When Love Withered

On college decision day, everyone at Westcreek High was talking about valedictorian Shawn Jamison. The hopeless romantic had turned down Velmont University for a less prestigious college that offered a huge scholarship! The school administrators were so furious that they immediately tore down the poster celebrating Shawn as the school's top student. Shawn didn't care. He was busy working part-time at a local club, hauling cases of beer. Once he finished his shift that night, his wages and scholarship money would be enough to cover college tuition for him and his girlfriend, Jenna Sharp. A moment later, several familiar voices came from behind him. They sounded like Jenna's closest friends. "Come on, hurry up! Jenna told us to set up a surprise for her boyfriend in the club's VIP room upstairs tonight." Shawn froze, and his heart pounded. No wonder Jenna said she had plans tonight. She was planning a surprise for him. Chapter 1 "But the VIP room upstairs must cost a fortune," Shawn Jamison thought. As a smile slowly spread across his face, another young woman spoke up from behind him. "Jenna's ruthless. For Leo, she had that lovesick valedictorian completely wrapped around her finger. "She actually got him to willingly turn down Velmont University for a less prestigious college. "You should've seen our homeroom teacher's face today. He looked absolutely furious!" Shawn started to turn around, but froze. "Jenna's done so much for Leo. She even used her looks to win Shawn over." "Luckily…" The young women's voices faded into the distance. The beer bottle slipped from Shawn's hand and shattered on the floor, spraying beer all over him. He barely noticed. Wait. Could the "Leo" they were talking about be his best friend, Leonard Fletcher? Before Shawn could process what he had heard, the club manager heard the commotion and pushed open the door, scowling at him. "Shawn, what are you doing?" Shawn quickly apologized. The manager, Scott Wells, was about to dock Shawn's pay, but then changed his mind. "Now that school is out, we're short on servers tonight. Finish your shift, and I'll pay you in full. Before Shawn could refuse, Scott shoved a huge bouquet and a gift box into his hands. Shawn changed into a server's uniform and carried the enormous bouquet to the VIP room. Just as he reached for the door, he caught sight of the person sitting in the middle of the room through the glass panel. She was curled up shyly in the arms of the man beside her. It was his girlfriend, Jenna Sharp! And the man holding her with an affectionate smile was none other than his best friend, Leonard Fletcher. Jenna's friends were all cheering them on. "Leo, a bet's a bet!" "You made a bet with Jenna that she couldn't get you into Velmont University. You didn't believe she could do it. "Now you know she's serious about you, right?" "She comes from one of Kingstown's richest families, and she pretended to be broke just to get close to Shawn for your sake. She's been waiting for this moment!" Outside the door, Shawn went completely numb with shock. Leonard smiled. "Jenna, I concede. You win." Jenna, who rarely smiled, finally broke into a grin as she gazed at him. Her friends started cheering even louder. "Jenna, tell him how you feel!" One of them spotted the bouquet outside and excitedly opened the door. She snatched the flowers and gift from Shawn and handed them to Jenna. Everyone's attention was focused on Jenna and Leonard. No one even noticed Shawn standing there. Jenna held the bouquet and looked up at Leonard while one of her friends opened the gift box. Inside was a sapphire bracelet. "We've known each other since we were three years old," Jenna said. "That's almost 16 years, and nearly a fifth of our lives. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. "Leonard, I love you." She looked completely serious. Jenna sounded so sincere that even her friends fell silent and waited for Leonard's answer. A flicker of emotion crossed Leonard's eyes. He was about to nod and accept when he spotted Shawn standing nearby. Leonard froze. "Shawn?" Jenna turned and met Shawn's eyes. Her expression was frighteningly calm. Without a word, she slipped the sapphire bracelet onto Leonard's wrist. Then she took a ruby bracelet from the gift box and clasped it around her own. The silent declaration of her relationship with Leonard made Shawn's whole body go rigid. Without realizing it, Shawn traced his fingers over the wooden-bead bracelet on his wrist. He had made the matching bracelets himself and given one to Jenna, but he had never