Chapter 5 To Their Home

Elena stepped closer, and a heavy tension settled in the air. "You put something in my drink that night."

"What are you even saying? I have no idea."

Hazel's eyes flicked to the faint marks near Elena's collar. A quiet sense of satisfaction crept in. She assumed the man she arranged had already done what she intended.

Knowing Hazel would never admit it easily, Elena took out her phone, opened her gallery, and turned the screen toward Hazel.

"This account belongs to you. And this is the purchase record. Are you still going to deny it?"

A trace of unease crossed Hazel's face. She had deleted everything, yet the records were back.

"I've never seen that before. I didn't buy anything like that. You're just trying to pin this on me."

Elena slid to the next image. It showed Hazel receiving the package, her face clear, with the delivery details matching the order.

"What's your excuse now?"

The color drained from Hazel's face before shifting again. She let out a sharp breath and dropped the act. "Yes, I did it. I can't stand you, and I drugged your drink. You think I don't know you got into Epoch Tech? Why should you fail at marrying into money, then turn around and take my internship at Epoch? Why do you get everything?"

In her mind, that position had always been hers.

A cold smile tugged at Elena's lips. "If you didn't get into Epoch, that's on you. Don't blame me for it."

Hazel responded, refusing to accept that, "Maybe I can't beat you when it comes to playing with men."

Her expression twisted with contempt as she added, "So what if you have all that? Are you really going to report me? Once this gets out, the school's reputation takes a hit too. Do you think they'll protect you? Elena, we're both nobodies. In Bramville, people like us don't matter. Take my advice and don't push this. Your plan to marry rich has already fallen apart. If you keep going, you'll destroy your own name again. You might even get kicked out of the university."

Buying that kind of drug was illegal. Hazel knew that.

But Elena hadn't taken it to the school yet-and there was a reason. The school's reputation was on the line. So was Elena's.

That was exactly why Hazel felt no fear. She was certain Elena wouldn't dare take this to the school directly.

Elena's voice stayed calm. "Someone like you isn't worth dragging the university's name down. I've already sent everything to the president anonymously. He'll take care of it. Getting you expelled shouldn't be difficult."

Elena raised her phone as she spoke. The screen clearly showed the message had gone through.

The moment it sank in, panic took over Hazel's face. "Have you lost your mind?" She rushed forward, reaching for the phone.

Elena reacted instantly. She grabbed her and shoved her away.

Hazel crashed onto the ground. A sharp cry slipped out. Her ankle twisted badly, though the pain barely registered. She had worked too hard to get into this university. She hadn't even graduated yet. If she got expelled now, everything would fall apart.

Hatred filled her eyes as she stared up at Elena. "If I'm thrown out, I'll drag you down with me. Your scandal's already all over campus. You want another one? If that happens, forget about marrying into money."

A chill settled in Elena's gaze. She stepped forward and pressed her foot down on Hazel's leg.

Hazel screamed. It felt like her bone would break.

Elena tapped her phone again. A recording began to play, and Hazel's own voice echoed out.

"Yes, I did it. I can't stand you, and I drugged your drink."

As the words filled the air, Elena looked down at her. "Seems like expulsion isn't enough for you. You want to end up in prison too."

Shock overtook Hazel's face. For a moment, she forgot the pain entirely.

She had never expected Elena to recover everything, let alone trap her into admitting it.

Her teeth clenched before her tone shifted. "Elena, I'm sorry. I messed up. I just lost my head for a moment. I can't leave school. We've been roommates for three years. Please let this go. Take the email back. I'm begging you. I can't get expelled."

Elena didn't soften. "If saying sorry fixed things, laws wouldn't exist. You made your choice. Now you face it."

Frustration broke through Hazel's fear. "So what? Some punk slept with you. It's not a big deal. You walked away just fine. And over something like that, you're going to destroy my entire future?"

"Some punk?"

Elena's fingers curled tight, and the chill in her eyes deepened.

So the man outside the private room, the one she had knocked down, had been sent by Hazel.

The color drained from Hazel's face when she saw that reaction. She knew exactly what Elena was capable of. If Elena chose to hit her, she wouldn't hold back. That was why she had relied on drugs in the first place. Otherwise, there was no way that kind of man could have controlled her.

Right then, Elena's phone lit up with Henry's name.

She ignored the call and looked down at Hazel. "Pack your things and leave this university. Don't let me see you again."

After a brief pause, she added, "And that man you hired? He's probably lying in a hospital bed right now."

Without another word, she turned and walked away, picking up the call as she moved.

Hazel stayed where she had fallen, her face pale, her eyes fixed on Elena's back, filled with resentment.

What did that mean? Had that man failed? But Elena hadn't returned that night, and the marks on her neck had been obvious.

In the parking lot, Henry waited alone. There was no driver this time. The moment he saw Elena, he stepped out of the Maybach and opened the passenger door himself.

Elena gave a quiet thanks and got inside.

Henry took his seat behind the wheel and glanced at her. "Put your seat belt on."

Elena pulled it across and secured it. "Where are we going?"

For a marriage that existed only in name, they weren't actually heading to register it right away, were they?

His hands rested on the steering wheel. After a short pause, he answered, "Our home."

Elena understood right away. Even if it was only for show, it still had to look real.

A brief pause passed before she spoke. "We can stay in the same house, but we're not sharing a room."

Henry shot her a sideways look. "You don't need to worry about that. I have no interest. If anything, you should stop drinking whatever's handed to you and walking into a stranger's room."

Elena turned her gaze toward the window and stayed silent.

Not long after, the car rolled into Hartwell Mansion, set within one of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods.

The grounds were carefully designed, with water features and landscaping that stood out even among the city's best.

The vehicle passed through the gates of the mansion.

They stepped out from opposite sides, and Ashton approached without delay.

Together, they walked through the garden, passed the pool, and entered the main sitting room.

On the coffee table were a marriage certificate and a prenuptial agreement. Both in duplicate.

Ashton started, "Everything has been prepared."

Henry gave a slight nod and picked up the certificate, glancing over it.

Elena leaned in for a look. It appeared completely legitimate.

Henry then turned to her and handed over the prenup. "Go through it. If you don't see any issues, sign it."

The document was thick. Elena didn't bother flipping through it. She signed her name without reading a single page.

To her, this marriage was nothing but a sham. The contents didn't matter.

Henry watched her for a moment before settling back against the sofa, saying nothing.

After putting the pen down, Elena's eyes shifted toward a painting on the wall.

Ashton noticed right away. "Do you like that piece, Miss Harvey? It's by Drift. Mr. Watson values that artist highly. Drift is also the only student of the famous painter Joseph Dawson."

In Ashton's mind, since they were bound by a fake marriage, Elena had to learn Henry's habits and preferences. Otherwise, she might make a mistake in front of the Watson family.