The Fake Rich Girl Exposed Me

After six months of medical leave, I finished treatment a week early and returned to campus, wanting to surprise my boyfriend Donald.

But in the restroom, I accidentally overheard my best friend Moore bragging:

This bag is a limited edition. Not like Corinna, carrying that fake around all day. And she keeps bragging about how her mom specially brought it back from Paris.

Two other girls sneered:

"I always thought Corinna wore designer clothes every day. Turns out this whole rich girl act is completely fake!"

"She's been on medical leave for half a year, right? She probably got knocked up by some old guy who's keeping her!"

"So gross! How does she still have the nerve to cling to Donald all the time? Moore, Donald choosing you as his girlfriend was the best decision ever."

So my best friend had not only been spreading rumors about me behind my back, but she'd also stolen my boyfriend!

Six months ago, Moore had sworn to me:

"Corinna, don't worry! I'll watch Donald 24/7 for you. I guarantee no woman will dare seduce him! If he cheats, I'll break his legs!"

During the hardest time in the hospital.

Donald called me every day to comfort me.

Moore also visited me every week with all sorts of weird little trinkets.

"Corinna, doesn't this ugly doll look like Donald?"

"Corinna, you have to get better soon."

One was my boyfriend of many years, the other was my close best friend.

We had even sworn to stick together for life, never abandoning each other.

The memories were like nails, pinning me in place.

The voices in the restroom gradually faded. They left one by one.

The medication my doctor prescribed was still in a clear pill organizer.

That was my supply for the past week.

It rattled in my backpack as I moved to open the door.

The doctor said I'd been getting angry much less lately.

Both my manic episodes and bipolar disorder were developing in the right direction.

I knew all of this was inseparable from Donald and Moore's involvement.

My phone suddenly vibrated. Donald had sent me a message.

"Corinna, I dreamed about you last night. Just thinking that you'll be discharged in a week makes me so happy!"

He'd also sent a photo of the plant I'd given him on his windowsill.

He said, "Look, without you here, it's stopped growing."

The sycamore leaves outside were already yellow, though it had been spring when I was admitted.

Six months ago, Donald said he marked off a square on the calendar I'd given him every day, counting down to my discharge.

Counting the days until we'd meet again was its own kind of romance.

So I deliberately ended my treatment a week early.

Just to rush back to campus to celebrate Donald's birthday.

To give him a birthday surprise. I hadn't told anyone.

I knew his family had run into some problems recently.

His dad's construction project had been suspended.

He couldn't help but sigh when he called me.

But he'd quickly catch himself and laugh, telling me about his daily life:

"Corinna, you don't need to hear about all this depressing stuff. Getting better is what's most important."

I'd bought him the latest gaming console he'd always wanted but couldn't bring himself to buy.

I'd wrapped it in beautiful starry paper and tied it with a ribbon.

I'd even imagined his expression when he received it.

He'd be stunned at first.

Then those eyes that were always full of tenderness would crinkle as he ruffled my hair and said:

"Corinna, why waste money on this? You know I'll love anything you give me."

But the corners of his mouth would turn up. He'd be happy inside.

I knew it all.

I tried hard not to recall the conversation I'd just overheard.

But the restroom lights were so bright.

The marble countertop reflected a pale, ghastly light.

I walked to the mirror and looked at myself.

Pale face, dark eyes, hair cut short.

I looked... fragile, like a carefully maintained specimen.

I took out my lipstick, wanting to make myself look healthier.

But even my hands began to tremble.

Right or wrong, I had to get answers.

I took out my phone to distract myself.

Until I scrolled to an Ins post from a mutual friend.

The location was a restaurant off campus. They were celebrating Donald's birthday together.

On my way from campus to the restaurant,

Moore sent me a message.

Corinna! Donald said he's going to hang out with some friends alone for a bit

But he told me he'll definitely come see you alone this weekend and celebrate with you again. He said his birthday isn't complete without you

I'm really the security guard for your relationship. Don't worry, I'll be there the whole time. I guarantee no other girls will get within three feet of him

She immediately sent a photo of Donald's back.

He was wearing the gray sweater I'd given him, standing by the private room window on the phone.

His fingers were long, clean, with distinct knuckles.

In a trance, I suddenly remembered.

When I was little, I fell from a tree.

Those hands had steadily carried me on his back to the nurse's office.

When I had episodes and smashed things in a frenzy.

Those hands had held me tight from the darkness.

"Corinna, don't be afraid. I'm here. I'll always be here..."

Those hands had also accepted the project introduction letter my dad gave him.

Received the specialist appointment slip my mom got for his mom.

And cupped my face in my most twisted and broken moments, saying I love you.

I scrolled through our past chat records, looking at all those considerate and responsible updates.

What classes Donald had today

What Donald ate today

Whether Donald was at the library or playing basketball tonight

Back then, I'd thought having a friend like this was incredible luck.

But thinking about it now.

If they weren't constantly stuck together, how could Moore know every little detail so thoroughly?

I stared at the photo for a few seconds.

"Where are you guys now?"

