Chapter 121 Cold Betrayal

• As I stepped through the opened gates, a sense of both newness and familiarity enveloped me, causing my eyes to dart around the room, trying to make sense of the unusual atmosphere. The trees flanking the pathway were adorned with twinkling fairy lights, casting a magical glow along the familiar route. Newly placed potted plants lined the sidewalk at intervals, while crisp white chalk lines delineated the edges of the path. It was my college, the same path I traversed every morning, yet something felt different, as if I were experiencing it for the first time, alone.
• Pausing mid-stride, I scanned my surroundings, a sense of disorientation creeping in. Was I in the right place? It seemed absurd, yet the feeling persisted. A strange realization tugged at my heart as I turned to continue my journey. I wasn't alone. Students bustled past me, their faces a blur as I remained lost in my own thoughts, oblivious to the world around me.
• A faint beep from my bag interrupted my reverie, prompting me to retrieve my phone. With trembling hands, I unlocked it to find an unfamiliar number and a chilling message awaiting me. "You cheated, betrayed trust. There's a price to pay." The words sent a shiver down my spine, the warmth and happiness I'd felt moments before now replaced by a cold, creeping dread.