once seen her wear it. Yet today, she was wearing matching bracelets with Leonard. "Don't you have something to tell me?" Shawn's voice came out hoarse and broken. "I…" Leonard faltered. Before Leonard could say anything, Jenna stepped in front of him. Her voice was cold and dismissive. "What's there to say? I love Leonard, and I just confessed my feelings to him. Isn't that clear enough?" A wave of dizziness swept over Shawn. Those words were the final blow. He couldn't stop thinking about that moment during their happiest days together. Shawn was smart, good-looking, and kept to himself. Because of that, a delinquent often picked fights with him on his way home from school, leaving him bruised and battered. So he often took a longer route to avoid him. Then one day, his grandmother, the only family he had left, passed away. He was so devastated that he forgot to take the longer route. He ran straight into the delinquent who tried to rob him, demanding all of Shawn's money. That was when Jenna came to his rescue, slamming a brick into the delinquent from behind and knocking him down. Shawn still remembered the fury on the delinquent's face when he got back up. The delinquent pulled a knife from his pocket and snarled, "You stupid witch! Do you have a death wish? This has nothing to do with you. "You'd better explain yourself, or I'll gut you right now!" Jenna stared at the blade. Her whole body was shaking, but she stood firmly in front of Shawn and said, "I like him. Isn't that reason enough?" Those words made Shawn fall hopelessly in love with her. Even when his biological parents found him and wanted to take him away, Shawn chose to stay in Kingstown for Jenna. But now, Shawn felt like his heart was being torn apart. He grabbed her wrist. His voice trembled with desperation. "No, it's not enough! Jenna, you can't do this to me. I'm your boyfriend!" "Since when were you my boyfriend?" Jenna scoffed. Looking at him with contempt, she pried his fingers off her wrist one by one. "When did I ever say that? "Or did you take something I casually said about liking you as a confession? "I like flowers by the roadside, the clouds in the sky, and even stray cats too. Does that mean I want to date all of them?" She leaned closer to Shawn, her tone icy. "Shawn, wake up. We were never dating. You were just a doormat." Her words struck Shawn hard enough to leave him stunned. Leonard looked at him apologetically. "Shawn, I'm sorry, but you can't force someone to love you. "Jenna has done so much for me. I can't let her down now. "When school starts, Jenna and I will be going to Velmont University. I hope you can move on from her at your new school." Shawn looked up in shock, unable to believe what he had heard. "What did you say? Jenna's going to Velmont University too?" One of Jenna's friends explained, "Jenna's the Sharp family's heiress. Her parents donated a building to Velmont University, and she got special admission. She only took the SAT for fun." Shawn felt cold all over, the chill sinking deep into his bones. When the SAT scores came out, Jenna did shockingly bad. Her score was barely high enough to get into a decent college. He thought she wouldn't be able to afford the high tuition fee. That's why he had given up his special admission into Velmont University and chose a college with a huge scholarship. He had done it so he could help Jenna pay her tuition! But now they were telling him that her poverty, her SAT score, and their relationship were all lies. Everything had been a lie. All of it! Tears welled up in Shawn's eyes. His voice shook. "This was all a setup, wasn't it? You wanted me to give up my special admission into Velmont University so Leonard could take my spot?" Jenna said nothing. Shawn's raised hand stopped midair, inches from her face. His voice was hoarse. "Jenna, we're breaking up! I'm going to tell Velmont University I changed my mind." Jenna grabbed his wrist. Her voice was gentle, but her words were cruel. "The application deadline is tonight at midnight. You're not going anywhere before then." As she spoke, she forced his mouth open and poured the liquor down his throat without a second thought. Chapter 2 The strong liquor was forced down Shawn's throat before he could react. His esophagus felt like it was burning. He started coughing uncontrollably as red hives broke out across his body. The liquor soaked his clothes, leaving him looking miserable. Shawn clawed weakly at his throat. His airway felt blocked, and he suddenly couldn't breathe. "Jenna, Shawn's allergic to alcohol. How could you