Moore replied almost instantly:

"The restaurant! The one across from campus. The atmosphere's pretty good, mainly because it's quiet."

Then she sent another message:

"The private room today has a minimum spend of $2,800. The cake was custom-made too, cost several hundred more."

"And Donald insisted on opening that bottle of red wine. So expensive!"

"But it's fine! It's worth it to celebrate my best friend's boyfriend's birthday!"

In the past, receiving this kind of message, I would've transferred money immediately.

Moore's family wasn't well-off. I'd always been afraid she'd be under financial pressure because of me.

Every time we ate out or went on trips, I'd voluntarily cover most of the expenses.

Or afterwards I'd send her red packets under various pretexts, or give her equivalent gifts.

She'd always decline a few times before accepting, then hug me emotionally.

"Corinna, you're so good."

My finger hovered over the transfer button.

This time, I didn't press it.

"Thanks for the hard work, Moore. Next time I'll take you skiing in Switzerland. You've always wanted to go, right?"

The moment I sent the message.

I happened to stop in front of the restaurant.

The door was ajar, leaving a narrow crack.

My phone stayed quiet for about half a minute before Moore replied with a cute emoji.

At the same time, a sharp, piercing female voice rang out from the private room.

"I've had enough!"

It was Moore, completely different from before.

"She's stuck in the hospital with her illness and can't get out, and now she's being impatient with me?!"

"Donald, how much longer do I have to put up with this?!"

"When she comes back, what does that make me? Huh? You tell me, what does that make me?!"

After an awkward silence.

A male voice spoke up.

"Donald, you can't keep hiding this forever. Corinna will find out sooner or later."

"Everyone in the department already thinks you and Moore are a couple, don't they?"

"At the basketball game last time when Moore brought water, everyone teased you, and you didn't deny it either."

Someone else continued:

"Exactly. Moore and you these past six months... we've all seen it."

"Corinna being sick isn't easy, but you can't keep dragging both of them along like this, right? It's not fair to Moore either."

My heartbeat seemed to stop in that instant.

So... they all knew.

Everyone was in on the act.

Only I was a complete and utter joke.

"Enough! I know what I'm doing."

Donald's voice went cold, with a hardness I rarely heard from him.

The hallway and private room suddenly fell silent.

His next words, each one crystal clear, pierced through my eardrums and stabbed into my heart.

"Now's not the time yet. Corinna's dad hasn't fully handed over power. Her dad is smart."

"From her, I still can't get anything more substantial for now."

"Next quarter's collaborationmy family's company is still counting on her family to help us out. Just wait a bit longer."

Moore interrupted him with a sob in her voice.

"Wait, wait, wait! Always waiting!"

"What about me? What am I? Your underground lover? Or the backup you can't acknowledge?"

"Donald, I didn't get together with you to suffer this kind of humiliation!"

Donald's voice immediately softened.

Using that gentle, coaxing tone I loved most.

"Alright, baby, don't cry. You know I love you most."

"Corinnashe's just a psycho. Once I get what I want, I'll come clean with her immediately."

"Then I'll introduce you to everyone properly, with full fanfare. Okay?"

Moore's voice was muffled, but her anger had clearly subsided considerably.

"You just say nice things."

"Then you're not allowed to go see her this week. Not allowed to be so gentle with her!"

But Donald said:

"Not this week. I've worked so hard to keep this up. If I don't commit fully to the act, how can I fool her father?"

"Baby, you don't knowevery time she has an episode, I feel so disgusted I want to throw up, but I still have to hold her and comfort her."

"Only with you do I feel like a human being."

Moore immediately broke into laughter, that laugh coquettish and smug.

"You're terrible. Fine, I forgive you. So when are you breaking up with her?"

"I can't stand her for another day. Especially todayshe used to transfer money so quickly, but this time she's talking about taking me skiing in Switzerland."

"As if I can't go without her. Who's she insulting?!"

Donald immediately replied:

"Soon, soon. Once the project funds come through, I'll come clean right away..."

The voices in the private room gradually blurred.

The hallway wall lamps cast warm yellow light that fell on me, yet I felt even colder.

The bag in my hand was clenched so tight, my nails digging deep into my palm.

Every word, every sentence they spoke.

Was like a red-hot branding iron, searing my heart with a sizzling sound.

So all that tenderness I'd treated as my lifeline was a performance that disgusted him so much he wanted to vomit but had to endure.

So that friendship I'd carefully treasured was also an utterly false scam.

The laughter and cheerful voices inside the door seemed to tell me again and again.

This world doesn't welcome you.

Thoughts of destroying everything began screaming wildly in my mind.

The watch monitoring my physical data in real-time began sending alerts.

My body temperature and heart rate were both rapidly spiking.

The hospital had apparently already received the signal.

Just as I was about to lose control, a special phone ringtone suddenly rang.

My emotions were like a balloon with a sudden leakbefore they could explode, they came pouring out.

The doctor's voice was urgent, no longer as gentle as usual.

"Corinna, where are you right now?! Promise me, no matter what happens, don't hurt yourself, okay?!"

I paused, said okay.

Then directly pushed open the door in front of me.