My Roommates Stole My Face

My three college roommates tricked me into sending them my photos under the pretense of editing them for me.

I never imagined they'd use my pictures to catfish three rich guys online and scam them out of money.

A month later, those wealthy guys filed fraud charges against me, claiming damages of up to a million dollars.

I tried to explain, but none of them believed me.

My three roommates even stepped forward to accuse me, calling me a gold digger and falsely claiming I had seduced at least thirty men.

In their rage, the rich guys hired some gang thugs who tortured me to death.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the first day of school.

"Margaret, send us your selfies from today. We'll edit them for you."

My roommate Mira leaned over, her finger tapping my screen. "The angle's good, just a bit dark."

Mary immediately chimed in, "Your skin is already flawless. These photos don't show your beauty at all. Send them to us, please."

She reached for my phone, but I took a step back.

Sara laughed beside them. "Don't be so stingy. We're roommateswe're not going to steal your photos or anything."

I stared at all three of them. In my past life, they'd said the same thing.

Then they turned around and sent my photos to different rich guys, which ended with me being labeled a scammer.

To pay back that ridiculous million-dollar debt, I worked three jobs every day.

But the rich guys weren't satisfied. They hired gang thugs who tortured me to death.

"No need. I can edit them myself." I kept my head down, scrolling through the photos on my phone.

Mira got anxious. "Margaret, why are you being like this? We're just trying to help you!"

Mary quickly agreed. "Exactly! We're offering to edit your photos for free. Isn't that great?"

Sara directly grabbed my arm. "Just post them in our group chat. We promise not to share them anywhere else!"

I looked at their fake smiles, remembering how they'd grabbed me the same way in my past life, only to identify me to the police as a gold digger who specialized in scamming men.

"Fine."

I opened Instagram and sent the original photos to our dorm group chat.

The three of them immediately huddled together, their fingers rapidly swiping through the pictures.

"Margaret, you're so gorgeous! After I finish editing, I'll send them back for you to see the results!"

They were as excited as if they'd found treasure. I kept my head down and quietly opened Instagram, quickly registering a new account.

I found their three accounts and blocked them with one click.

"Margaret, how does my edit look?" Mary handed me her phone. In the photo, I'd been AI-edited to look like a Barbie doll.

"Pretty good." I smiled perfunctorily.

Mira suddenly looked up. "What are you doing? You keep staring at your phone."

"Just replying to a message." I didn't look up as I uploaded both the original photos and their heavily edited versions, typing a caption: [Reject appearance anxiety].

Sara leaned over. "Who are you chatting with? A boyfriend? Let me tell you, if you're looking for a boyfriend, you need to be careful. Better let us vet him for you."

She was probably worried that if I got a boyfriend, all my photos would be couple shots, making it harder for her to use my pictures to scam people.

After all, in my past life, they used my photos to scam a full million dollars.

"Just chatting with family." I smiled and put away my phone.

"Tony sent me an Instagram friend request! He says he wants me to be his girlfriend." Mira suddenly squealed with excitement.

Mary immediately crowded over. "Really? He's that rich guy from the finance department!"

Sara also excitedly leaned in. "Accept it quick! Chat with him!"

"Shit! This Tony is so generoushe just transferred you twenty thousand dollars right off the bat."

I watched the three of them huddle together, fingers flying across their screens, and smirked inwardly.

In my past life, Mira had been the first to use my photos to hook Tony. To pursue her, Tony kept transferring money.

I stood up and walked toward the door. Before leaving the dorm, I glanced back. They didn't even lift their heads, completely absorbed in the "rich guy's" sweet nothings.

In the hallway, I opened my newly registered Instagram. The post already had likes and comments.

I took a screenshot and saved it to my album.

This time, they won't get away with harming me.

Over the following days, they found reasons to ask for my photos almost every day.

"Margaret, today's outfit looks so good. Can you send me the original for reference?"

"Your side profile from yesterday was gorgeous. Can you send me the original? I want to learn the photography angle."

