All Chapters of CRUEL OBSESSION: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The roar of laughter echoed throughout Blackwood Academy's cafeteria, bouncing off the high ceilings and sleek marble floors. I sat at my usual spot, at the center table, surveying the scene with practiced amusement. My manicured fingers toyed with the tip of my sparkling water; my expression was one of casual disregard.Noah Carter was the reason for the laughter. He lay sprawled across the floor, his meager lunch, a sad-looking sandwich, and an apple scattered around him like fallen leaves. A satisfied smirk tugged at my perfectly glossed lips. It had been simple, really. A well-placed foot, a barely audible trip, and gravity had taken care of the rest.Blackwood Academy. The name alone dripped with prestige, history, and, most importantly, money. Its hallowed halls served as a breeding ground for the elite, a finishing school for future CEOs, politicians, and socialites. And I, Elena Kensington, daughter of renowned businessman Richard Kensington, was its undisputed queen.Noah Cart

I slammed my textbook onto the scarred surface of the teacher's desk, the abrupt thud echoing in the nearly empty classroom. Mr. Harrison, a man whose patience rivaled the vast, flat landscape of North Dakota itself, looked up from his stack of papers, his brow furrowed with a weariness I knew I was adding to."I need a new partner," I stated, my voice tight with barely contained frustration.Mr. Harrison sighed, the kind of sigh that carried years of managing teenage egos. "Elena, I can’t change your partner.""But Mr. Harrison," I persisted, my fingers drumming an impatient rhythm against the desk, "Noah and I are just not compatible. We can't work together.""Everyone can work together, Elena. It’s a group project, and cooperation is part of the learning experience." He set down his pen and gave me a look that bordered on amused patience."Besides," he added, his tone softening slightly, "Noah is a very bright student. I think you could learn a lot from him."I bristled at the impl

The air inside the country club felt stifling, thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and overpriced cologne. I pushed my lobster ravioli around my plate, barely tasting the creamy sauce that once would have been my favorite.The laughter, the clinking glasses, the effortless chatter of people who had never known real struggle—it used to feel like home. Now, it just grated.Across from me, Cameron reached for my hand, his tanned fingers curling around mine with the same easy confidence he carried in everything he did.Once, that touch had been comforting, like that was all I needed. Tonight, it felt like a weight, a heavy weight."Everything alright, Elena?" he asked, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. He was concerned, genuinely so, and that only made the guilt of my thinking twist tighter in my stomach."I'm fine, Cam. Just tired," I said, pulling my hand away to swirl my fork through the mess of sauce and pasta on my plate.It was a lie, one I had been telling so often late

The gym had pulsed with restless energy, a mix of sweat, expensive cologne, and teenage excitement thick in the air. Fairy lights, lazily draped across the basketball hoops, cast a warm, artificial glow over the crowd.The student council’s chosen playlist blasted through the speakers, a chaotic blend of pop anthems barely cutting through the chatter and bursts of laughter.The Annual Spring Fling. A tradition carried out every third week after resumption. It wasn’t exactly necessary, but we all needed the release.I stood at the edge of the makeshift dance floor, my back pressed against the cool wall as I tried to ground myself. Cameron swayed beside me, his hand resting firmly on my waist. He was everything a girl like me was supposed to want—handsome, popular, the star athlete. And, most importantly, completely devoted to me.But tonight, his touch felt suffocating.I shifted under his grasp, forcing a smile even as my gaze wandered—again—to the opposite side of the room. My heart

The thrill of acing the Macbeth test still buzzed in my veins. The red “A+” on the paper practically glowed, as if mocking all my past failures. I had never—never—gotten a perfect score in literature before. Even Tiffany always scored higher than me.I cast a quick glance in her direction. Her tight-lipped expression, the way her nails dug into her desk—it didn’t take a genius to know she was pissed.And I loved it.Still, I couldn’t take all the credit. I knew exactly who was responsible for this miracle.“Seriously, Noah, thank you,” I said, turning to him. I hated how sincere I sounded, how raw the gratitude felt on my tongue. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”His lips curled into that maddeningly smug grin. “I never knew you actually listened during our sessions, Elena. I thought your only goal was to make my life miserable.”“Oh, please,” I scoffed, nudging him with my elbow. “Don’t gloat.”I turned away quickly, as if the heat creeping up my neck wasn’t real, as if the way