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Chapter Thirty-one

Author: Onuorah Linda
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-17 22:13:16

Carolyn’s POV

The day dragged on like heavy chains tied to my ankles.

Even though I was physically present, my mind was far away—stuck in that cafeteria, reliving the sound of food slapping Tina’s face, the gasps, the laughter, the eyes watching like it was entertainment.

Tina didn’t deserve that.

The rest of the day blurred past me in a fog of silent fury.

I sat in class, eyes forward, but my mind wasn’t on the whiteboard or Mr. Ayoola’s notes. My thoughts kept drifting to Tina—my best friend, the one person who made this entire nightmare bearable.

She wasn’t just absent.

She was hurt.

At home.

Sick.

The rumor in class was that her mother had called the school to report that Tina was experiencing “high fever and emotional fatigue.” I didn’t need anyone to explain further. I knew what that meant.

Tina hadn’t just been embarrassed.

She’d been shaken.

By J.J.

By Emma and her minions.

Because of me.

I pressed my palm hard against my thigh, trying to ground myself. I hated how powerless I
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  • Rich Love    Chapter Thirty-Three

    J.J’s POVI pulled into my usual spot, engine humming softly beneath my fingers. For a second, I stared out the tinted windshield, watching the school building loom in front of me like some perfect, silent statue. The same school where I reigned. The same halls that whispered when I passed. The same place where no one dared to defy me—at least, not for long.But today, someone was waiting.Tina.She stood by the edge of the curb, arms crossed, shifting nervously. Her uniform was neat, her braids tied with a red ribbon, but there was something about her posture—rigid and too still—that told me she wasn’t just here to say hello.I debated driving right past her.She wasn’t worth my time.She was Carolyn’s friend. That already made her a problem.But as I pulled into the spot and cut the engine, I saw her step forward.And I didn’t like that.Not one bit.I grabbed my bag, slammed the car door, and began walking, ignoring the way her eyes followed me. She stepped in my path.“J.J, please

  • Rich Love    Chapter Thirty Two

    J.J’s POVI thought ignoring her would help.I thought maybe if I gave her space, she’d come back. Crawl back. Whisper another apology like before. Offer her silence as some kind of surrender.But she didn’t.She walked past me in the hallway this morning like I didn’t exist.No glance. No hesitation.Just… walked.And I hated it.I hated the way it burned.It was the same fire that came after a challenge, except this time, it wasn’t about pride or power—it was about control I had lost. And the fact that Carolyn, of all people, had taken it from me?Unforgivable.I sat in the lounge for most of the day, jaw clenched, heart pounding with that sick, tight rhythm that came whenever something slipped through my fingers.I couldn’t think straight.After school, I messaged George."Let’s go out. Tonight. I need to blow off steam."He replied almost immediately.You thinking the usual spot?Yes. Bring Julius. I don’t want to think. Just drink.We met up around 6PM. Julius had to sneak out o

  • Rich Love    Chapter Thirty-one

    Carolyn’s POVThe day dragged on like heavy chains tied to my ankles.Even though I was physically present, my mind was far away—stuck in that cafeteria, reliving the sound of food slapping Tina’s face, the gasps, the laughter, the eyes watching like it was entertainment.Tina didn’t deserve that.The rest of the day blurred past me in a fog of silent fury.I sat in class, eyes forward, but my mind wasn’t on the whiteboard or Mr. Ayoola’s notes. My thoughts kept drifting to Tina—my best friend, the one person who made this entire nightmare bearable.She wasn’t just absent.She was hurt.At home.Sick.The rumor in class was that her mother had called the school to report that Tina was experiencing “high fever and emotional fatigue.” I didn’t need anyone to explain further. I knew what that meant.Tina hadn’t just been embarrassed.She’d been shaken.By J.J.By Emma and her minions.Because of me.I pressed my palm hard against my thigh, trying to ground myself. I hated how powerless I

  • Rich Love     Chapter Thirty

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  • Rich Love    Chapter Twenty-Nine

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  • Rich Love    Chapter Twenty-Eight

    J.J’s POVMonday morning came too quickly.The same white walls, the same polished floors, the same students pretending to care about grades while scheming behind their designer backpacks. The school looked the same, but something had changed.Me.Or maybe not.Maybe I was just realizing that Carolyn Okoli—yes, Carolyn, the charity-case girl with the odd blue eyes—was still stuck in my head long after that final debate round ended.It made no sense.She defied me, embarrassed me, won... and then ignored me like I was irrelevant. She hadn’t even looked at me since we got off the plane from Lagos. And for someone who used to practically shake in my presence, that silence was louder than anything she could’ve said.I hated how much that bothered me.I hated that I noticed her absence in the lounge this morning.George did too. He looked at me over the rim of his smoothie, one brow raised.“She’s not coming today?” he asked casually.“Why wouldn't she?” I snapped.George gave me a look. “

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