"Margaret, could you wear this new dress I bought and take some photos? The seller wants some nice return photos for a discount. You have the best figure in our dorm."

Their eyes constantly fixed on my phone screen.

I casually asked, "Why do you need so many photos?"

Mira immediately hid her phone against her chest. "You're pretty, we want to learn from you."

Mary interjected, "Right, you photograph the best in our dorm."

I nodded, sent the photos to the group chat, then immediately uploaded them to my new Instagram account.

Mira's phone immediately started buzzing. She couldn't control the corners of her mouth lifting upward.

"Tony transferred me money again!" She suddenly screamed. "Fifty thousand! He says he's buying me a bag! I haven't even spent the money he transferred yesterday, I told him not to transfer more but he insists."

Sara immediately pounced over. "Let me see! Oh my god, he's so generous! My boyfriend also transferred me fifty thousand yesterday as spending money."

Mary pouted sourly. "My boyfriend only transferred thirty thousand..."

I quietly recorded these conversations and continued organizing photos.

Three days later, Mira got the latest phone model and showed it off in the dorm.

"Tony insisted on buying it for me. He said it matches my temperament." She deliberately waved it in front of me. "Margaret, want to touch it?"

I didn't look up. "No need. My phone still works."

Sara suddenly leaned over. "Margaret, why are you always on your phone lately?"

"Doing social media. Maybe I'll become a social media star someday." I flashed the screen. "So I'm posting some daily photos."

Mira's expression changed. "Have you posted your photos on all social media platforms?"

"No. Most of the time I just share study materials." I answered calmly. "Want to see?"

I had indeed registered another account where I shared study materials.

The three of them visibly relaxed. Mira resumed her arrogant manner. "By the way, Tony's treating the whole dorm to dinner this weekend. You have to come."

Mary immediately followed up. "Right, we're all going. You can't be a buzzkill."

My finger paused on the screen. "Why are you specifically emphasizing that I come?"

Mira's eyes shifted. "Tony wants to meet my roommates. You know how guys are, they get curious."

Sara suddenly interrupted. "Margaret, dress nicely that day. Don't embarrass our dorm."

I looked at their nervous expressions and suddenly understoodTony was getting suspicious.

After all, for the past week, Mira had been receiving gifts and transfers from Tony every day, but had never met him in person.

Plus, Tony went to our school. If they didn't meet soon, Mira's cover would be blown.

In my past life, they used the same excuse to trick me into attending a dinner.

At the table, they inexplicably seated me next to Tony. No wonder Tony kept staring at me.

"Sure." I smiled. "I'll definitely be there on time."

Mira breathed a sigh of relief and immediately started typing rapidly on her phone.

Her phone screen reflected in the glass. I clearly saw the last sentence:

[Honey, my roommates all agreed to come.]

Right after, John sent a fifty-thousand-dollar transfer with a message:

[Then make sure to wear the dress I bought you. Can't wait to meet you.]

On the day we were supposed to meet Tony, Mira waved a pink dress in front of me first thing in the morning.

"Margaret, you'd look amazing in this dress. This is my new dressI haven't even worn it myself yet." She forcefully held the dress up to me.

Mary immediately agreed. "Right, this color complements your skin tone."

Sara directly grabbed me. "Try it on quick, don't spoil the mood. Look, we're all ready, you're the only one who hasn't gotten ready. Don't embarrass us."

I stepped back. "I have my own clothes."

Mira's face darkened. "Tony's specially treating us. If you just wear jeans, that's so disrespectful!"

"Exactly," Mary scoffed. "He's a rich guy, very worldly."

I stared at their eager expressions and suddenly smiled. "Fine, I'll wear it."

Mira immediately beamed. "That's more like it! With your looks, you'll charm so many people tonight."

"Tony has lots of rich friends. We'll introduce you to one."

I took the dress into the bathroom and heard them whispering outside.

"She won't back out, will she?"

"Don't worry, I'm watching her."

I slowly changed into the dress. When I walked out, their eyes lit up.

