Chapter 295: In Your Dreams
Thinking about the male lead’s scumbag moves, Arabella Donovan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the poor female lead.
’As for Dr. Donovan herself, she had merely spoken a few words of truth. But for the female lead, who had endured so much criticism and received so much malice in just a few short days, her validation was like a beam of light, illuminating a life that the male lead had plunged into endless darkness.’
Caspian Rhodes: "..." ’This development feels strangely familiar. Don’t tell me the female lead is going to fall for Dr. Donovan because of this?!’
Aurora Donovan had clearly thought of the same thing, and she broke out in goosebumps.
Fortunately, the author didn’t resort to clichés here. The female lead didn’t fall in love with Dr. Donovan; she was simply filled with gratitude toward her.
Even though they weren’t far apart in age, she treated her like a mentor, respecting and admiring her more and more. The male lead, however, didn’t see it that way.
Perhaps it really was a case of "you always want what you can’t have." After chasing his Lover for a while following her return to the country, Julian Spencer suddenly remembered the female lead’s gentle and understanding nature. He turned right back around and went to find her, wanting to make her his kept woman once more.
Caspian Rhodes: "..."
Aurora Donovan: "..."
’Did a zombie eat this dumbass’s brain? What makes him think she’d give him the time of day after he backstabbed her like that? Just because he’s got the audacity?’
As it turned out, some people are just naturally full of themselves—in other words, conceited.
Julian Spencer believed that since Summer Vance had been willing to become his kept woman and stand-in for money once, she would submit to him a second time for money. If she refused, it simply meant he hadn’t thrown enough cash at her yet.
Too bad for him, he had truly miscalculated this time.
The smug, self-satisfied man showed up at her door only to be met with two hard slaps across the face from the female lead. After she learned his intentions, she charged forward and landed two kicks for good measure.
The two silent spectators, Caspian Rhodes and Aurora Donovan: ’Nicely done!’
Having never been treated with such disrespect in his entire life, Julian Spencer was seething with rage and swore to make Summer Vance pay the price.
But after his anger subsided, his twisted logic kicked in. He reasoned that Summer Vance was so furious because he had denied their relationship and thrown her and her grandmother out on the street.
His final conclusion: she must have developed real feelings for him. The proof? She hated him. After all, where there is no love, there can be no hate.
Reading this, Arabella Donovan once again wore a pained and bewildered expression.
’With that kind of twisted logic, saying he’s just deluding himself into thinking she loves him is giving him too much credit. He’s just plain sick in the head, and it’s a serious case! I feel like if he keeps up this fantasy, he could twist the female lead stabbing him into something romantic: "She really is madly in love with me! Hitting is affection, and scolding is love. Why isn’t she stabbing anyone else? She came to stab *me*. She must be head over heels for me but just can’t bring herself to admit it!"’
Caspian Rhodes and Aurora Donovan didn’t fully understand the reference but were profoundly shaken. After calming down and thinking it over, they had to admit that with a brain like Julian’s, it wasn’t entirely out of the question!
’Sigh. I’m too normal to fit in with you psychos and your bizarre ways of thinking.’
Hearing this, Caspian and Aurora both breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief. ’Thank goodness, we’re normal people, too!’
In short, it was as if the female lead’s two slaps had knocked some of Julian’s hidden, unspeakable tendencies loose.
From then on, Julian Spencer began his groveling campaign to win her back. He sent roses, designer bags, and luxury cars, attempting to win Summer Vance over with lavish gifts and rekindle their relationship.
The whole display looked quite convincing, but if you thought this meant the stand-in had successfully claimed her spot, you would be dead wrong.
At this point, Julian Spencer wasn’t thinking of choosing the female lead over his Lover. Rather, he thought his Lover’s friendly attitude since her return meant he still had a chance with her. Meanwhile, since Summer Vance was so in love with him, she would surely be willing to make a little sacrifice for his sake.
To put it simply, the man wanted to have his cake and eat it too. He wanted both his Lover and the female lead!
Arabella Donovan: "..."
Caspian Rhodes: "..."
Aurora Donovan: "..." ’The guy’s an idiot, but he sure has some beautiful fantasies!’
The result of being too greedy is often ending up with nothing at all.
As for his Lover, she had only returned to the country to lie low after one of her romantic prospects abroad caused some trouble. She couldn’t have cared less about Julian Spencer’s so-called substitute girlfriend, let alone his series of pathetic, self-congratulatory stunts.
However, his actions gave his Lover a clear picture of his true character. After her troubles abroad were resolved, she even took the initiative to meet and chat with Summer Vance. Then, with a cool indifference, she ditched Julian Spencer and left the country again.
’Looking at it this way, it’s not accurate to say the female lead replaced the Lover. The Lover voluntarily bowed out, decisively kicking her low-quality backup boyfriend to the curb and cutting her losses. As expected of a Player Queen—a woman who was just keeping the male lead on the hook as one of her many options. She’s so badass!’
Caspian Rhodes and Aurora Donovan: "..." ’No kidding. In a way, that woman got a bit of revenge for them.’
His Lover’s second departure provoked Julian Spencer. Forgetting he was still supposed to be groveling to win his ex back, he found Summer Vance and threw a massive tantrum, only to be hit with a single sentence from her: "You don’t deserve her at all."
His sore spot struck, the male lead’s composure completely shattered. He transformed into a rabid dog on the spot, lashing out wildly at the female lead and anyone close to her. The first to bear the brunt of his rage was Hannah.
Aurora Donovan: "???" ’Wait, what the hell does this have to do with me? That dumbass must be seriously sick in the head!’
Caspian Rhodes: Pfft...
Summer Vance was well aware that her feelings for Hannah were a mix of gratitude and admiration; there wasn’t a hint of romantic love between them that crossed any lines. The male lead, however, didn’t see it that way.
He believed that the only reason the formerly gentle and obedient Summer Vance had become so impervious to both persuasion and coercion was that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes. And that someone had to be the Dr. Donovan that Summer Vance so often spoke of.
And so, just like that, Hannah inexplicably became Julian Spencer’s imaginary rival.
In order to eliminate Hannah and win the girl, Julian Spencer’s initial plan was to use the influence of his uncle, the dean, to frame Hannah for a baseless crime, ruin her reputation, and have her shamefully expelled from Brynn University.
Unfortunately for him, Hannah was already well-established at the time, heading several important research projects. Not only did his dean uncle refuse to help, but he also gave him a harsh lecture, telling him to leave Hannah alone.
Left with no other options, Julian Spencer resorted to petty tricks, but the female lead found out and confronted him, leading to a massive argument. Julian Spencer went berserk with anger, becoming even more convinced that the two were having an affair. In his fury, he took a desperate gamble: he bribed a terminally ill truck driver and, seizing an opportunity as Hannah was leaving campus, had her run down and killed.
Reading this, Arabella Donovan was so angry she actually laughed.
’Just great. Another walking outlaw, are we? Every last one of you protagonists is a legally illiterate moron!’
Caspian Rhodes: "!!!" ’Did that just happen out of nowhere?’
Aurora Donovan: "..." ’Her death was so infuriating and unjust!’