CHAPTER TWO - ELENA

I slammed my fork into the porcelain plate, the sharp clatter slicing through the silence of the dining room.

"Elena, darling, must you make such a racket?" My mother’s voice, smooth as silk but just as sharp, cut through the morning air. "You’ll wake your father."

I bit back a retort, knowing full well that my father was long gone, likely engrossed in some high-stakes deal to further solidify our family’s fortune. Instead, I stared at my plate, gripping my fork until my knuckles turned white. "I apologize, Mother. Just… not very hungry."

She barely spared me a glance, her blonde hair perfectly styled, her silk dressing gown unwrinkled, her plate of meticulously arranged fruit untouched. "Nonsense. You need to keep your strength up. You have a charity dinner today, and you know how important it is to leave a good impression."

I sighed, already dreading the afternoon’s forced smiles and hollow conversations.

Then came the inevitable. "Speaking of outings, Cameron called yesterday. He’s looking forward to the polo match next weekend. He says he has a new horse he’s dying to show you."

My stomach twisted. Cameron Laurent. My childhood friend, or rather, the boy I’d been expected to marry since I was old enough to understand alliances and mergers. "That’s nice, I murmured, absently pushing my eggs around my plate.”

"Nice? Elena, it is more than nice. You two are perfect together." Her tone permitted no debate. "The Laurents are practically royalty in this town. It’s an excellent match for both families."

I tightened my grip on the fork. "This is a business arrangement, Mother. Let’s call it what it is."

Her eyes flickered with irritation, the fine lines around her mouth deepening. "Don’t be vulgar, Elena. It’s about stability. Securing your future. Cameron is a good man who will provide you with a wonderful life."

"A wonderful, predictable life," I muttered under my breath, but she didn’t hear.

She set down her teacup with a soft clink. "Finish your breakfast. You need the energy."

I swallowed against the tightness in my throat. This engagement hung over me like a suffocating blanket. A future where I would play the role of the dutiful wife, the gracious hostess, the perfect socialite. A future devoid of… what? I wasn’t even sure. Only that it was something more than endless galas and staged photo ops.

****

I stepped out of the chauffeured limousine, the cool morning air biting at my cheeks. Blackwood Academy stretched before me, its towering brick buildings imposing as ever. Students in navy blazers and khaki pants filled the courtyard, their laughter and chatter blending into an indistinct hum.

Tiffany’s black curls bounced as she waved enthusiastically, standing out among the sea of students. "Elena! You look absolutely stunning! A new shade of lipstick?" She air-kissed my cheek with practiced ease, her eyes already scanning for the latest gossip.

I forced a smile, trying to shake the unease from breakfast. "Something like that."

We fell into step, navigating the hallways as if we owned them, because in a way, we did. But Tiffany, perceptive as always, caught my distraction.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She bumped my shoulder playfully. "You seem a million miles away."

I hesitated. "Just… family stuff."

Tiffany arched a perfectly groomed brow. "Uh-huh. Family matters that involve staring across the courtyard?"

My body tensed. I didn’t have to look to know who she meant.

Noah Carter.

He leaned against the brick wall near the gym, dark hair tousled by the wind, his gaze locked on some distant point. He always looked like that, angry, distant, untouchable. Out of place in a school like ours.

"You’re watching him again," Tiffany teased, nudging me. "Seriously, Elena, what is it with you and the scholarship kid? He’s totally not your type."

I scoffed, but the heat rising in my cheeks betrayed me. It wasn’t intentional, this… fascination. It was as if he was a magnetic force, pulling my attention against my will. Mortifying and frustrating all at once.

"Don’t be ridiculous, Tiffany. I was just admiring the architectural structure of the gym." The excuse sounded stupid even to my own ears.

Tiffany burst into laughter. "Right, and I’m dating your brother. Please. Elena, for someone supposedly engaged to the perfect man, you seem awfully distracted by someone who shouldn’t even be breathing the same air as you."

Her words stung. Tiffany didn’t understand. She couldn’t possibly.

Noah didn’t belong in our world. His clothes were neat but worn, and his shoes scuffed. His eyes held a weight no teenager should carry. And yet, despite everything, he occupied too much space in my mind.

"Just drop it, Tiffany," I snapped, sharper than I intended. "It’s none of your business."

She held up her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Jeez. Touchy subject. But be careful, Elena. You know how people talk."

I nodded stiffly, my stomach twisting. I knew exactly how people talked. And I knew that if anyone caught wind of this... curiosity, it would be dissected, twisted, and ultimately condemned.

****

The bell rang, signaling the start of first period. I exhaled, willing myself to focus.

Mr. Harrison, our Advanced Literature teacher, adjusted his tweed jacket as he addressed the class. "As you know, this semester we’ll be working on collaborative projects. I’ve paired you up randomly. My hope is that you’ll get to know your classmates better."

I barely paid attention, my mind still reeling from my conversation with Tiffany. But when my name was called, my head snapped up.

"Elena Kensington... and Noah Carter."

The room fell silent. Whispers rippled through the class, all eyes shifting between us.

I turned stiffly in my seat, my heart pounding against my ribs. Noah sat motionless, his expression unreadable. He looked like he didn’t care.

And that infuriated me.