Chapter 3 HE IS MINE

Sienna kept staring at the envelope.

"What?" Victoria asked again, watching her carefully.

Sienna finally blinked and looked away. "Nothing."

Victoria frowned. "That definitely wasn't a nothing face."

"Let's just go."

Isabella glanced at the envelope one last time before picking up her bag.

"Come on."

The three girls left the classroom without another word.

---

The next morning, Elena walked into class with Chloe beside her, still half-asleep from barely getting enough rest.

She dropped her bag on her desk.

Then she stopped.

There was a small white envelope sitting neatly on top of her notebook.

Elena frowned.

"What's that?"

Chloe leaned over her shoulder.

Written across the front, in bold black letters, were four words.

HE IS MINE.

Elena stared at it.

"Who?"

Chloe shrugged. "How am I supposed to know?"

Elena picked up the envelope and turned it around.

Nothing.

No name.

No signature.

She looked around the classroom.

Everyone seemed busy with their own conversations.

"Maybe someone put it on the wrong desk," Chloe suggested.

"Maybe."

Elena slipped it into her bag.

"Whatever. I don't have time for this."

She sat down just as the teacher walked in.

But for the rest of the morning, those four words stayed somewhere in the back of her mind.

He is mine.

She just didn't know who he was.

---

The library was quieter than usual during lunch.

Elena sat at one of the tables, surrounded by books and notes, determined to finish an assignment before the next class.

She was halfway through writing when a shadow fell across her notebook.

"You're sitting in my usual spot."

Elena looked up.

Isabella stood in front of her.

Victoria and Sienna were behind her.

Elena glanced around the library.

"There are plenty of other seats."

Isabella's expression hardened.

"You're new, so I'll make this simple for you."

Elena slowly closed her notebook.

"I'm listening."

"Blackwood Academy has an order," Isabella said. "People know where they belong. You shouldn't get confused just because you received a scholarship."

Elena stared at her.

"And where exactly do you think I belong?"

Victoria smirked.

Isabella folded her arms. "Somewhere that doesn't interfere with people above you."

Elena stood.

For a second, Isabella looked surprised.

"So because I'm a scholarship student, I'm supposed to be afraid of you?"

The library suddenly felt quieter.

Elena continued, her voice calm.

"I earned my place here. I didn't steal it from anyone."

Isabella's jaw tightened.

"You should learn when to keep quiet."

"And you should learn that being rich doesn't make you better than everyone else."

A boy sitting at a nearby table slowly lowered his book.

His eyes widened.

Everyone knew Isabella Monroe.

And almost nobody spoke to her like that.

Isabella stared at Elena for a long moment.

"You're going to regret that."

Elena picked up her notebook.

"Maybe."

She walked away.

The boy watched her leave, then looked at Isabella.

For the first time, he seemed genuinely impressed.

---

That evening, Damon stood in the middle of his father's study with his arms folded.

"I already told you," Damon said. "I'm not interested."

His father's expression remained cold.

"After you finish school and eventually complete college, you'll come back and take your position in the company."

Damon gave a humorless laugh.

"You're talking like I've already agreed."

"You don't need to agree."

His mother stepped forward.

"That's enough."

His father looked at her.

"You keep encouraging him."

"Because he has a dream."

"He has responsibilities."

Damon's jaw tightened.

"Basketball isn't a hobby to me."

His father shook his head.

"You're the heir to everything I've built. One day, you'll understand that."

"I don't want everything you've built."

The room went silent.

Damon's mother looked at him.

His father stared at him with disappointment.

"You'll grow out of this."

"No," Damon said firmly. "I won't."

He turned and walked out.

His mother watched him leave.

His father remained standing behind his desk.

"He needs direction."

She looked at him.

"Maybe he needs you to listen."

---

The next morning, Elena's class was unusually noisy.

The teacher walked in carrying several folders.

"Settle down, everyone."

The noise slowly faded.

She placed the folders on her desk.

"I have some interesting news for you."

Immediately, whispers filled the classroom.

"We're going on two educational trips before graduation."

The room erupted.

"Two?"

"Where?"

"Seriously?"

The teacher raised her hand.

"First trip will be in two weeks."

The class became quiet.

"It will be a one-week adventure trip into the jungle."

Excited murmurs spread across the room.

"You'll be divided into groups. During the trip, you'll document what you see, what you learn, and your experiences. When you return, every group will submit everything they've recorded."

Someone at the back cheered.

The teacher smiled before continuing.

"And that's not all."

The class immediately became louder.

"Our second trip will be to California."

The room exploded.

"California?!"

"For how long?"

"One month."

The students screamed.

"Yes," the teacher said, laughing at their reaction. "One full month, outside the regular academic calendar."

Elena smiled faintly as she listened.

Around her, everyone was already talking about beaches, hotels, shopping, pictures, and everything they wanted to do.

Chloe leaned toward Elena.

"We are definitely going."

Elena laughed softly.

---

After school, Elena and Chloe walked toward the school gate.

Chloe was still talking about California.

"Imagine spending a whole month there. A whole month, Elena!"

"You've already planned your entire trip."

"Obviously."

Elena smiled.

Then Chloe noticed her expression change.

"What?"

Elena looked ahead.

"Nothing."

"You're doing that thing again."

"What thing?"

"The thing where you pretend everything is fine."

Elena sighed.

They continued walking for a few seconds.

Then Elena stopped.

"Chloe..."

"What?"

Elena adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder.

"I don't think I'm going."

Chloe's smile disappeared.