force him to drink?" Leonard asked with feigned concern. "Leo, she's only doing it for you," one of Jenna's friends stepped over and explained. "If Shawn ends up in the hospital, he won't have a chance to tell Velmont University he changed his mind. "Then his spot there will be yours." Shawn heard every word they said, but he couldn't focus on any of it. The allergic reaction was already causing him excruciating pain. He reached out and grabbed the hem of Jenna's pants, pleading helplessly, "Jenna… I can't breathe… Help me!" "Jenna, take Shawn to the hospital. I'm fine. We can celebrate another time." Leonard tried to sound gracious about it. But Jenna simply pulled her foot away and said calmly, "Nothing matters more to me than you." She then signaled to one of her friends to call an ambulance. Her friend understood and helped Shawn out of the room. Just as she reached for her phone, Leonard suddenly appeared. "Let me handle him. I'm stronger." Jenna's friend gladly handed Shawn over. Leonard glanced coldly at the unconscious Shawn, smirking lightly. He never made the call and simply turned to walk away. … When Shawn finally came to, he was already in the hospital. Scott was sitting beside his bed. He told Shawn that he had collapsed in the hallways from an allergic reaction. A staff member found Shawn and rushed him to the hospital. If they had been a few minutes later, Shawn might not have survived. Scott still looked shaken. "Shawn, I'm responsible for this. If I had known you were allergic to alcohol, I never would've let you work as a server. "No wonder you chose to haul beer in the first place. You should've told me." Shawn lowered his eyes and gripped the bedsheet tightly. He hadn't thought much about it. He had chosen to carry crates of beer because it paid well, and he got paid daily. It would cover a few days of living expenses for him and Jenna, who had pretended she was broke." "Oh, right. I'll pay you every cent you earned." Scott transferred the money and left. Shawn opened his banking app's notification and stared at the 500 dollars he had earned from his part-time job. He couldn't bring himself to open it. Then another notification popped up. Someone had added him on WhatsApp and sent him a message. When he read the text message, he realized it was an admissions counselor from the less prestigious college he had applied to. The counselor was incredibly enthusiastic. "Shawn, we're thrilled that you've chosen our college. We've already arranged our best program and assigned you our best academic advisor for you. "You'll also receive a 20,000-dollar scholarship, which will be presented to you in the form of a check." Shawn suddenly remembered his college application. When he opened Velmont University's application portal, the words "Application Closed" stared back at him. Shawn's heart sank. He had lost his last bit of hope. His eyes were empty as he typed, "Hi, I'm sorry, but I've decided not to attend your college. Please cancel the scholarship as well." With that, he shut off his phone and closed his eyes, exhausted. He didn't know how much time had passed when his hospital room door slammed open. Shawn opened his eyes to find Jenna storming into the room. She marched over, grabbed his chin, and glared at him. "Shawn, how long are you going to make a scene?" His eyes were lifeless. "You call this making a scene? Jenna, what did I do?" She frowned and demanded, "You only applied to one college. Why are you giving it up? Are you planning to retake the SAT and try for Velmont University again? "Don't you have any self-respect? Are you really that desperate to study at the same place as me?" Shawn's eyes were hollow, and his voice was barely a whisper. "Jenna, who said I wanted to go to the same college as you? "I don't want you anymore, so I'll stay as far away from you as I can." The finality in his calm voice made Jenna's heart clench, and she felt a sudden surge of irritation. She scoffed. "Shawn, if you really want to stay away from me, then go to this college. It's on the opposite side of the country from my school." Shawn looked straight at her, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Jenna, do you have any idea how important the SAT is? "I was the top student in the country. I should be at the best university, not some second-rate college. "There are plenty of ways to stay away from you. Why would I throw away my future to do it?" Jenna faltered, suddenly unable to meet his eyes. "Because you're hospitalized, Leonard signed the agreement with the college for you. "If you don't go, you could owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties." Shawn's eyes widened in disbelief. "Who gave him the right to sign it for me?" Jenna looked somewhat apologetic. "Leonard didn't mean any harm. He has already secured a spot at Velmont University. He can't risk losing it at a time like this. So…" She pulled out the contract and an ink pad. "Just put your thumbprint here, and go to this college for now. You can always apply to a top university for graduate school later." Shawn couldn't understand how she could say something so cruel so casually. It was as if his future and his entire life meant nothing to her. He struggled desperately, but he could only watch helplessly as she forced his thumb onto the agreement. As he watched Jenna walk away, Shawn felt utterly devastated. He dialed a number. "Mom, I'll come home and take my place in the family." Chapter 3 Shawn's mother, Laura Moore, sounded elated. She burst into tears of joy. "That's wonderful, Shawn," she said. "You've finally come to your senses. I talked it over with your father. We were too eager before. "After finally finding you, we wanted to give you the very best, which is why we offered to send you to Harvon University. "But we never stopped to consider what you wanted instead. That's on us." Laura's voice caught. "So we won't interfere with your decisions anymore. Go wherever you want for college. "We're the richest family in Harborton. We can support you for the rest of your life!" Shawn looked down and gently interrupted her. "Mom, you were right. The college I choose will affect my future. I was too immature before, and I took everything you did for me for granted. "I want to go to Harvon University." Laura's face lit up. "Okay, Shawn. I'll send the acceptance letter to your email right away. "Oh, do you remember Richard Lindon? His daughter, Hilary, was accepted to Harvon University too. She's leaving in a week. I'll have her come to Harborton to pick you up, and you can go together. "That way, you'll have someone to look out for you, and I'll feel better too." In the past, Shawn would have hung up in anger the moment he heard an arrangement like this. He knew exactly what Laura was trying to do. She wanted him to spend more time with Hilary Lindon and develop a relationship with her, hoping they would eventually get married. He had always resisted the idea because of Jenna. But this time, he didn't object. - After completing his discharge paperwork, Shawn returned to his dorm and started packing. Although he had lived here for three years, he didn't have much. He had grown up with his grandmother, Beatrice Porter, in a poor neighborhood. Everything they bought was cheap. His clothes and shoes were all cheap, poorly made bargain goods. Shawn threw away the clothes that had fallen apart after only a few wears and pulled out the clothes Laura had specifically bought for him. Now that he and Jenna had broken up, he had no reason to worry about her pride anymore. Besides, she had only been pretending to be poor. Why would he keep sacrificing himself for her? When Shawn opened the metal locker in his dorm, he saw all the things he had carefully saved from his relationship with Jenna. There were cheap matching scarves, gloves, and ceramic mugs. She had never once used any of the things he had treasured as symbols of their love. Without showing any emotion, Shawn swept everything into the trash. He was also throwing away the love Jenna had dismissed as pathetic devotion. He wanted none of it anymore. Just then, the dorm room door opened. Leonard rushed in with red-rimmed eyes. He froze when he saw Shawn, then his expression turned sour. "Shawn, I thought you were my best friend. Why would you do this to me?" he asked. Leonard's accusation caught Shawn off guard. Worried about Leonard, Jenna followed him into the men's dorm and happened to walk in on the scene. Her expression darkened as she hurried to Leonard's side and glared at Shawn. "You can't stand seeing Leonard do well, can you? Do you have to ruin him before you'll be satisfied?" she snarled. "How could you be this vicious?" As she spoke, she hurled what she was holding at Shawn. The sharp edge of the paper sliced Shawn's skin, leaving a thin line of blood. He saw what was on the poster. It was meant to celebrate Leonard's acceptance into Velmont University. But someone had cut up his face with scissors and painted "Boy Toy" across it in bright red. When Jenna spoke, her tone was icy. "You didn't just destroy this poster. You also posted private details about Leonard anonymously