Amelia walked through her front door, greeted by the warm familiarity of home. The comforting sights and sounds made her feel instantly at ease. Her motherâs welcoming smile greeted her, and her younger sister ran over, wrapping her in a tight hug. Despite the chaos of the day, being surrounded by her loved ones brought Amelia a sense of peace. She joined her mother and older sister Lily at the dining table for lunch.
"When will Dad be home?" Amelia asked as she scooped a spoonful of rice.
"He's been really busy at work lately; he might be late," her mother, Samantha, replied softly. "How was your day?" she inquired.
After exchanging pleasantries and catching up with her family, Amelia retreated to her room. She began her skincare routine, meticulously applying each product. No matter how exhausted she felt, she never compromised on this ritual. Skincare was as important to her as anything else. While she wasnât a big fan of makeup, she was passionate about keeping her skin clean and healthy.
With her skin feeling refreshed, Amelia settled onto her bed, the soft hum of the fan providing a soothing backdrop. She wrapped herself in a cozy blanket and reached for her current read, *Fourth Wing*, losing herself in its pages. Immersed in the world of fiction, Amelia found an escape, letting her mind wander and explore new realms of imagination.
As the hours passed, Amelia felt her worries and stresses melt away, replaced by a sense of tranquility. Just then, a gentle knock on her door interrupted her, and she looked up to see her younger sister, Lily, peeking in with a mischievous grin.
"Hey, sis!" Lily chirped, bouncing into the room. "Mind if I hang out with you for a bit? I need a break from studying."
Amelia smiled warmly and gestured for her to sit on the bed. "You donât need to ask."
Lily giggled and sat beside her. "How was your day?"
"It was good. Schoolâs really motivating, but I met this guy, Aiden. Heâs a bit of a jerk, and weâre not exactly getting along," Amelia shared, her voice tinged with frustration.
Lily raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "A jerk? Tell me more."
Amelia chuckled, shaking her head. "Maybe âjerkâ is too strong, but heâs really arrogant. He acts like he owns Crestmont University."
Lily groaned dramatically. "Not another one of those. What did he do?"
Amelia rolled her eyes. "He tried to pull a stunt in class, but I shut him down."
Lily nodded approvingly. "Thatâs my girl. Donât let him push you around."
Amelia laughed, grateful for her sisterâs unwavering support. "Thanks, Lily. You always know how to make me feel better."
The sisters shared a lighthearted moment, their laughter echoing through the room, reinforcing their bond.
---
The next day was bright and sunny as Amelia made her way through the university corridors, her mind buzzing with thoughts of the day ahead. Suddenly, she noticed a gathering of students up ahead and quickened her pace, driven by curiosity.
Pushing through the crowd, her eyes widened in shock at the scene before her. Aiden, towering over a boy, had just shoved him forcefully, causing him to stumble and fall. Before Amelia could react, Aidenâs foot came crashing down on the boyâs shoulder, pinning him to the ground. The boy struggled, but it was no use; Aidenâs foot seemed immovable.
A surge of anger coursed through Amelia. How could someone be so cruel, so heartless? Without a second thought, she stepped forward, her determination clear.
"Hey!" she called out, her voice slicing through the tense atmosphere. "What do you think you're doing?"
Aiden turned to face her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Just teaching this loser a lesson," he replied casually, his foot still pressing down on the boyâs shoulder.
Ameliaâs jaw clenched with fury. "Thatâs not teaching; thatâs bullying!" she shot back, her voice laced with righteous indignation. "Get off him right now."
Aidenâs smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with a hint of challenge. "I will if you take his place," he retorted, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Ameliaâs heart raced at his words, but she refused to back down. "Letâs see," she replied, her voice steady despite the fear bubbling inside her. "Donât think for a second that Iâll back down just because youâre trying to intimidate me."
With a defiant glare, Amelia stepped forward, her chin held high as she positioned herself between Aiden and the boy on the ground. Despite the flicker of uncertainty tugging at her heart, she refused to let Aiden see her fear.
Aiden regarded her for a moment, a hint of something flashing in his eyes before it was quickly replaced by his trademark smirk. "Well, well, well," he mused, his voice low and dangerously smooth. "Looks like the little princess has some backbone after all."
Amelia ignored his words, focusing instead on helping the boy to his feet. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft with genuine concern.
The boy nodded, his gratitude evident in his eyes as he brushed himself off. "You donât have to do this; he wonât show you any mercy," he murmured, his voice shaky but sincere.
Amelia was still helping him when a sharp pain made her scream. Aiden had grabbed her by the hair, his grip rough and unforgiving. She winced, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as she felt the tug of her hair against her scalp.
"Let go of me!" Amelia demanded, her voice laced with a mixture of pain and fury as she struggled against Aidenâs hold.
But Aiden only tightened his grip, his expression dark and menacing as he leaned in close, his hot breath ghosting over her ear. "You think you can stand up to me?" he hissed, his voice low and threatening. "Youâre nothing but a weak little subject, and Iâll make sure you know your place."
Aiden pushed her to the ground. As Amelia hit the floor with a thud, her breath caught in her throat, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Before she could even process what was happening, icy water cascaded down onto her, drenching her from head to toe.
Shocked and disoriented, Amelia struggled to push herself up from the wet floor, her clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin. Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked up to see Aiden standing over her, a malicious grin twisting his features.
"Oops, clumsy much?" Aiden sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he watched her struggle.
Ameliaâs cheeks burned with humiliation as she met Aidenâs mocking gaze, her pride wounded but her defiance unbroken. She tried to hold back her tears, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Aiden bowed mockingly and pulled out something from his pocket, making Amelia curious. Her eyes widened when she saw the metal pen she had used to wound him before.
"Remember this, little one?" he asked, sounding every bit the psychopath she thought him to be.
As Amelia braced herself for whatever might come next, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and defiance, she was startled by the sudden appearance of Rose.
"Please, Aiden, let her go," Rose said, her voice trembling with concern as she stepped forward to intervene.
Aidenâs irritation flared at the interruption, his jaw clenched in annoyance. "Go away, Rose, this is not your business."
But Rose persisted, her eyes pleading and her voice earnest. "Please, Aiden, sheâs my friend. I wonât ask you for anything else."
Aidenâs annoyance grew, but he eventually relented. "Fine," he grumbled, his tone hard as he agreed to release Amelia.
Amelia watched in astonishment as Aiden let her go, her mind racing with questions about why he would listen to Roseâs request. Despite her confusion, she couldnât help but feel a glimmer of relief at being spared further confrontation, even if it was only temporary.
Amelia took Roseâs hand to get up. She didnât want to look at Aiden after what had just happened. She was still puzzled by why Aiden had listened to Rose. Were they somehow related? Or were they dating? The thought made Amelia freeze.
"Are you okay?" Roseâs concerned voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Y-yeah, you are a lifesaver," Amelia squeezed her hand, still shaken.
After what Aiden had done, Amelia knew how horrible he was, and she was determined to get revenge for the humiliation she had suffered.
"Amelia, donât get me wrong, but I think you should take a break from university. Donât come here for at least a week," Rose said hesitantly, leaving Amelia shocked.
"What do you mean? You donât want me to come here?" Amelia felt like someone had just stabbed her.
Rose shared the unsettling truth about Aiden and his friends' dominance over the university. "If Aiden and his crew have a problem with you, everyone else follows suit. Itâs like heâs the king, and whatever he says goes."
Ameliaâs stomach churned at the thought of being at the mercy of Aiden. Her mind reeled with the implications of what Rose had revealed. The realization that Aiden could effectively brand her as an outcast sent a shiver down.