Chapter 3

3

I wasn't just looking at Seraphina. Jace was there, too.

He stood beside her, still wearing that pristine Northridge uniform, looking like the perfect golden boy.

Seraphina grabbed my chin and smirked. "Where's that big mouth of yours now, Nolan?"

I knew what she was talking about―the roach incident.

I shoved her hand away and laughed. "What, you want more bugs in your clothes?"

She stumbled back, her face turning a deep shade of purple.

"You little... Get him! Break his―"

"Seraphina, wait. Maybe we shouldn't," Jace interrupted, putting on his best "kind soul" act.

He looked so soft and pathetic―the complete opposite of the arrogant jerk he used to be.

Rebirth had definitely made him smarter.

He knew Seraphina had a thing for the "sensitive, misunderstood genius" type.

He lowered his eyes and sighed. "If your friends hurt him too bad, he won't be able to compete tomorrow. I'd feel terrible."

Seraphina let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Even better. Send him to the hospital for six months. I'm sick of looking at his face."

"Do it! Give him everything you've got!"

Her thugs started closing in.

Jace's eyes sparkled with a sick kind of joy, and a tiny smirk began to form on his lips.

I sat there on the floor and started laughing out loud.

"You guys are so incredibly stupid."

"What?!" Seraphina shrieked. "Are you mocking me?"

My laugh got louder.

"I'm laughing because you're being used as a pawn and you don't even realize it."

"If I were you, Seraphina, I wouldn't be causing a scene right when your family is choosing their next heir."

Her eyes widened. She froze.

Before she could respond, the classroom door swung open.

It wasn't who I expected.

It was Hazel and the other girl.

I thought they'd be too scared to come in. I was wrong.

Kind people are often the bravest.

Hazel was holding her phone, her hands shaking violently, but she stood her ground. "We... we called the teachers!"

Seraphina acted like she'd heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Oh, I'm so scared!" she mocked, walking toward them with terrifying confidence.

"The principal literally bows to my father. You think some low-rent teacher can stop me?"

Hazel bit her lip, unable to find the words.

"How about me? Can I stop you?"

A woman's voice boomed from the doorway.

A middle-aged woman draped in expensive furs walked in, her face like stone.

Seraphina's smirk evaporated instantly.

"Mom..."

Mrs. Sterling's voice was vibrating with rage.

"You know exactly what's at stake for our family right now. I told you to keep your head down. Did you forget?"

"But he started it!" Seraphina pointed at me, desperate.

"I don't care. You're an adult now; you need to see the bigger picture. We're leaving."

Mrs. Sterling grabbed her arm and shot a disgusted look at Jace.

"And stop hanging out with such low-class trash."

Jace's face turned an ugly shade of green.

The Sterling guards cleared the room, and Seraphina's little gang scattered like rats.

"Nolan, I underestimated you. I didn't think you had the guts to call her mother," Jace spat, glaring at me.

Then, he started to chuckle.

"You're back, too, aren't you?"

"Doesn't matter. Seraphina loves me now."

"And once she's officially the heir to the Sterling empire, she can erase you from existence, and no one will dare to report it."

He looked so sure of his victory.

I wondered how he'd feel when he found out about her secret fiancé.

Would he have a total mental breakdown?

Jace stormed out, leaving me alone with Hazel and her friend.

"Thank God you're okay," Hazel sighed, finally letting out a breath.

The other girl smiled. "Yeah, her mom showed up just in time."

They didn't know that I was the one who sent Mrs. Sterling an anonymous tip.

Thanks to my memories, I knew that the Sterling patriarch was dying of cancer and currently vetting his successors.

Seraphina had two half-sisters who were hungry for the spot.

There was no way her mother would let her jeopardize the inheritance over a high school grudge.

%%%