on the school's confession page and forum. "You accused him of breaking up someone else's relationship and being the other man." Shawn's head snapped up. His voice was hoarse. "It wasn't me. I didn't do it." "Who else could it have been?" The distrust in Jenna's eyes cut Shawn to the core. "What a dirty, underhanded move. "I guess a family with no class is bound to raise a piece of trash like you." Shawn went pale. Leonard suddenly exclaimed, "Shawn, these things… And your clothes!" He pointed at the clothes in the trash, his voice carrying a hint of hurt. "I felt awful about signing the agreement for you by accident. I was already beating myself up over it. When Jenna told me you had willingly put your thumbprint on the papers, I didn't believe her. "But I never thought you would spend the scholarship money on luxury goods! "Those gifts may be cheap, but that doesn't give you the right to treat someone's sincerity like trash!" Jenna's gaze shifted from Shawn's designer clothes to the trash can. When she recognized what was inside, her expression darkened further. Her eyes were filled with anger and disgust. "You kept saying you loved me, but you're nothing but a shallow gold digger at heart," she growled. "Looks like getting close to you while pretending to be poor was the right choice. "Otherwise, I never would've seen you for who you really are!" A look of smug understanding crossed her face, along with even more contempt. "You're playing the victim after getting what you wanted? How disgusting. "What wouldn't someone like you do for your own benefit?" Chapter 4 Shawn felt like he couldn't breathe from the pain in his chest. So in Jenna's eyes, he was nothing more than a man obsessed with money and status. "Now that we've broken up, do you really expect me to keep these gifts?" he said. "I'm not going to that college, and I won't take the scholarship. "These clothes were a gift from my mom." Before he could say more, Jenna cut him off. She grabbed him roughly. "I don't want to hear your excuses. You're coming to the auditorium and apologizing to Leonard in front of the entire school!" Her voice was firm and left no room for argument. She pressed her fingers into Shawn's wound, hard enough to tear it open. Blood immediately began to seep out. Jenna knew Shawn had a bleeding disorder, but she didn't care. She half-dragged him to the auditorium, where all the students were already seated. Jenna shoved the microphone toward Shawn and commanded, "Apologize. Now." Shawn braced himself with both hands as dizziness and chills swept through him from the blood loss. His gaze swept over the whispering students before settling on Jenna and Leonard standing side by side. He let out a hollow laugh that sounded more like a cry. "I'd like to apologize to Leonard." The crowd below the stage erupted in whispers. "He isn't the other man, because Jenna and I never dated," he said. "We weren't dating before. We aren't dating now, and we never will." As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes shifted between the three of them. The smile slowly faded from Jenna's face, and her mood turned increasingly hostile. Shawn looked at Jenna and Leonard with a sincere expression, his tone calm and serious. "I would also like to apologize to Jenna. "I'm sorry for the trouble my assumptions and one-sided feelings have caused you. Don't worry. It won't happen again. "I wish you and Leonard all the best. I hope your relationship lasts from high school all the way to marriage." With that, Shawn ignored the uproar below the stage. He straightened his back and walked out of the auditorium. Jenna stared after him, momentarily stunned. Leonard put an arm around her shoulder. "Jenna, are you worried about Shawn?" Jenna came back to her senses and shook her head. "Of course not! I'm glad he finally knows when to back off." Shawn stumbled out of the school gates, his blood loss leaving him dizzy and disoriented. Without thinking, he took the shortcut he had always used to go home. A hand landed on his shoulder. When he turned and saw the familiar face of the delinquent, Bruce, it was already too late to run. Bruce raised an eyebrow and grinned viciously. "Well, well. Long time no see, Shawn! Where's your girlfriend? "She really took great care of us the last time. She gave me a concussion and then had the nerve to call the cops. I've been dying to return the favor!" Shawn's mind cleared a little, then he forced himself to remain calm. "What do you want? Aren't you afraid I'll call the cops again?" Bruce tried to act tough. "Go ahead! I'll be