chill ran down my spine at the memory.
Without thinking, I took a step back.
“Uncle, Auntie, I’m really sorry,” I said, keeping my tone polite. “But I need to focus on studying. I don’t want to get involved in anything related to Justin. I hope you understand.”
Justin froze. He hadn’t expected my answer because I’d usually rush in, trying to fix everything like always.}
But this time, I turned on my heel and ran.
Justin opened his mouth, maybe to argue or beg, but I was already gone.
…
Over the next few days, my parents kept me updated. Justin’s parents had put him under house arrest. His phone was taken away, and he was completely cut off from Stacey.
No contact. No escape.
And honestly? That made me smile.
Even without me, his parents still knew how to drag him back from the edge.}
That was fine. That was their job now. Mine was simple: stay out of it and take care of myself.”
As long as I stayed focused, everything would fall into place. If the questions were the same as before, I would top the national rankings this time. No doubt.
Still, I didn’t let myself relax. Not even a little.
Ten complete practice tests every day. I pushed myself until my hands cramped. On my walks home, I drilled vocab aloud, block after block. When it happened, I was right in the middle of reviewing Latin word roots.
A van screeched to a halt beside me.}
Right then, rough hands yanked me off the street and dragged me into a narrow alley.
“What are you doing? Let me go!“}]
My backpack was ripped open. Fingers clawed at my sleeves, and in an instant, panic crashed down like a wave. That sharp, blinding terror was all too familiar.
This was it. The same sickening fear I felt in my final moments in that past life.
The same helplessness.}
Then came the clicks. Dozens of them.
Seven or eight cameras flashed in my face. Bright, cruel bursts catching every angle of my shame.}
And then I saw him.
Justin stepped into the alley as if it were a stage built just for him. Eerily calm, he stopped in front of me and held up a neat stack of glossy, freshly printed photos.
“If you open your mouth again, these go all over Eastbridge.“}
“Justin…” My voice trembled. “This is illegal. You can’t–“>
I curled into myself, trying to shield my body with shaking arms.
But Justin didn’t care or flinch.
He just sneered and said, “So what? What’s the point of following the rules? Stacey says this is the time in life to go wild. Why waste it?”
There was even a touch of pride in his smile.
“Rhian, you’ve never been in love. That’s why you don’t understand.“}
But he was wrong.”
Of course, I had. I loved him.>
Meanwhile, one of the men behind him whistled low, eyeing me.
“Justin, there’s nobody around. Shame to waste a body like that. She’s gorgeous.“}]
The others laughed.}
I could feel their eyes crawling across my skin.
Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed. Justin’s boot slammed into the nearest guy’s knee, and he fell, howling in pain.”
“Say that again and you’ll leave without your leg,” he said flatly.”
The man blanched. In fear, he slapped himself hard across the face, again and again.”
“I’m sorry. I was outta line. I’m sorry, Justin!”
Justin didn’t even look at him.”
He turned to me instead. “I’m heading to Eastside Lake with Stacey for a week. Don’t even think about telling my parents.”}
‘A week…‘
That was exactly when the exam would take place.
After that, he dropped the stack of photos at my feet.
on My Wedding Day
115
150
One of the men gave me a greasy smile. “Keep a few for yourself. Hell of a body. Should be proud.“>
Then it started to rain.
They left without another word. And just like that, I was alone.
I crouched in the alley, soaked and shaking, and gathered the photos individually.
I wanted to tear them apart–every single one. But I couldn’t do it. They were evidence. Even though they turned my stomach and I wished I could burn them, I had to hold on to them.
I clenched my teeth and stood up, still shaking and soaked.
I didn’t stop until I got home, where I made a promise to myself.
Once I achieved the top scorer title, I would take these photos directly to the police.
..0
I studied like my life depended on it for the next seven days.
Because it did.
Then came the National Aptitude Exams.}
The morning of the test, I stepped out of the car and immediately spotted Uncle Richard and Aunt Evelyn pacing at the gate, both shouting into their phones in a panic.
A black car skidded to a halt seconds later.}
Justin was dragged out by two bodyguards, thrashing and yelling.”
“planned it! It was my idea!“}}
Stacey stumbled out behind him, crying and smeared with mascara.
9:23 AM
*