"So beautiful!" Mira circled around me. "This dress fits you perfectly! Hold on, let me take a couple of photos."

Before I could refuse, she grabbed her phone and snapped several pictures, quickly operating on her phone while muttering:

"Sent you the photos."

I knew she'd sent them to Tony.

I lowered my head to adjust the hem. "I have a club activity this afternoon. You guys go first, I'll join you later."

Mira immediately got nervous. "You have to come."

"I know." I smiled. "I won't back out on what I promised."

After they left, I immediately changed back into my jeans, stuffed the dress in my bag, then posted the photos Mira took to my account with the caption:

[Tried on my roommate's dress today.]

At seven that evening, I stood outside the private dining room, hearing Mira's sweet voice from inside:

"Tony, Margaret has a really introverted personality. When she gets here, you absolutely can't be too forward or you'll scare her."

Mary quickly helped. "Right, she really hates guys who are too pushy on the first meeting."

"Last time a guy accidentally bumped into her and she just stormed out." Sara embellished the story.

Looked like they were afraid of being exposed, so they specifically told Tony to talk less.

I pushed open the door. The private room instantly went quiet.

Tony looked up at me. His expression changed from confusion to shock. Disregarding what the three had just advised, he blurted out:

"Why aren't you wearing the dress I bought?"

The three roommates panicked. Mira quickly stood up and pulled me outside, while the other two stayed inside to calm Tony down.

"Why didn't you wear that dress? Why did you change back into those ratty jeans?" Mira lowered her voice to question me, her face pale.

I feigned confusion. "I couldn't wear a dress for the club activity, so I changed back. Then the activity ran too late and I was afraid you'd be waiting, so I didn't change the dress. Why are you so nervous?"

"And why did Tony ask that?"

Mira bit her lip and said nothing.

"If you won't tell me, I'm going in. I'm hungry." I moved to push the door.

"Wait!" She grabbed me. "I used your photos to have an online relationship with Tony. That dress was actually bought by Tony for you. He wanted you to wear it when you came to meet him today."

"What?" I deliberately raised my voice. "How could you do something like that? Aren't you afraid of being exposed?"

"Please, Margaret," she was nearly in tears. "Just help me this once. I don't want to lose face in front of them. I promise I'll come clean to Tony later!"

I shook off her hand. "You used my photos to scam people, and you want me to cooperate?"

"Please!" Mira was about to cry. "Just this once!"

I fell silent for a moment, then showed a reluctant expression. "Fine, I'll help this one time. But you must tell him the truth soon."

"I will, I will!" She nodded repeatedly.

I secretly paused the recording.

Back in the private room, Tony was still asking about the dress.

I smiled. "That dress was being washed and wasn't dry yet. Sorry about that."

Only then did Tony relax.

Throughout the meal, he kept attentively serving me food, completely ignoring Mira's darkening expression.

"This limited edition bag is for you." He suddenly pulled out a gift box.

"It's too expensive, I can't accept it." I declined.

"Take it, consider it a meeting gift." He insisted.

Mira stared at the bag, her eyes wide. "Tony, this..."

"What?" Tony looked at her, confused.

"Nothing." She forced a smile.

In the end, I returned the bag to Tony.

I didn't want any financial entanglement with him.

Over the next few days, Tony started pursuing me obsessively.

On the third day at noon, I cornered Mira in the cafeteria.

"When are you coming clean to Tony?" I asked directly.

Her eyes shifted. "Give it a bit more time..."

"Time for what?"

"He likes you so much right now. If I tell him, he'll be even angrier." She stammered.

I sneered. "So you're just going to let me continue being your stand-in?"

She couldn't bear to give up the gifts and transfers Tony sent.

"It's not that!" She quickly defended herself. "Just... wait until his enthusiasm dies down a bit..."

Her phone suddenly chimed with a notification from Tony.

She glanced at it, and her face grew even more ashen.

"He transferred you money again." I glimpsed at it. "Fifty thousand. You can't accept it. If you do, accept it under your own name."