Chapter 4

Beatrixa hadn't done anything wrong.

Why should Maverick take the blame for her?

Her eyes red, she glared at him. "I didn't do anything wrong. I won't apologize. He bumped into me first, insulted me, and humiliated me. Why should I apologize to him?"

Maverick turned, letting out a low, cold laugh.

His eyes met hers, brimming with the same undisguised mockery as the others. "Beatrixa, isn't it true that you're overweight? He only spoke the truth, and you got angry and pushed him, causing him to get hurt. You think you're innocent?"

A loud ringing filled her head.

For some reason, in that moment, Beatrixa recalled a year ago when she tried to lose weight, starving herself for three days straight. While studying at his house, she fainted.

When she woke, Maverick, usually so composed, scolded her furiously, his eyes red as he held her. "Bae, to me, you're not fat-you're adorable. You don't need to starve yourself to be thin. It's bad for your health."

But now, Maverick called her weight a fact.

Because it was a fact, she deserved to be humiliated.

Beatrixa stumbled home, shaken and unsteady.

Maverick didn't follow, and anyone could see his mood had soured.

A few days later, it was Maverick's birthday.

The Fullers planned a party and invited Beatrixa's family to join.

Given the long-standing bond between the families, her parents couldn't refuse.

On the day of the party, Beatrixa's family attended.

She hid in a corner, avoiding Maverick at all costs.

But during the cake-cutting, something unexpected happened.

The living room's television screen suddenly displayed photos of Beatrixa, naked on a bed.

Her cheeks in the images were flushed, her expression a mix of shyness and joy.

The lower half of the photos showed only part of a head, unidentifiable and blurred with a mosaic.

The slideshow cycled through images of Beatrixa, each one portraying her in a provocative, insatiable light.

"My God, Beatrixa has no shame," someone whispered.

"So young, and already sleeping around," another voice added.

Beatrixa's face went pale the moment she saw the photos.

She looked up at Maverick, only to see him smile and mouth slowly, silently, "Bae, this is the price of your disobedience."

The room erupted into chaos, everyone gawking at the spectacle.

They clearly recognized Beatrixa as the person in the photos.

The shock sent Beatrixa's mother into a hypertensive crisis, and her father called for an ambulance.

"Mom!" Beatrixa cried, trying to follow.

Her father stopped her. "Bae, go home. I'll go with your mom to the hospital. When we're back, you'll explain those photos."

Without waiting for her response, he hurried into the ambulance.

Beatrixa stood rooted to the spot, watching it drive away.

Maverick appeared behind her, pulling her into a secluded corner without a word.

"What do you want, Maverick?" After he dragged her to the empty space, she yanked her hand free, her eyes red as she confronted him.

He raised an eyebrow, his smile gentle. "Bae, I told you you'd regret it. This is your first warning. If you'd just agreed to stay with me, this could've been avoided. Why be so stubborn?"

For the first time, Beatrixa found Maverick utterly unrecognizable.

His past kindness and warmth felt like a cruel illusion.

Her voice trembled as she gritted her teeth. "If I agree to stay with you, will you give up Bailee and be with only me?"

Maverick laughed as if she'd told a hilarious joke, doubling over.

When he finally stopped, he spoke. "Bae, don't be ridiculous. You're still so naive and delusional. If people knew I was with a one-hundred-fifty-pound girl, do you know how much they'd mock me? I like you, but I like Bailee more. As long as you behave, we can stay together. After all, I've gotten used to having you around this past year."

Beatrixa's heart felt crushed by an invisible grip, her breath stolen by pain.

He loved Bailee but wanted to keep her out of habit.

She closed her eyes, finally giving in. "Fine, I agree."

In two weeks, she'd leave with her parents for abroad.

She'd never see Maverick again.

Beatrixa waited at home for days.

Her parents finally returned from the hospital.

As soon as they did, they demanded to know about the photos.

Unable to hide the truth, Beatrixa confessed she and Maverick had been together but had since broken up.

Her mother, eyes red, pulled her into a tight embrace, choking back sobs. "My poor girl, you've suffered so much. Once we leave, the people who hurt you will be gone for good. We've booked the tickets. The flight's in ten days."