Ivy never expected him to be this shameless, and for a moment, she almost regretted forgiving him–at least when they were fighting, she could actually get some peace and sleep.

Now that they’d made up, he stuck to her like glue, barely giving her room to breathe. It was happiness, sure, but with just the slightest tinge of annoyance.

The next day, Ivy returned to campus. It was her senior year, and although classes were few, she’d still missed a lot after taking a full month off. As soon as she got back, she threw herself into her studies, determined to catch up.

At lunchtime, she left the library and was just stepping down the stairs when someone called out her name.

“Ivy! Ivy!”

She glanced over her shoulder, startled.

Running up to her was Roberta’s ex–boyfriend–the two–timing jerk who’d scammed her out of money and love.

Ivy took one look at him, turned away, and kept walking, not even bothering to acknowledge him.

But Adler, persistent as ever, hurried after her.

“Ivy, have you been in touch with Roberta? She’s changed her number again–do you know her new one?” Adler matched her pace, his eyes fixed intently on her.

Ivy’s tone was cool and flat. “We’re not close. I haven’t talked to her.”

But he wouldn’t let it go. His words came out angry, bitter. “Roberta blasted me on the campus forum–because of her, people dug up all my personal info and spread it online. Now I’ve lost my job, my girlfriend’s left me, and I’m practically blacklisted in my field. I have to find Roberta!”

Ivy knew exactly what he meant–he’d been doxxed, his life torn apart by internet sleuths.

She kept her expression neutral, but inside, she was secretly pleased with herself.

After all, it was her idea for Roberta to expose him, and clearly, it had worked better than she’d imagined.

Serves him right, Ivy thought. She shot him a sideways look and asked, “So you’re here to settle the score with Roberta?”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“And what right do you have? You drained her bank account, skipped out on rent–aren’t you worried she’ll go to the police?”

Adler’s face paled in shock, then realization dawned. “She really did talk to you, didn’t she? She must’ve asked you for help.”

“She tried to get me to feel sorry for her, but I ignored it,” Ivy lied. She had no intention of getting involved in their mess.

“What did she say? Did she tell you where she’s living now?”

“Ivy, don’t get the wrong idea. I just want to apologize. I know I messed up…”

Ivy gave a cold, scornful laugh.

She knew men like him all too well–guys like Adler never really changed, not in this life or the next.

“If you keep following me, I won’t be so polite,” she warned, her patience wearing thin.

Adler tried to catch up again.

Before Ivy could even react, a bodyguard dressed as a fellow student–assigned to her ever since the threats from the Carter and Windsor families–appeared at her side, grabbed Adler by the collar, and yanked him back.

Now her extra security was proving its worth.

“I’ve forgotten your name, but that doesn’t matter,” Ivy said icily, staring Adler down. “Let me be clear–I despise guys like you. Harass me again, and I’ll make sure your reputation is the least of your worries.” With that, she turned and walked away.

Jamison was famously jealous. If she ever told him some creep was bothering her, he’d have a hundred ways to destroy the guy.

A couple of days later, Ivy ran into Roberta on her way to class.

Roberta spotted her first, beaming as she hurried over. “I asked around in your department and found your class schedule. I knew you’d be here this morning, so I came early.”

Ivy noted how well Roberta seemed to be doing, and that brought her some comfort–at least her efforts hadn’t been in vain.

Still, they’d never been particularly close, so Ivy kept her tone polite but distant. “Did you need something?”

Roberta fell into step beside her. “It’s just… well, it’s been over a month now, and all my follow–up tests have come back negative. That means I’m in the clear, right?”

“Yeah, looks like the treatment worked.”

“That’s such a relief!” Roberta grinned, then pulled out a bank card and offered it to Ivy. “Here’s the money you lent me–the full amount. I never touched it. I’m returning it now.”