Chapter 4

Florence shoved her phone into my face. "Do you think that's not enough? In that case, lick it twice for 20 grand. How does that sound? Better, right?"

I looked up. The smile on her face was identical to the one she wore when she strangled me to death in my previous life.

I crouched down.

"That's more like it… but I want you to get on your knees and lick it!"

The people around us burst into laughter. I, however, reached out, took off her shoe, and slapped it—coffee and all—right into her face.

Florence let out a piercing scream as she lurched back, half her face dripping with coffee. "Have you lost your fucking mind?"

I straightened up and looked at her coldly. "I warned you before. Don't mess with me!"

She could only point at me, too livid to say a word.

I picked up the damaged probe from the ground and swung it in the direction of her stomach. Clutching her stomach, Florence glared at me and turned to leave.

The crowd dispersed in no time.

Just then, a notification popped up in the freshman group chat. "A representative from Clark Group will be coming to our college at 2:00 pm tomorrow to deliver a speech. All students are required to attend."

The group chat immediately started tagging Florence, asking her who was coming. Florence replied with a string of exclamation marks. "My boyfriend's finally coming to back me up!"

I wasn't paying attention to the group chat. Instead, I opened a message from Ezra. "Babe, I listened to you and went to Clark Manor. The paternity test results are out now. I really am a member of the Clark family.

"That impostor has been kicked out. He was supposed to go to your college tomorrow, but now, I'm going instead. I'll be able to see you soon, babe!"

I smiled as I texted back. "Sounds good."

Florence wanted to become the future lady of the Clark family, huh? Well, she could keep dreaming!

…

The auditorium was filled to the brim on Wednesday afternoon.

I sat in a seat near the aisle in the back row, while Florence had taken up an entire row at the front. She was surrounded by a group of female students as she bragged, "Luc came all the way here just to pick me up."

Stroking her belly, she smiled bashfully. "He told me he'd take me back to Clark Manor after he reunited with his family. You guys should come visit me there sometime. I'll have the chef prepare some premium tomahawk steaks for you."

"Wow, you're so lucky, Florence…" the group chorused, showering her with congratulations.

"Isn't that right?" Florence took a look at me, who was sitting in the back row, and raised her voice. "A certain someone was so jealous back then that they wanted to ruin my love life. Look at them now; they can only sit in the back and watch from afar. To make matters worse, they still owe the faculty more than a million dollars!"

Having said her piece, she covered her mouth and giggled, eyeing me expectantly for a reaction.

I merely smiled at them and responded apathetically, "Be careful. It might hurt a lot when you fall later."

"Cut the crap. You'll be the one crying later!"

"We'll see who ends up crying," I mused.

Noticing that I wasn't giving her the reaction she wanted, Florence lost interest and stopped badgering me. She shifted her focus back to the stage, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Soon, the host took the stage. "Let us welcome the heir of Clark Group with a round of applause!"

The spotlight illuminated the side of the stage, catching a man in a bespoke suit as he stepped out from the wings. Muffled gasps rippled through the audience.

Meanwhile, I kept my eyes locked on his face. It was Ezra.

He walked to the center of the stage and scanned the audience. His eyes lingered on my face for a second before he nodded, and I nodded back.

Florence, who was in the front row, enthusiastically waved her hand. Then, she turned and shot me a provocative look, silently mouthing, "See that? You're a goner!"

I ignored her.

After the open floor session ended, the host announced the adjournment of the event.

Florence immediately rose to her feet and marched straight toward the stage. Halfway there, she cast a haughty look over her shoulder at me.

Ezra had his head down as he gathered his documents. Florence walked right up to him, reached out and wrapped her arm around his. Then, she pulled out the pregnancy test report she had prepared beforehand.

"Long time no see, Luc! It's me, Florence! You told me you'd come pick me up once you reunited with your family. I've been waiting for you all this time!" she gushed. "I have a surprise for you… You're about to become a father!"

Everyone in the auditorium raised their phones.

Drinking in this scene, a burst of laughter escaped my lips.

Ezra turned to look at her, his brow slowly furrowing. He pulled his arm free and took a few steps back. He stripped off his suit jacket before tossing it on the ground in disgust.

Florence went rigid, her eyes misting over. "Lucas? I know I shouldn't have put you on the spot, but how could you pretend not to know me?"

The microphone was still on, and Ezra's voice echoed throughout the entire auditorium. "Miss, my name's Ezra. Oh, now, I remember. Lucas is the name of the impostor my family had kicked out a while back."

The moment his words fell, the auditorium erupted.

Florence was rooted to the spot as the color drained from her face.