When Envy Destroys Her Empire

the screen of his phone. He wasn't scrolling through social media or watching videos, he was reading a dense academic article, his brow

own on his table

y.

sed. She had a polished look, from her perfect hair to her designer handbag. Her name was B

?" Ethan asked,

ail at the cash register. "My card got declined. It' s

He had never spoken to this girl before in his life. He glanced at her tray, pile

but no," he

made-up face twisted.

. "I don't know you, and I' m not paying for your food." He turned his attention back to his

as w

racting the attention of students at nearby tables. "I can't belie

through his calm. "I' m a student, just like you. I'

nd down with disgust, from his simple t-shirt to his worn-out backpac

settling in his stomach. He pushed the tray away and tried to focus on his reading, but the odd encounter had broken his concentration. He eventually shook his head, deciding it wa

l with a subject line that made his heart skip a beat: "Urgent Meeting Request." It w

something? Was there a problem with his

0 AM. We need to discuss a serious matter that has bee

felt fragile and uncertain. He had no idea what it could be about, but the formal, cold tone of the email filled him with a deep