right here. Let's see you make that call." With that, he raised a baseball bat and slowly backed Shawn into a corner, leaving him no chance to reach for his phone. Just then, another delinquent shouted, "Bruce, Jenna's here!" Shawn looked toward the entrance and saw Jenna standing there with her arm around Leonard. He clung to her like she was his last hope. "Jenna, call the cops!" Jenna stopped in her tracks. Her expression darkened, and she instinctively started toward Shawn. Leonard grabbed her arm. "Jenna, I think my leg is cramping." Jenna immediately forgot about Shawn. She supported Leonard and started walking in the opposite direction. Bruce, who had been about to run away, burst out laughing when he saw this. "Shawn, looks like your girlfriend found someone new and doesn't want you anymore!" He clamped a hand around Shawn's jaw, his face twisted with rage. "It's time to let you know what it feels like to have your bones broken!" Shawn watched Jenna walk away, his heart sinking into despair. The young woman who had once fearlessly stepped in front of a knife for him was gone. Suddenly, Bruce let out a scream. Shawn had punched him square in the nose. "Damn it!" Bruce roared and slammed a fist into Shawn's face. Shawn went flying and slammed into the wall. The impact made him cough up a mouthful of blood, and his vision began to fade. Through his darkening, blood-red vision, he could only see Bruce approaching him. "Bruce, there's something wrong with him!" The other delinquents panicked as they watched Shawn lose more and more blood. "Shit, we're in trouble. Let's get out of here!" Shawn's last memory was the sound of their hurried footsteps fading into the distance. Chapter 5 When Shawn woke up again, he was in a VIP hospital room. He was confused. Who had brought him here? He looked around. The room was spacious, and the equipment was state-of-the-art. Just looking at the place was enough to tell him a single night here would cost a fortune. As he wondered about it, someone opened the door quietly. The woman had been trying not to wake him, but she hadn't expected him to already be awake. "Mr. Jamison." She gave him a respectful nod. Her tailored business suit fit her slender frame perfectly. "Who are you?" Shawn asked. He didn't recognize her at all. "I'm Ms. Lindon's personal assistant, Judy Holt." She gave him a polished smile. "Ms. Lindon couldn't come earlier because she had to attend her graduation ceremony. "She sent me ahead to see if there's anything you need." Shawn understood and thanked her. Over the next few days, Judy took excellent care of him. She not only arranged for the best medical team in Harborton, but also hired a top nutritionist to create a meal plan using the finest ingredients. She also followed the doctor's orders and took Shawn downstairs for a walk in the sun every day. Shawn didn't think he needed such special treatment, but he couldn't argue with her. She was just doing her job. What he didn't know was that someone had been taking pictures of his every move. He never noticed, but Judy did. She immediately reported it. - Soon, graduation day arrived. Shawn planned to take a cab to the school, but Judy insisted on driving him herself. When the extended Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up outside Westcreek High, it drew everyone's attention. Judy got out first and opened the door for Shawn. When he stepped out, everyone gasped. Countless curious eyes turned toward them. Some looked at Shawn with envy, others with jealousy, and the rest with outright hatred. Judy dropped him off and then left. Shawn paid no attention to the stares. It was his last day in Kingstown anyway. There was no reason to hide his identity anymore. But the moment he walked through the gates, he found a large crowd blocking his path. Jenna and Leonard were at the front. Leonard looked at Shawn with deep disappointment. "Shawn, how could you sink this low?" Shawn frowned in confusion. Just as he was about to speak, someone behind Leonard shouted, "Someone like Shawn has no business going to Westcreek High. The parents' committee will never accept this! "This is one of the best high schools in town. We trusted this school enough to send our kids here. But with a student this shameless and immoral, how can we trust the school to teach our kids right from wrong?" As soon as the person finished, parents throughout the crowd chimed in. Jenna's anger flared when she saw Shawn's innocent-looking expression. She hurled a stack of photos at him. "Shawn! I seriously underestimated how ambitious and