Chapter 4I Am Redemption

As I spoke those words, Nolan let out a piercing scream.

Faye didn't even spare me a glance. She rushed to his side, swatting away a bug that had landed on him.

Nolan shot me a smug look over her shoulder.

It was as if he was proving his point.

He could take her whenever he wanted.

It didn't matter anymore whether Faye had heard me or not.

A woman who could be stolen away by a handsome face was not a woman I wanted.

After calming Nolan down, Faye turned around and realized I was gone.

She frowned, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She thought she had faintly heard me say something about breaking up.

She shook her head. She must have misheard.

I had given up on getting the credit from the hosting event, but that evening, I got a call from my advisor.

One of the other student hosts had come down with acute gastroenteritis and couldn't make it.

They wanted me to fill in.

I accepted.

The next morning, I was dressed and waiting at the school gate long before anyone else.

The other hosts started to arrive.

Nolan’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw me.

I ignored him, silently running through my prepared speech in my head.

A crowd of students had gathered to watch. Someone shouted from the back.

"Why is there something so dirty mixed in with all the handsome people?"

"Yeah, one bad apple spoils the bunch!"

"I thought the hosts were supposed to be the best students in the school. Shouldn't that include looks?"

"Where does he get the confidence to just stand there?"

The loudest insults came from Nolan's fan club. But as more people joined in, the mood shifted, and soon everyone was looking at me with amusement.

I ignored their stares and their whispers.

I turned my head and my eyes met Faye's.

She flinched and quickly looked away, as if she was afraid of anyone knowing we were connected.

A sudden, wicked impulse took hold of me.

I waved at her. "Faye! Don't I look handsome?"

Faye was stunned.

The other students turned to look at her.

"Hey, beautiful, do you know him?"

"Are you that guy's girlfriend?"

"No!" Faye denied it, her voice too loud.

The forced smile on my face froze.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand, the pain so sharp it was hard to breathe.

Suddenly, someone slammed into me hard. I lost my balance and fell to the ground.

Something thick and warm was poured over my head.

Nolan’s voice was full of fake remorse. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't do it on purpose!"

I looked up and saw he was apologizing to a girl next to him.

"You went to all the trouble of making me this oatmeal, and I couldn't even hold it steady."

The girl blushed and shook her head. "No, it's okay! I'll make it for you again!"

"Nolan, you did that on purpose!"

I shot to my feet and swung my hand at his face.

But Faye rushed forward and grabbed my wrist, yanking me back.

She glared at me, furious.

"What do you think you're doing? Nolan just accidentally spilled something on you, and you're going to hit him?"

"He's the campus heartthrob! He represents the face of our university!"

"And what about me? Am I not a student here? Does he get a free pass for everything just because he's handsome?"

"Faye, you were the one who told me that looks don't define a person!"

My eyes were filled with disappointment.

I shook her hand off and turned to leave.

Faye stood frozen in place.

Everyone assumed I had left for good. After all, I was covered in oatmeal, my clothes ruined. Some said I was just ashamed and couldn't stand to be there any longer, painfully aware that I didn't belong.

The guests were about to arrive, and I was still nowhere to be seen.

The advisor was frantic. "What are we going to do with one person missing? Is Kian coming back or not?"

"Professor, he intentionally ditched his duties! You should dock his credits!"

"This is an important day for our school! He should be disciplined!"

"I say we expel him! He's a disgrace to our university!"

Just then, a convoy of cars appeared in the distance, heading for the school gate. Everyone turned excitedly.

The advisor was about to step in and take my place when she heard a voice behind her.

"Professor, I'm ready."

Hearing my voice, the advisor let out a sigh of relief and turned around.

"Kian, you're just in time. Quick..."

The moment she saw me, she gasped.

"Who... who are you?"

As the advisor's shocked voice rang out, everyone else turned to look.

One by one, as their eyes fell on my face, they froze, completely dumbfounded.

Nolan’s face went deathly pale.

I spoke calmly. "Professor, it's me. Kian Monroe."

A hand suddenly gripped my arm.

Faye stared at me, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"You're Kian Monroe?!"