Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 181

In truth, Elara really wanted to ride a bike.

Back in her hometown, she had an old one that she pedaled everywhere.

Since starting school in Melvion City, she walked everywhere unless the destination was too far, constantly wishing she had a bike of her own.

"I can't.

Even if it were just me, I'd still have to pay a deposit. It's built into the system, and I can't bypass it.

If you're short on cash, I can cover the deposit for you."

"No, no, I have the money. I was just asking."

"Then don't worry and just use it. The deposit is fully refundable at any time.

If you feel uneasy leaving your money in the app, you can withdraw your balance after every ride and just deposit it again the next time you need a bike."

Mira completely understood Elara's hesitation. Earning a little money wasn't easy, and having never dealt with large sums, the girl was terrified of losing it or getting scammed.

"Hahaha, it's like a little kid with a dollar in their pocket, constantly reaching in to make sure it's still there!"

Liora teased her, making Elara flush a deep shade of crimson.

Mira shot her a warning look. "Stop laughing at her. That's a completely normal reaction. You'd be exactly the same if you had something precious to protect."

"I wasn't laughing at her in a mean way! It's just... well, it's cute."

Her tone was so obnoxious that Mira had the urge to pinch her.

But after spending so much time together, they all knew Liora was just blunt. She didn't have a malicious bone in her body, so no one held it against her.

Celine reached out and lightly punched Liora's arm. "Apologize, right now."

"Elara, I wasn't making fun of you, I promise. I just thought it was adorable."

"It's okay, I'm not mad. Mira's friends are all good people."

Coming from a poor background, Elara always felt a bit stifled around these wealthy heirs. She carried a deep-seated inferiority complex and tended to be introverted.

It was only around Mira that she truly opened up.

Mira smiled at Liora and Celine, teasing, "See? You only became good people after you became my friends. Don't you ever leave me."

"Don't worry, you couldn't get rid of us if you tried."

"We get it."

They assumed Mira had made a promise to someone and was bound by a non-disclosure agreement.

It wasn't that she didn't trust them, but everyone slipped up eventually. Especially Liora, who was notoriously bad at keeping secrets.

Mira simply didn't want word leaking out prematurely and putting her in the crosshairs of massive corporate capital.

Early on, Mira had asked if they wanted to start a business together, but they had declined. Their families expected them to focus entirely on their studies.

Mira had dropped the idea. After all, not everyone was cut out to juggle high school and a startup simultaneously.

It was too easy to end up failing at both.

True elite families prioritized their children's education above all else.

Senior year was a critical juncture. If a startup caused them to miss out on their dream universities, both the girls and their families would blame Mira.

After all, whether at home or abroad, getting into a top-tier university required more than just deep pockets.

Those so-called 'guaranteed admission' programs pitched by shady consulting agencies often involved fraud and forged credentials.