Love Not Charity

Thomas rejected the honors program spot for me.
He gave it to Rena Quinn, the scholarship kid he supposedly couldnt stand.
When I told him we were over, he just took off his gold-rimmed glasses, polishing them with a deliberate slowness, completely unfazed.
Don't forget, I voted for you in the campus ambassador poll, not her. That took some real pressure.
He spoke as if placating a child. Renas family is dirt poor. That program is her only shot. Think about how many times Ive gone after her for your sake over the years. Just consider this a way of making it even.
"Jealous again?" he sighed, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Once you marry into my family, you can have anything you want. Why lower yourself to her level?"
I stared at his infuriatingly calm expression. "I said we're breaking up. Did you not hear me?"
For the first time, a frown creased his brow, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a confident smirk. "Fine. I'll give you a week to cool off. I'll win you back next week. Happy now?"
He was so certain I couldn't live without him.
But he had no idea.
Id already received a full scholarship offer from Oxford University. My flight to England was in five days.

1
Youre breaking up with Thomas Chase?
My best friend Chloes shriek blasted through the phone.
Ava, are you insane? You dont just dump the ultimate catch like its nothing!
I held the phone away from my ear and leaned back against my headboard, scrolling through the campus message board.
The pinned post at the top was in a blaring red font: [Thomas Chase Defends His Girl, Humiliates Rival Rena Quinn with Program Spot!]
The comments were a spectacle.
LMAO, isnt Rena the one whos always acting so high and mighty, saying she despises the rich? Funny how she took the spot so fast.
You dont get it. This is a power move. Thomas is basically saying: Take the money, shut your mouth, and stop bothering my Ava.
Exactly! Our Ava is a queen. That broke girl Rena is always pulling shady stuff behind her back. Its about time someone put her in her place.
Thomas is way too good to Ava. He spoils her rotten.
I read the comments, a wave of nausea churning in my stomach.
They all thought Thomas was defending me.
Only I knew the truth. That spotthe one I had pulled countless all-nighters for, the one I had poured my soul into earninghad been tossed away to someone else with a careless, lets call it even.
Ava, are you even listening? Say something! Chloe was practically hyperventilating.
I opened Renas social media profile. Her latest post was from half an hour ago. No picture, just a single line of text: A handout, I know. But I earned this.
I screenshotted it and sent it to Chloe.
See? Thats his explanation to me.
Silence on the other end. After a long pause, Chloes voice came back, strained.
...So he really gave the spot to Rena? But why? I thought he hated her.
Every time she tried to sabotage you at school, wasnt he the first one to jump in and shut her down?
Yes, why?
I once believed he was on my side.
I used to think the animosity was because he loved me, and so he loathed anyone who tried to hurt me.
But it turned out that every public confrontation was just a prelude to a private, generous compensation.
And I was the fool, the only one who had been kept in the dark, the only one whose feelings were real.
Chloe, I said softly.
Yeah?
Thomas and I are really over.
Theres no misunderstanding.
I heard Chloes sharp intake of breath.
I knew what she wanted to saythat Thomass family was powerful, that he doted on me, that he was the perfect boyfriend everyone envied, and that I shouldn't be so rash.
But they only saw what he wanted them to see.

2
The next morning, a giant Herms box was delivered to my dorm room.
My roommates let out a collective gasp.
Oh my god, its the latest collection! Ava, Thomas is spoiling you rotten!
Seriously, Im so full from all this public display of affection!
Tucked inside was a card with Thomass elegant, flowing script.
Cooling-off period. 144 hours left.
My roommates buzzed around me, their eyes filled with envy. In their world, I was a princess cherished by the heir to a fortune, the undisputed winner in this game of love.
The irony was suffocating.
He thought money could fix anything, could erase any hurt, including my trampled dignity and broken heart.
I calmly took out my phone, snapped a picture of the bag that was still warm from its packaging, and opened a luxury resale app.
Title: [Guilt Gift from the Ex. Brand new, box opened once. Make an offer.]
Once it was posted, I sent the link to Chloe, asking her to keep an eye out for a serious buyer.
Her call came instantly.
Ava, are you nuts? Youll lose so much money selling it secondhand right after you got it!
Its not like Im ever going to use it, I said, indifferent.
I cradled the phone on my shoulder as I dragged a pre-packed suitcase from the back of my closet.
Chloe, Im flying to England in five days. I got the full ride to Oxford.
What?
The line went dead silent. I could picture her jaw hitting the floor.
When did you even
I applied a while ago. As a backup plan.
I managed a small smile. It was probably the single best decision I had ever made for myself.
As soon as I hung up, a message from Thomas popped up.
Did you get the gift? Why arent you answering? Dont you like the color? I can have it exchanged if you want.
I didnt bother replying, just muted his chat.
I continued packing, methodically organizing my life into boxes and arranging for an international courier to pick them up.
Just as I sealed the last box, my mom called.
The moment I answered, her placating voice filled the line.
Ava, dear, did you have a fight with Thomas? He called me, you know, hes very upset.
Mom, we broke up.
Dont be ridiculous, her voice shot up an octave. Ava, how can you be so immature? Our family latching onto the Chases is the chance of a lifetime. Its a blessing!
Dont be so willful. A boy with Thomass background willing to bend over backward to please you is already a huge compliment. Dont get arrogant and throw this all away!
I took a deep breath, cutting her off.
Mom, what if I dont want this blessing?
A long silence stretched over the line.
Then, my dad snatched the phone.
You wouldnt dare! Ava, weve worked our fingers to the bone to raise you, not for you to act like a spoiled brat! If you ruin this engagement, dont bother coming home.
Click.
He hung up.
I stood there in the middle of my messy dorm room, clutching my phone, and suddenly felt an incredible sense of release.
Fine.
Let it all be severed. Clean breaks were the best.
That evening, a confirmation email from Oxford University landed in my inbox.
I stared at the words for a long time before carefully typing out my acceptance.
The moment I hit send, a heavy weight lifted from my shoulders.
Finally, I was escaping.

