"God, has Sharon lost her mind? Is she telling the truth? How dramatic this is!"

"I can't believe it. It's bad enough that Victor usually runs rampant on campus, but to think he caused a girl to have an abortion?"

"Sharon is at fault, too, isn't she? She's Winona's best friend; how could she steal her boyfriend?"

"I think they're both in the wrong."

"This is absolutely insane. Sharon actually exposed something like this; she must have given up on everything."

Winona's face turned pale at Sharon's words as she turned to look at Victor. Victor looked extremely grim. He had never expected Sharon to reveal their relationship in front of so many people; he thought she was truly crazy. He had hooked up with Sharon for fun; he never imagined she would get pregnant. Although she had an abortion, Sharon clung to him afterward. His novelty toward her had long faded, but because she was always around Winona, he didn't have the opportunity to cut ties.

Victor quickly grabbed Winona and tried to explain. "Winona, it was this bitch who seduced me! I was just drunk. Please forgive me, okay?"

Sharon laughed and pointed at Victor. "You say I seduced you? Sure, maybe I could seduce you once or twice, but come on, you've slept with me plenty of times over the past two years. Ha ha…"

Victor was completely at a loss for words. Winona's tears flowed uncontrollably. Part of her reaction was pure drama, yet a small part was sincere. She loved Victor, albeit a little. She always loved herself most.

She had long been aware of, or perhaps had accepted, Victor's wandering ways; such behavior was common in their circle. Yet, having his cheating exposed publicly was a major blow to her pride. Deep down, Winona was upset because her self-esteem had been shattered.

"Why? She's my best friend… why would she do this?" After saying this, Winona ran out in tears.

As Winona passed Jeremiah, she slowed her steps intentionally and cast a red-eyed glance in his direction, feeling pitiful. But seeing him still focused on Yvette only fueled her jealousy. Victor chased after Winona, desperately trying to catch up to her.

Quietly, Bonnie leaned over to Yvette and said, "Yve, isn't this like a game of tag? How boring!"

Yvette chuckled softly, finding Bonnie's thought unique. Andrew couldn't help but laugh as well; Bonnie's comments were amusing. He made a mental note of her name, thinking it cute.

When Bonnie heard someone laughing at her, she looked up to find the source: one of the guys who had defended Yvette earlier. She politely smiled at him before shooting him a glare. Her father had taught her to engage in manners before showing aggression.

Andrew found this amusing. They continued to glare at each other like little kids, which others might have considered silly, but they found joy in the playful confrontation.

Sharon sat alone, sobbing uncontrollably; no one approached to offer comfort.

"Apologize," Yvette said.

Hearing these words, Sharon instinctively muttered, "I'm sorry." As soon as she realized who had spoken, she immediately lowered her head in shame. A self-deprecating laugh escaped her lips. She felt utterly stripped of dignity. In her futile attempt to elevate herself by stepping on Yvette, she had lost everything instead.

"Take this," Yvette's voice remained cold. Sharon looked up to see Yvette standing before her, offering a tissue, which caused her tears to flow even more heavily. Yvette radiated a wild, carefree bravado that made Sharon realize why she had ever felt the need to challenge her. It wasn't just about forcing Victor to apologize or Winona's feelings; it was because Yvette embodied everything that Sharon yearned for yet could never attain, igniting her jealousy.

As Yvette extended the tissue, a fleeting hope crossed Sharon's mind: perhaps if she pleaded with Yvette, she would let it go. "Yvette, I'm sorry. Please spare us!" Sharon begged.

Yvette turned away, her slender figure pausing momentarily. She felt disappointed by Sharon's actions. "No, you have to face the consequences of your mistakes," she replied.

Yvette's words felt like cold water splashed across Sharon's face, awakening her to the absurdity of her actions. She realized that Yvette had no reason to forgive her; everything was of her own making.

At that moment, Sharon finally had a complete awakening. Watching Yvette begin to walk away, she wiped her tears fiercely and cried out hoarsely, "I'm sorry, Yvette. We will leave Seacrity."

Without looking back, Yvette continued on her path. Jeremiah said nothing as he followed her. Andrew, Bonnie, and John also left, while Tobias hesitated, glancing back at Simon, and then left.

Simon sighed, turning to Sharon seriously. "You should go home. Life is about walking the right path; once you stray, it's hard to return. I hope this teaches you a lesson; be a better person in the future."

Numbly, Sharon nodded and left the auditorium. She knew she was wrong, even if it was too late. Simon had pending matters to attend to, and after directing Patrick to handle the follow-up, he left as well.

Once outside, Yvette pulled out her black phone and sent a text message to an unnamed number before continuing forward.

Jeremiah caught up with Yvette, who looked radiant in the sunlight.

"My subordinates didn't even have time to act before someone moved against the Sullivan family," he remarked.

"I'm hungry; and there's no candy left," Yvette replied.

A hint of amusement flickered in Jeremiah's eyes. He nodded. "Let's go. I made a reservation at that steakhouse. We can talk about the candy later."

Yvette shot him a glance, agreeing eagerly. She was excited to indulge in more steaks. The candy seemed priceless to Eagle King, who would undoubtedly be furious at Jeremiah exchanging it for steaks.

"Keep up," Jeremiah instructed. Andrew, Bonnie, and the others followed, instinctively maintaining a respectful distance. Jeremiah's icy demeanor intimidated them.

"Hey, is that guy your brother?" Bonnie whispered to Andrew.

Andrew shook his head mysteriously. "Nope."

Bonnie rubbed her nose in confusion. "Really? I thought you two were brothers. Are you that close with your other friends?"

Andrew quickly said, "No way! Jeremiah is different from everyone else."

John trailed behind, glancing at Tobias, who remained silent, appearing deep in thought. Feeling uncomfortable, John wondered whether he should say anything. Watching Bonnie and Andrew chatting animatedly ahead, he hoped they might notice and save him from the embarrassment.

Before long, they arrived at the steakhouse. Jeremiah's reserved room was located on the second floor, while the first floor had an open layout. The steakhouse was ordinary in its decor, somewhat aged, yet the dishes were exceptional. Many people from high society frequented the establishment, drawn by its delicious offerings. The owner was peculiar, refusing to allow takeout; customers could only enjoy their meals on-site. Despite this strict policy, the restaurant remained bustling with patrons day after day.