Chapter 519

Clarice's words were tactful, but her meaning was clear. Bella understood the challenges of a long-distance relationship all too well.

This was Clarice's strategy. How many couples who once swore eternal love had succumbed to the strain of distance? No matter how deep the feelings, distance had a way of eroding even the strongest bonds.

Clarice was confident that at the Montclair Conservatory, a place brimming with talent, Bella would gradually wake up from the haze of infatuation and reevaluate her relationship.

She might even meet so many exceptional young men that she'd look back and wonder how she ever thought Jack was the one.

"No!"

Bella instinctively rejected Clarice's plan. Jack was, without a doubt, the most important person to her.

Seeing her daughter being so stubborn, Clarice finally lost her patience. "Bella, why are you being so difficult? This arrangement isn't just for your sake—it's for him, too. I can't control you, but dealing with him wouldn't be hard, would it?"

Bella froze, fear creeping in. She knew how formidable her mother could be. If Clarice wanted to go after Jack, it would be as easy as snapping her fingers.

"Sweetheart, I'm giving Jack a chance. I don't want to take drastic measures, but if he truly loves you, he should support you in pursuing your dreams. He should also work hard to prove himself, to show that he's worthy of you. If he can prove he's capable of heading a company worth billions of dollars, then I'll accept him. But if he can't, then it just shows he's not good enough for you."

Clarice paused and looked at Bella fondly. Then, she continued, "I hope you can understand where I'm coming from."

Bella barely touched her food during dinner, her mind elsewhere. When she returned to her dorm, Clarice's secretary had already packed her luggage.

Bella's roommates were also in the dorm. Gigi and Remy were engrossed in a short drama on their phones, while Luna sat at the vanity, getting ready for an evening event.

When Luna saw Bella walk in, her eyes lit up. "Bella's back! Did you go out for dinner with your handsome boyfriend again?"

Bella didn't respond. Her face was pale, her expression distant.

Luna glanced at her and frowned slightly. "What's wrong? Did you fight with your boyfriend? Honestly, arguments are normal—don't take it too seriously. My boyfriend, who came back from studying in the Federia, and I have disagreements too, but we always make up quickly."

Though Luna's words sounded like an attempt to comfort Bella, there was an unmistakable undertone of boasting.

Gigi, who had been absorbed in her drama, immediately turned her head at them. "Luna, didn't you say your boyfriend was studying in Bostalia or Granada before? How did it suddenly become Federia?"

Luna shot Gigi a disdainful look and replied casually, "Oh, that one? I broke up with him because he didn't get a full scholarship, and his school wasn't even one of the top Ivy Leagues."

As she spoke, she began filing her nails, launching into a detailed account.

"My current boyfriend did his undergraduate and master's at Soloman University. They even offered him a Ph.D. spot, but his dad wanted him to come back early to take over the family business. So, he decided to return."

"Wow!"