3
"My family's having a dinner party tonight. My mom specifically asked for you to be there," Thomas announced over the phone.
Your parents will be there too. It's time we moved forward with our engagement. It took a lot of convincing on my part, so please don't show up looking like you're at a funeral."
I rolled my eyes. As if I cared about his stupid engagement.
But then I remembered some important research papers Id left at home. This was a good chance to have my parents bring them and to get everything over with in one go.
Fine, I agreed.
The Chase family villa was a blaze of light.
Thomass parents sat at the head of the table, their attitude toward me a mix of detached politeness and cool disdain. Every other sentence was a subtle jab about my humble background, a reminder that I wasn't their equal.
My own parents seemed completely oblivious to the condescension, just nodding and scraping, smiling inanely at the Chases. They even started putting me down to curry favor.
Our Ava, weve spoiled her, Im afraid. She has a bit of a temper. I hope youll both be patient with her in the future.
Shes so lucky to be marrying Thomas.
I sat there stiffly, the feeling of being scrutinized making my skin crawl.
During the meal, Thomass mother brought up Rena, her tone casual.
Thomas, I heard youve been picking on a girl at your university, a Rena Quinn?
Her perfectly preserved face held a hint of disapproval, but her gaze drifted over to me, as if blaming me for her son lowering himself.
Mom, dont listen to rumors, Thomas said, setting down his wine glass. I actually admire Rena. Her familys got nothing, and shes stubborn as a mule. I was just teasing her a bit. I made it up to her afterward.
I tuned them out, mechanically stuffing my face with lobster and abalone.
Halfway through dinner, the butler escorted someone into the dining room.
It was Rena.
She stood awkwardly in the opulent room, wearing a faded dress that stuck out like a sore thumb. All the defiant pride she carried at school was gone, replaced by a timid, hunted look. Her wide, watery eyes darted toward Thomas, pleading for help.
Thomas frowned, rubbing his temples. Take her upstairs and find her something to wear, he told the butler.
When Rena returned, she was transformed. The dress was a limited-edition piece from one of the Chase familys brands, and on her, it had a certain fragile, captivating charm.
At the table, Thomass mother was warmer to Rena than she had been to me, her son's actual girlfriend, all evening.
You must be Rena, she said, taking her hand. Thomas told me all about you. Youre a hard worker, your grades are excellent, and now youve secured a spot in that honors program. Youre a wonderful girl.
She announced that the Chase family would be funding Renas entire education.
If you ever need anything, you come to me. We Chases have the utmost respect for resilient young people like you, who pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
Rena was overwhelmed, her eyes welling with tears as she stammered her thanks.
I knew exactly what this was. Thomass mother was using Rena to slap me in the face. She was showing me that even a penniless girl had more grit and value than I, the daughter of a comfortable middle-class family, did.
I was the real parasite, the one trying to worm her way into their dynasty.
I couldnt stand to look at my parents fawning, sycophantic faces anymore. The nausea Id been suppressing all evening threatened to boil over.
I put down my fork, stood up, and took the file folder with my research papers from my mother's hand.
Im sorry, Im not feeling well. I have to go.
Thomas shot up from his seat to stop me.
Ava!

4
I turned and gave him one last, cold look.
His arm froze in mid-air. Slowly, he let it fall.
Without another glance back, I walked out of that suffocating cage.
The late-night air was frigid, the wind stinging my cheeks as I walked alone down the empty street. But my mind was a reel of memories, playing back my time with Thomas against my will.
I first met him at the art studio where I worked part-time. A difficult customer was tearing apart one of my paintings when Thomas appeared out of nowhere, a knight in shining armor who defused the situation with a few sharp words. He wore a crisp white shirt and stood bathed in light, looking like a prince.
When he pursued me, he said he was tired of the shallow, artificial socialites in his circle. He said he loved how real and genuine I was.
He called me the most unique girl hed ever met.
And I believed him.
My family was middle-class, my parents ordinary professionals. Our worlds were galaxies apart. But I truly believed our love was real, a connection of souls that transcended class.
Then Rena appeared.
She was fiercely independent, scornful of wealth and power, and branded anyone close to Thomas as a corporate lackeyespecially me, his girlfriend.
The first time we went on a date after we got together, we were at a small caf near campus. I was sketching him when Rena, wearing a waitress uniform, came over with our coffee. She shot me a contemptuous look and muttered, Climbing the social ladder and forgetting where you came from. Disgusting.
Thomas wasn't having it. He slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. What did you just say?

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