Chapter 3My Sister Stole the Janitor's Family, So I Took the Billionaire's Empire

Maya's prediction wasn't wrong. In fact, Ashton's bullying started even earlier than in our past life.

In the school courtyard, my head was forcibly shoved into a freezing fountain. Around me, a group of teenage boys laughed viciously.

Just as my lungs were about to burst from lack of oxygen, someone grabbed the back of my collar and yanked me up. Ashton smiled down at me brightly.

"You want my family's money? Sure thing."

"Drink all the water in that toilet bowl over there. I'll give you ten grand a gulp. How about it?"

His lackeys hooted and hollered in excitement.

I stared at Ashton.

This was the man who had gently told me he loved me in our past life. Right now, he was unleashing his unfiltered malice on me without a second thought.

But Ashton wasn't looking at me.

His gaze drifted past me, focusing on something behind my back.

I knew exactly what it was. Maya Miller was bending over, scrubbing the hallway floors.

"Isn't that Maya?" one of the boys asked.

"Why is she still mopping the floors?"

Another lackey chimed in to explain, "Her mom is the school's cleaning lady. She goes to classes during the day and stays late to help her mom work."

A flicker of shock crossed Ashton's eyes, quickly followed by a pang of heartache.

He called out loudly to her, "Hey! It's freezing out here. Stop scrubbing. No one's going to check it anyway."

Maya straightened her back. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her delicate face wore a look of stubborn pride.

She shook her head. "I can't."

"If someone checks and finds the floor dirty, my mom will get a hundred dollars docked from her paycheck."

"I know a hundred dollars is nothing to a rich kid like you, but for my family, that's our grocery budget for the whole week."

After finishing her speech, Maya bent back down and continued scrubbing.

Honestly, her manipulation was painfully obvious. With an entire building of floors to mop, she deliberately chose to scrub right in front of Ashton.

She even specifically let her hair down and angled her face perfectly to look as tragic and beautiful as possible.

Unfortunately for me, Ashton fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

Sure enough, Ashton walked over, grabbed Maya's arm to pull her up, snatched the dirty rag from her hands, and threw it at one of his lackeys.

"You guys. Finish mopping this for her."

He looked down at Maya's hands, which were red from the cold water. Without hesitating, he draped his custom blazer over her shoulders.

"It's late. How are you getting home?"

"I bike."

"You're biking in this weather?" Ashton looked appalled. He spoke with undeniable authority. "Go wait in the lobby. I'm having my driver take you home."

Maya was escorted away under Ashton's protective wing.

Before she turned the corner, she didn't forget to glance back at me, flashing a mocking, triumphant smirk at my soaked, pathetic state.

A few moments later, the crowd dispersed, leaving me alone by the fountain.

Struggling to stand, I used my sleeve to wipe the freezing water dripping from my hair.

"Use this."

A cool, quiet voice spoke from behind me.

I turned around to see our class president, Riley Brooks.

She was a quiet, introverted girl who studied relentlessly and always wore long sleeves, regardless of the season.

In my past life, when Maya was the one being bullied, Riley had tried to help her too.

She handed Maya a towel and urged her to report Ashton's bullying to the administration.

But Maya had violently slapped Riley's hand away.

"What do you know?! He's my brother!"

Back then, Maya was still dreaming her delusional fantasy that she could make Ashton fall in love with her.

After that, Riley stopped trying to help her and returned to being a silent loner.

Later, right before graduation, Riley committed suicide.

That was when everyone finally learned she grew up in agonizing poverty. Her grandmother was bedridden, and her father was a violent gambling addict who brutally abused her and tried to sell her off to pay his debts.

Right now, she stood beside me, holding a clean towel.

I stared at her for a second before taking it.

She didn't say a word. She just turned around to walk away.

She probably figured someone like me—the spoiled Sterling heiress—had nothing to say to her.

Just as she was about to disappear down the hall, I suddenly spoke up.

"Hey, class prez!"

Her footsteps faltered.

I scratched my head awkwardly. "So... I just transferred here, and I don't really know my way around."

"Where's the cafeteria? Mind showing me?"