vain you are!" she snapped. "You would sell your own body for money? "You even went and slept with an older woman. Aren't you disgusted with yourself?" Shawn looked at the photos scattered across the ground. Some showed him working at the club and being pinned against a wall by the delinquents. Others showed him in his VIP hospital room, and some were carefully angled to make it look like he and Judy were being intimate. Shawn felt a chill run through him. "I didn't! I did work part-time at the club, but I was never a male escort. And I'd never sell myself for money!" Shawn said. "My parents are the richest people in Harborton. I don't need money!" Chapter 6 "Enough!" Jenna couldn't stand listening to Shawn's lies get more outrageous. "You're such a liar!" Leonard pretended to hold Jenna back as he spoke up for Shawn. "Jenna, I think Shawn just lost his way for a while. That's why he ended up working as a male escort and even going after wealthy women," he said. "Maybe you should use your family's influence to talk to the school board. "Don't let them expel Shawn. At least let him graduate." Just as he said that, the angry parents immediately erupted. "We won't accept that!" "How can a student who has shamed the school and ruined its reputation be allowed to stay? "If the school doesn't do something about this, we'll pull our kids out!" He was going to be expelled? Shawn's eyes widened in shock, his voice trembling. "Why expel me? I haven't done anything!" Jenna looked at Shawn coldly. "Everyone, rest assured. Westcreek High will never protect or make excuses for a student with such poor character. "Not even the valedictorian will get special treatment!" With that, she held out Shawn's expulsion notice. "You don't deserve to be a student at Westcreek High, and you have no right to attend today's graduation ceremony." Shawn felt a chill run through him, and his hands trembled. "Jenna, do you know an expulsion will go on my record? "Even if I retake the SAT, no top school will accept me." She remained unmoved. "You chose this path. Now you have to live with the consequences." Shawn trembled with anger. "Jenna, the biggest regret of my life was coming to Kingstown and falling in love with you!" Jenna suppressed her growing irritation and ordered, "Take him away!" Shawn's eyes widened, but before he could react, two bodyguards had already grabbed him. "What are you trying to do?" Before Jenna could answer, Leonard spoke up. "Shawn, Jenna's only doing this for your own good. With an expulsion on your record, no school will want you. "She personally contacted the college you applied to and asked them to accept you. "You won't get a scholarship anymore, but she made sure you still had a good major and advisor. Jenna even arranged for someone to take you there." Shawn struggled desperately. "Let go of me! I'm already going abroad to study. I don't need you worrying about me!" But no matter how much he protested, Jenna remained unmoved. She thought he was just babbling like a lunatic. Unable to break free, Shawn could only watch as the bodyguards dragged him toward a van. The doors opened, revealing two sleazy-looking men inside. A jolt of fear shot through Shawn. "That's him? He's not bad-looking. We can get a good price for him." One of the men looked over and grinned. "Here's 50,000 dollars. "Give it to Mr. Fletcher and tell him to come straight to us if he has another one like this. "Rich women are always looking for men, and they have plenty of money to spend. We can negotiate the price!" All the color drained from Shawn's face. Leonard was actually selling him! He struggled wildly. "How much is Leonard paying you? Let me go, and I'll pay you ten times that! I'm the son of the richest man in Harborton. I can give you more money than you could ever spend!" The two men burst out laughing and stuffed a rag into Shawn's mouth. "Enough with that! Son of Harborton's richest man, my ass. You had better get ready to be some rich woman's pet!" The bodyguards took the money and shoved Shawn into the van. One of them said, "Mr. Fletcher said to make sure he's properly trained." The two men held Shawn down as he struggled. They tied his hands with rope. The men nodded and replied, "Don't worry. Once he goes in there, he'll be nothing but a toy for the rest of his life. He'll never get out!" Shawn screamed through the rag, but only a faint whimper came out. The bodyguards turned and walked away, leaving Shawn with nothing but despair in his eyes. Just as the van doors were about to close, a pair of hands suddenly grabbed hold of them.