She Hired the Poor Scholarship Student to Save Her Grades — Then She Fell for the One Guy She Was Afraid to Love
Chapter 1
At Westbridge University, there were students people noticed and students people remembered.
Madison Blake was both.
She was the daughter of one of California’s wealthiest hotel developers, drove a silver sports car, wore designer clothes without thinking about the price tags, and seemed to collect friends everywhere she went.
Her grades were the one thing that refused to cooperate with her lifestyle.
Professor Reynolds had handed back her economics exam with a single sentence written at the top.
You cannot charm your way through this course.
Madison had stared at the red number.
“That’s impossible.”
Her roommate, Chloe, leaned over.
“Congratulations. You have officially failed at being perfect.”
Madison dropped the paper on the table.
“I need a tutor.”
Chloe laughed.
“Get one from the graduate program.”
“Too expensive.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
“You?”
Madison rolled her eyes.
“What?”
“You have more money than the entire building.”
“I want someone good.”
That afternoon, the academic office gave her a name.
Ethan Carter.
Top economics student.
Full scholarship.
Highest score in his class.
Part-time library assistant.
Weekend delivery driver.
Madison stared at the profile.
“He sounds boring.”
She called anyway.
Ethan arrived at the campus coffee shop wearing a faded navy jacket and carrying a backpack that looked older than Madison’s car.
He sat across from her.
“You wanted tutoring?”
She looked him up and down.
“You’re Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“I expected someone older.”
“I’m twenty-four.”
“So am I.”
He opened a notebook.
“What exactly do you need?”
Madison pointed toward the textbook.
“Everything.”
He looked at the first page.
“You’re not stupid.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“You’re just not studying.”
She frowned.
“I don’t like you.”
“I wasn’t trying to impress you.”
For the first time in years, someone had spoken to Madison Blake like she was just another student.
And strangely, she wanted to hear more.
