallow complexion, Eve Vaughn knew she must have been eating like this for a very long time.

Thinking about how she was the one receiving financial aid for needy students, yet was eating so well, Eve Vaughn felt a growing sense of guilt.

Aria leaned in conspiratorially. "By the way, I couldn’t help myself the other day, so I asked her about the sponsorship from that wealthy businessman. It seems like she wasn’t chosen. Sigh, I’ve never seen another student who has it harder than Nina."

Eve Vaughn glanced again at Nina’s meal on the adjacent table, then suddenly stood up, went to the counter, and ordered a braised pork combo.

When she placed the combo in front of Nina, Nina looked at her in confusion and asked, "What are you doing?"

"It’s for you."

Eve Vaughn gave her a friendly smile. Afraid of wounding Nina’s pride, she said, "Even if you’re trying to lose weight, you can’t just eat vegetarian all the time. It’s not good for you. Besides, the cafeteria’s braised pork is really good today. You should try some."

Nina Steele shot her a cold glance, pushed the tray back toward her, and said, "I don’t want it."

Eve Vaughn was left feeling awkward. Even though they had been roommates for three years, Nina Steele rarely spoke, and her personality was always this cold and distant.

At that moment, Eve Vaughn had no idea how to convey her goodwill.

In any case, her heart ached seeing Nina soaking her rice in free soup.

’It felt as if she was the one who had taken Nina’s spot for the financial aid.’

Seeing this, Aria quickly came over and pulled her back to her seat.

"Evie, don’t waste your breath. She won’t appreciate it," Aria advised. "We may be roommates, but we don’t owe her anything. Why does she walk around with a long face all day, as if talking to us is beneath her?"

Eve Vaughn sighed and said in a low voice, "I do owe her. The truth is... I was one of the three students who got that financial aid spot."

Aria was stunned. "Wow, that’s incredible! I heard more than two hundred students applied for it. But it makes sense. Your grades are so good, and you win the national scholarship every year. The benefactor would definitely want to sponsor a high-achieving student."

Eve Vaughn said sullenly, "It has nothing to do with being incredible. Back then, my financial situation was genuinely dire, which is why I applied. But Nina is also a great student, and her circumstances are much worse than mine. If I hadn’t applied, maybe she would have been the one to get the aid."

"Oh, don’t think that way. It’s not your fault," Aria comforted her. "It’s not like you committed fraud. Even if you hadn’t applied, so many others in the school did. It wasn’t guaranteed to go to Nina."

Just then, Eve Vaughn’s phone rang. It was a call from Eric Kendall.

She answered the call, and Eric Kendall’s nonchalant voice came through the line. "So, you and Mia Kendall have decided to hate my guts, is that it? Your buddy here offers to cover your villa renovation for free, and you don’t need it anymore? I’ve already hired a designer."

’I’ve never heard of a needy student on financial aid living in a luxury villa and enjoying the finer things in life,’ Eve Vaughn thought to herself.

’At this point, she felt like she actually was a fraud.’

Eve Vaughn said coolly, "I’m not planning to renovate the house for now. You don’t need to get involved."

Eric Kendall had always believed that Eve Vaughn was the one who had pleaded his case to Mason Lawson, which was why Mason had forgiven him.

Therefore, he said magnanimously, "Alright then, let’s just say I owe you one. From now on, if you need anything, just say the word!"

"I don’t need anything from you, except for you to stop treating Mia this way," Eve Vaughn couldn’t help but retort. "You’re her brother, at least in name. But you wanted someone to break her legs? Is that something a human being does?"

With that, Eve Vaughn hung up.

Thinking about the villa, then looking over at Nina who was eating a meager meal, Eve Vaughn stood up. "Aria, I have to go home for a bit. If I can’t make it back for the afternoon class, can you sign in for me?"

Before Aria could even ask what was going on, Eve Vaughn was already rushing out.

On her way, she contacted a real estate agent.

’After all, she wasn’t completely destitute. If she sold the villa, the money could cover her mother’s medical expenses and her own tuition. At least for the next five years of university, she wouldn’t have to worry.’

’That way, she could give up her financial aid spot to someone who needed it more—like Nina.’

...

「Lawson Group, CEO’s Office.」

In the afternoon, the spare phone in his drawer rang.

A message from Eve Vaughn came in: Uncle, thank you so much for all your help this past month. My financial situation has eased up, and I now have a way to cover my tuition and my mother’s medical bills. If possible, could you please help a student who needs it more than I do?

Mason Lawson’s brows furrowed tightly. ’What is this girl up to behind my back now?’

’Where did she get the money to cover her mother’s medical bills and her tuition?’

Mason Lawson thought for a moment before replying: I can do that, but as your benefactor, I need to know how your financial situation has improved. Otherwise, I’m concerned you might have gone down the wrong path.

Eve Vaughn replied honestly: Before, a relative of mine had forcibly taken the house my father left me and cut off my financial support. That’s why I was in a desperate situation and had no choice but to apply for the student aid. But now, they have returned the house to me. If I sell it, I can easily cover my tuition and my mother’s medical bills.

It all clicked for Mason Lawson.

He hadn’t expected, however, that Eve Vaughn would rather sell the house her father left her than ask him for help.

’This girl... she’s really on her guard against me.’

Just then, another message from Eve Vaughn arrived: In any case, I’m so grateful that you gave me a helping hand when I was at the end of my rope, Uncle. I have a bold request... could I give my spot to my roommate?

Mason Lawson couldn’t help muttering to himself, "She can barely take care of herself, yet she’s busy meddling in other people’s affairs all day."

Of course, what infuriated him most was that Eve Vaughn had gone behind his back and decided to do something as major as selling her villa on a whim, without breathing a single word of it to him.

’Just where does this girl place him in her life?’

’All his efforts, eagerly giving her money and providing resources, were for nothing.’ 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

’And what about her?’

’She doesn’t need any of it!’

Mason Lawson grew more irritated as he stared at her texts. He replied: Since you no longer have any financial difficulties, I can terminate your aid. As for who I decide to help next, I don’t need anyone else making that decision for me.