Under the shocked gazes of the entire class, Sharon Lowe stood up, her face pale as a sheet.

Aria quickly whispered in Eve Vaughn’s ear, "See? I told you so. It had to be her!"

Murmurs from other students rose and fell throughout the room.

The principal rapped his knuckles on the desk. "Everyone, quiet down and listen to me! I will now announce the disciplinary action!"

In the end, Sharon Lowe was disciplined for "maliciously slandering others, creating and spreading rumors, and causing significant damage to the reputation of others and the school." The punishment was a mark on her permanent record and university probation.

Short of expulsion, this was one of the most severe punishments possible.

Sharon Lowe seemed to have already anticipated this outcome. Her expression was blank, her eyes lifeless, as she stood there woodenly, enduring the mocking and derisive gazes of others.

After announcing the punishment, the principal said to Hamilton Hale, "All right, Doctor Hale, you may begin your lecture."

Hamilton Hale walked up to the lectern, showing no sympathy for Sharon Lowe. He even added insult to injury, saying, "You there, student. Remember? I told you before that you would pay the price for your actions. I just didn’t expect the price to come due so quickly."

Sharon Lowe clenched her fists so tightly that she seemed oblivious to the pain of her nails digging into her palms.

After class, Eve Vaughn had Aria accompany her to the university town behind the school to buy a four-piece bedding set.

When she returned to the dorm room carrying a comforter and pillows, Sharon Lowe was utterly astonished!

’After all, Eve Vaughn’s family lives at The Sovereign Pearl. With a villa that nice, why would she still want to sleep in a dorm room?’

Eve Vaughn went about making her bed. She firmly believed that as a student, she was supposed to spend most of her time at school.

Not cooped up in that luxurious gilded cage.

Mason Lawson hadn’t restricted her freedom, nor had he changed their original agreement.

He had even said to Eve Vaughn, "Living at the dorm is fine. After all, university life is quite vibrant and colorful. I shouldn’t rob you of the right to enjoy your youth."

But then he had added, "However, if I find out you’re fooling around behind my back, you just wait!"

Eve Vaughn had burst out laughing at that. "Fooling around? Isn’t that a man’s specialty?"

And so, they stuck to their original arrangement: Eve Vaughn would live at the dorm from Monday to Friday and only return to Mason Lawson’s place on the weekends.

Sharon Lowe was now basically living with her tail between her legs.

Every time she saw Eve Vaughn, she was reminded of that day’s humiliation. It was like death by a thousand cuts—a new slice of pain every day, with no end in sight. Even though Eve Vaughn had promised not to say anything, Sharon still had to constantly worry that Eve would tell people she had stolen things to pose as a wealthy socialite, or that her mother worked as a maid.

Overwhelmed, Sharon Lowe finally couldn’t take it anymore and applied to change dorm rooms.

As it happened, there was an empty bed in a dorm room upstairs, and the resident advisor approved her request.

The day Sharon Lowe moved out, Aria was as happy as could be, as if it were a holiday. Staring at the empty bed, Aria let out a sigh of relief and said, "Evie, that annoying girl is finally gone! I feel like the very air in this room is fresher now!"

Eve Vaughn gave a helpless smile. "Is it really that big of a deal?"

Aria nodded emphatically. "Of course it is! By the way, I suspect she must have gone through some kind of shock."

As she spoke, Aria opened up a TikTok-like app. "Look, all the videos on her account are deleted. It’s empty. Didn’t she love showing off her luxury goods? Now she’s not showing anything off, and she’s not live-streaming anymore. I just don’t get her!"

Eve Vaughn cut her off. "Hey, she’s already moved out of the room. You don’t need to trouble yourself with her anymore. Why do you need to know so much?"

"I’m just curious!"

Aria linked her arm through Eve’s and said with a grin, "Come on! Let’s go get something to eat. It’s my treat tonight. We have to have a big meal to celebrate!"

Eve Vaughn quickly said, "No, I can’t! I... have plans with someone."

Aria narrowed her eyes. "A boyfriend?"

Eve Vaughn nodded shyly, which was as good as a confirmation.

Aria said thoughtfully, "No wonder you rejected Todd Hayes. When did you start dating? Let me see a picture."

After all, Eve Vaughn had been very low-key when she was dating Julian Lawson. Because his status was that of The Lawson’s Eldest Grandson, she was afraid of causing him trouble, so she never talked about her relationships, fearing her roommates would press her for details about her boyfriend.

Now, Eve Vaughn didn’t dare to casually reveal Mason Lawson’s identity either, because he was an even more influential figure than Julian Lawson.

Under Aria’s curious gaze, Eve Vaughn suddenly changed the subject. "Have you confessed your feelings to Todd Hayes yet? Have you two been on any dates recently?"

Aria’s train of thought was immediately derailed by Eve. "Ugh, just thinking about it gives me a headache! I don’t know how to bring it up. Evie, give me some advice. How am I supposed to let him know I like him?!"

Eve Vaughn glanced at the time. Mason Lawson was probably already waiting for her at the school gate.

She quickly stood up and said, "Aria, let’s break it all down when I get back tonight, okay?"

With that, Eve Vaughn hurried away.

Aria grumbled at her retreating back, "Choosing boys over your friends! You’re totally brushing me off!"

Eve Vaughn jogged all the way out of the school gate, and as soon as she saw Mason Lawson’s car, she quickly hopped inside.

She said with a grin, "You’ve been waiting a long time, haven’t you? Sorry about that."

"So you do know it’s been a long time?"

Mason Lawson sized her up for a moment before saying, "You’re not even wearing makeup or dressed up. What took you so long to come down?"

Eve Vaughn said helplessly, "My roommate. She’s a bit of a chatterbox and wouldn’t let me leave."

"Is that so." As he drove, Mason Lawson said, "Oh, right. I’ve already set up the sponsorship for that roommate of yours. Her name is... Nina Steele, right?"

Eve Vaughn hadn’t expected him to remember what she had asked him back then—to give the sponsorship to someone who needed it more.

For a moment, she felt both touched and embarrassed.

"Uncle Mason, I honestly didn’t know that ’uncle’ benefactor was you. And now look at the result. Not only did you not manage to shake me off, this burdensome tag-along, but you’ve gained another one. But that’s okay! A great philanthropist and humanitarian like you will definitely be rewarded in the future. All the people you’ve sponsored will repay you!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

After Eve Vaughn finished laying on the flattery thick, Mason Lawson was left utterly speechless.

He shot her a glance and said deliberately, "If I recall, a certain someone once said she would be as filial to me as a daughter, right?"