Chapter 5 She Traded Skin for Access
Since childhood, Vivian Bennett and I have had completely different personalities.
She’s more outgoing and expressive, which naturally attracts attention from guys.
I, on the other hand, am quiet and prefer to live in my own world, never quite understanding how to interact
with men.
This was something she was proud of.
When Vivian Bennett and I were both accepted into this Ivy League university, the media even covered our
story.
They said our friendship was touching and that we were the pride of the school and our families.
Extroverted people are generally better at providing emotional value to others.
So, she enjoyed the feeling of always outshining me in comparison.
Now, I knew that the reason Vivian Bennett was asking me these questions was because she had started to
notice she was losing the love of her parents and the bond of our friendship.
So, she desperately tried to express her importance in this way.
I remembered when we were thirteen, she almost got molested by a substitute teacher. It was me who
smashed the window and charged in with a mop from the bathroom to beat that creep until he fled.
She threw herself into my arms, and I comforted her: “Don’t be afraid, I’ll always protect you.”
Before this life, I had always placed Vivian Bennett at the most important spot in my life.
But I never imagined that everything I did for her would be disregarded, and that, for a man, she would push me off a building.
Now, she was turning around and accusing me of being jealous of her.
I looked at her, and in a calm tone, I said, “You couldn’t get through to anyone on the phone, and now you’re trying to blame me? Do you think questioning me will give you the result you want? Think whatever you want. I just hope you don’t regret the decisions you’ve made.”
Before leaving, she coldly looked at me: “I, Vivian Bennett, will never regret!”
Soon, her social media feed started to show more and more posts flaunting her life.
She still had some shame, so she blocked her parents.
I, on the other hand, forwarded those posts directly to the small group chat with her parents.
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Her parents watched as the posts continued to update.
At first, they sent me 60-second voice messages, lamenting how Vivian Bennett had turned out this way.
Eventually, they stopped responding.
Until one day, she posted a photo of herself wearing revealing black stockings and bunny ears.
Vivian Bennett’s mother spoke up: “Sophie, don’t send me any more. I’ll just pretend I never had this
daughter.”
I didn’t know what Godmother was thinking at that moment.
But from the time she ran away, called off the engagement, and refused to answer their calls, to the time she
blocked them and posted those shameful, materialistic posts-Vivian Bennett had completely shattered her
parents’ hearts.
And yet, she was still lost in her daydreams, thinking she had become a golden cage bird living the good life.
I, however, wondered if she would truly become Mrs. Carter.
During the winter break, our mentor invited us to a meal.
Our mentor was quite talented, having collaborated with many businesses.
So, he took us to a very upscale restaurant, saying it was to broaden our horizons.
After all, the biological technology patent we were working on would eventually require us to deal with CEOS
of publicly listed companies. Learning things beyond what’s in textbooks was always necessary.
It was here that I saw Vivian Bennett for the first time in a long while.
While I was on my way to the restroom, I saw a private room with the door slightly ajar.
As I turned, a familiar figure appeared.
Vivian Bennett was bending over, serving drinks to people at the table.
I clearly saw some men taking advantage of the opportunity to touch her thighs.
She looked up, seeking help from a man at the main table,
That man was none other than Chadwick Carter, the heir to an old-money dynasty.
But he lazily blew out a puff of smoke, saying nothing.
I sighed and was about to leave.
But then I heard a teasing voice: “Let’s play rock-paper-scissors. The loser’s companion has to take off her
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clothes.”
I looked over. Vivian Bennett was wearing a thin spaghetti strap dress with a shawl over it.
When the suggestion was made, no one objected.
Every man’s face remained indifferent, as if this were a completely normal occurrence for them.
I felt it was pointless and went to the restroom.
When I came back, the door was still ajar.
Vivian Bennett was in the process of taking off her dress, tears welling in her eyes.
I could clearly see the faint whip marks on her arms and calves.
When her dress slipped down to her bra, she seemed to sense my gaze and looked up.
Our eyes met.
In that instant, I saw shame, humiliation, surprise, and helplessness all flash across her face.
Seemingly not wanting me to look down on her, she quickly pulled up her dress and walked up to Chadwick Carter, acting coquettishly: “Mr. Carter~ please help me out. I’ll drink three cups as punishment. How about
that?”
The desperation in her voice was pathetic.
Chadwick Carter smiled faintly, but his eyes didn’t reach his smile: “Do you think you have a say here?”
He reached out and pinched Vivian Bennett’s chin, then released it forcefully: “If you’re not playing, get
lost!”
Vivian Bennett fell to the ground, hitting a chair with a loud crash.
Someone at the table commented, “Mr. Carter, the new one is a bit hard to handle.”
“How boring! Doesn’t know her place.”
Chadwick Carter’s face darkened as he looked at Vivian Bennett with cold eyes: “Get lost.”
Vivian Bennett’s face turned pale.
She quickly crawled over and hugged Chadwick Carter’s leg: “Mr. Carter, I was wrong. I’ll take off my clothes now, and I’ll listen to you. Please don’t kick me out.”
The next moment, under the mocking eyes of everyone, she quickly took off her dress.
I couldn’t watch anymore.
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I turned and left.
This was the life she had chosen-becoming someone else’s plaything, with no freedom or dignity.
She had lost herself.
I didn’t know if, when she was undressing, she thought about her parents.
Did she wonder how much longer she could keep living like this?
I just felt pity.
She was a real person, someone who had received higher education and had her own thoughts.
How could she willingly become someone’s toy for the sake of short-term benefits?
On my way back, my classmates were discussing their research topics.
Everyone’s eyes were full of light, and when they talked about the future, it was all hope.
I couldn’t help but think: it’s a good thing Vivian Bennett didn’t choose to become a teacher. Someone with her values could mislead so many people.
As we were finishing, Chadwick Carter and his group came out.
Vivian Bennett walked behind him, neither too far nor too close. Although she had put on her dress, it was a
bit messy.
When she saw my gaze, she quickly looked away.
As she lowered her head, I heard Chadwick Carter’s voice: “Mr. Smith? You’re here too?”
I looked up, and he was walking toward my mentor’s table,
When his gaze swept over my face, he paused for a moment.
