CHAPTER HUNDRED-EIGHTEEN*why the hell has she been thinking about him lately?*"Good because I am all ears!" Janice beamed as she edged closer with full concentration.Hannah scoffed at her friend and clicked her tongue. "it's nothing serious. Stop reading more reading into it than necessary. Okay!"Janice rolled her eyes defiantly. "Hmmm... how about nope! Spill the beans dear friend and quit keeping me hanging like this! I'm dying of curiosity!" She whined loudly.Hannah shushed her with her finger pressed to her lips as her widened eyes scanned the room, hoping no one was looking their way.She breathed out a sigh of relief when no one was looking. And turned to glare at her best friend who was grinning from ear to ear like a kid keenly waiting for sweets and treats.Only that what she was about to say or speak of is anything far from sweet or treats in the figurative sense.Mr Cross was her nightmare!He not only succeeded in tormenting her physically by his tempting presence bu
CHAPTER HUNDRED -NINETEEN*In her books, No one that hurts her family goes unpunished*"No, listen to me first." Hannah held up her hand.Janice scrunched up an eyebrow at her curiously."Then talk to me, Hannah. What did your boss do to you?"Then Janice glanced at her shoulders ensuring no one was within earshot safe for the waiter at the back who wouldn't make out what they were saying from that angle, and edged closer, her lips mere inches from her face."Or did he touch you against your will?"She whispered fiercely, fury flashing in her eyes.Hannah shook her head frantically and muttered rather reluctantly, "No. Not really.." Her brows pinched together in confusion and impatience as she edged much closer their face always touching.Janice's hazel eyes bored searing holes through Hannah's light brown ones."What do you mean by not really, Hannah? Are you gonna tell me or not?"Hannah's throat bobbed as she forced a bitter swallow, grimacing.She exhaled deeply and clamped her
CHAPTER HUNDRED -TWENTY*Why would she be wet and ready for a man she loathes?*"You have no business with how I execute vengeance on those who hurt my family and those I call family. Just tell me everything that transpired between the two of you already."Janice continued, her brows wrinkled in fury and worry.Hannah nodded slowly and swallowed a lump in her throat.She gripped her hands with all of her might underneath the table until her Knuckles turned white."Okay... Um, it's about my boss, Mr Cross... " Hannah started as she lowered her eyes to the table, her brows marred with a deep frown as if Mr Cross was sitting on the table looking at her."What about him, what did he do?" Janice pressed relentlessly.What did that motherfucker do? Would have been appropriate in this circumstance 'cause she is smelling trouble. Janice thought angrily.Hannah bit her lip and shifted in her chair again. She had used the restroom as an excuse to get her acts together and willed the persistent
CHAPTER HUNDRED -TWENTY-ONE*Her first true friend perhaps?*"Bonk his nose?!" Hannah burst out laughing. "oh my God, Jane. You never change. Just like old times."Janice smiled widely as memories of their time in Brighton College sprung up in my mind.Brighton College was pregnant with a lot of memories for Janice and Hannah. In fact, that was where they first met.Brighton College is one of the most expensive and highest-ranked International schools in the United Kingdom. Initially, her father wanted to enrol her in Winchester College but they changed their minds later on.She was barely twelve when she commenced. The twelve-year-old Janice appeared calm and timid on the outside and a little whiff of a condescending aura surrounded her.Everyone knew who she was on her first day after the teacher assigned her to her class and introduced her, a loud gasp and thunderous applause rocked the classroom.And Hannah was in that same class. She was a geek wearing big weird glasses with eye
CHAPTER HUNDRED-TWENTY-TWO*No one messes with them and goes scot-free*"Likewise." Janice smiled back at her.Hannah returned it rather awkwardly, tucking a wayward strand of her frizzy hair behind her ear.Silence stretched between them like a hot blanket wrapped around them. Hannah's heart was fluttering with anxiety.What could she say? She doesn't want to say anything weird to scare her off.She wants a true friend and something in her is nudging her towards this girl.Her lips formed a flattened line as she clamped them briefly together.Janice quirked an eyebrow at her curiously.Hannah quickly cleared her throat weakly and forced a smile."Um... Janice, I admire your courage and how you were brave enough to face those girls. They have been a total pain in the arse." Janice stifled a laugh and nodded."It was nothing. I didn't do anything or said anything." Janice shrugged."You think that was nothing? That was the best comeback ever! You didn't notice how rattled they were? I
CHAPTER HUNDRED-TWENTY-THREE*This girl desperately needs help!*"W-what are bayou T-talking about?!" Hannah sputtered as she waved her hands frantically in the air, feigning ignorance.But she was way easy to read. Janice chuckled and shook her head again"You what I'm talking about, Hannah. I understand we just met but you don't have to through that. Speak up when you need help." Janice gripped her shoulder gently, her brows furrowing with concern and pity.Hannah swallowed a lump in her throat and nodded slowly in resignation."Thank you, Janice. But I am fine..."Janice released her hand from her shoulder and puffed out a deep breath in mild irritation.Why is she being silent? Could she possibly have been threatened perhaps?Why is she keeping mute and not seeking help? For what purpose?But it's none of her business anyways.They just met and she doesn't want to come off as being annoyingly persistent. But she could swear that she spotted the fear lurking in her eyes.She is scar
CHAPTER HUNDRED-TWENTY-FOUR*The big trio equals her worst nightmare*The entire class gasped in disbelief as they glared at her. Well, minus Janice whose face she couldn't make out from here. Maybe she's also glaring in disbelief who knows? And probably rethink her decision to remain friends with her.What is she gonna do?!Not Anastasia ruining her reputation for her already with her narcissistic attitude. Always internationally doing things to mess with her and put her to shame. Always.The big trio equals her worst nightmare.Will she ever be able to escape from this unending cycle of bully and misery?At any rate, she had better focus on getting herself out of this mess.She gulped.Mr Abel was gaping at her in confusion.His rigid gaze glided from Anastasia to her."Is that true, Miss Spikes?" He probed.Of course not! Her throat worked on a swallow. Ensuring her ragged breathing was taking a regulated tempo, she finally answered."N-not exactly sir!" She blurted out, her nose
CHAPTER HUNDRED-TWENTY-FIVE*Every day is a nightmare at Brighton College.*"Nothing much is going on. You're just in an anxious state. You need to calm down. Do you sleep well? Are you having a sleepless night. ?" Mrs Hope asked as she retrieved the medical thermometer from her underarm and went to the back deck and rinsed her hands under the running water.She dabbed a clean towel over her damp hands and slumped in the seat across the table with a deep sigh.Hannah gulped.Sleepless anxious nights had been her close companion lately. All thanks to the monstrous trio that kept making her life a living hell. Plus, she had no friends. She would often stay awake battling with her troubled thoughts all by herself and then put on the fake mask of a happy kid living her best life in school to her parents.For how long will she keep up with this facade?It's only a matter of time...and at all costs, the mask must not be removed let alone crack a smidge So no one must know. Not even her teac