Chapter 3

At his command, several thugs rushed at me. I panicked and turned to run, but I crashed into someone after just a few steps.

Looking up, I found myself in Xavier's arms. He pushed me away quickly and said firmly, "Stella, run!"

The alley was not far from school, so I sprinted to get campus security.

When I returned, Xavier was being beaten by the group. My heart clenched painfully at the sight, and my whole body shook with fear. The thugs scattered when they saw the security guards approaching.

Tears blurred my vision as I helped Xavier to his feet and shakily called the police.

"I'm fine," he insisted, shaking his head despite the bruise on his lip and cold sweat on his forehead. "As long as you're safe."

I bit my lips, my guilt and concern for him growing stronger. Fortunately, Xavier only suffered minor injuries, and the police quickly arrested the thugs that evening.

The next day while working on practice tests, our class president approached my desk. "Stella, the homeroom teacher wants to see you in the office."

When I arrived at the office, instead of the teacher, I found the three Cantrell siblings waiting. Seth maintained his cold demeanor while Shawn looked at me contemptuously, but Rosie's eyes were red and swollen.

Rosie ran to me, crying, "Stella, please let Owen go! His life will be ruined if he goes to jail! I'll do anything! I'll even get on my knees!"

Before I could react, she dropped to her knees. I was caught off guard by her action and froze for a moment.

Shawn quickly pulled her up and yelled at me, "Stella, how can you be so cruel? You weren't even hurt, so just drop the charges!"

I looked at Shawn's face and laughed bitterly. Then, I asked Seth, "Do you think the same?"

Seth hesitated before responding, "Owen didn't mean it. Let it go."

A chill ran through me as I realized I had still held onto a sliver of hope for my brothers. Before I was sent away, they had genuinely cared for me. In my dream, I had desperately clung to those memories of warmth from before I turned five, pathetically trying to salvage our family bonds.

Well, not anymore.

I scoffed. "Didn't mean it? Are you blind, Seth? The security cameras caught him specifically targeting me to get revenge for Rosie. If it weren't for Xavier, I might not be standing here right now."

I clenched my fists, fighting back tears. "Dropping the charges isn't an option."

After all, that was not my decision; it was up to the Kingston family. I turned and left, fighting back tears.

Just outside the door, I found Xavier waiting. He gently took my hand and comforted me, "They don't deserve your tears."

I nodded. Xavier was right; this would be the last time I cried over them.

...

For the next two weeks, I became a social outcast. Someone had spread the story about Rosie kneeling before me. Since she was popular, everyone assumed I was bullying her.

The isolation did not bother me, though. I did not need to mingle with people who misunderstood me.

Meanwhile, Shawn was dead set on making my life miserable. He kept trying to humiliate me, which encouraged his bootlickers to join in, leaving disgusting surprises like dead rats and cockroaches on my desk.

However, Xavier always handled it with ease, calmly dumping the pests into Shawn and Rosie's desks instead. The pale, horrified look on Rosie's face was almost comical.

That afternoon, Seth stopped me at the school gates. "Dad's out of the hospital. He sent me to bring you home."

Sure enough, my dad, Mike Cantrell, was sitting in the car.

I glanced at Rosie's pale face and smiled. "Sure, but here's the deal—either her or me. Pick one."