Chapter 5

ST. CLAIRE'S INTERNATIONAL

The playground at St. Claire’s International buzzed with the usual noise of recess squeaky sneakers, laughter echoing off the stone walls, and the high-pitched chatter of second graders planning imaginary kingdoms.

But not everyone was laughing.

Penelope and Princeton sat side by side on the stone bench near the monkey bars, their matching lunchboxes unopened. Neither of them spoke. They didn’t have to. They both saw the group of kids heading their way.

It was always the same three Maya, Lucas, and Jaden , who found entertainment in picking at whatever made someone different. And for the Williams twins, their difference was obvious.

They didn’t have a mother.

“Well,” Maya said, arms crossed and chin lifted, “I bet you two are going to skip the Mother’s Day Fun Fair next week. Like always.”

Jaden snorted. “They don’t even have a mom to bring. It’s supposed to be called Mother’s Day, not Father Fills In Day.”

Lucas added with a grin, “My mom said their dad just sends gifts and fancy snacks every year to cover up for it. Imagine being so rich but not even having a real family.”

Princeton’s fists clenched in his lap.

Penelope kept her head down, lips pressed together tightly.

“Oh, and remember last year?” Maya giggled, nudging the others. “When their nanny came instead? That was so sad.”

“Maybe their mom just ran away,” Jaden said. “Wouldn’t blame her.”

The words hung in the air like a slap.

Still, no one stepped in.

The teachers were too far away. Other kids nearby either looked away or pretended not to hear. Silence echoed louder than the teasing.

Penelope blinked hard, refusing to cry.

Princeton’s voice was low, quiet, but steady. “That’s enough.”

“Oh?” Maya challenged. “What are you gonna do? Tell your dad?”

“No,” Princeton said, eyes dark. “I don’t need to.”

The way he said it calmly, not scared , made Maya falter just slightly.

“Tch. Whatever,” she muttered. “You two are boring anyway.”

With that, the trio lost interest and wandered off, laughing about something else, already searching for their next target.

Penelope let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She didn’t look at her brother. She couldn’t. Her throat was tight, and she knew if she spoke, it’d crack.

But Princeton reached out and held her hand anyway.

"Don't waste your precious tears on bullies like them " Princeton said.

"But they are right we don't have a mummy , every mother's day fun fair we are always getting bullied for not having a mommy " Penelope.

"At least we have a dad who loves us dearly and adores us " he said.

Penelope removed his hand from hers and stood up.

"You never think the way I think and I really hate it " She mumbled then ran off , Princeton sighed but didn't chase after her.

BLACKRIDGE COLLEGE — LATE AFTERNOON

The campus was unusually quiet, with most students gone for the day. Orion sat on a bench under a large tree near the library, his earphones in, eyes fixed on the screen of his phone, though he wasn’t really watching anything. The weight of the world or something close to it rested on his shoulders.

“Oriooon!”

The familiar, overly sweet voice grated his ears before he even looked up. Skye.

She strutted toward him in her designer sandals, her curly hair bouncing with every step. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” she said, plopping down beside him uninvited.

Orion didn’t take out his earphones or even glance at her. His jaw tightened.

Skye pouted. “You’re ignoring me again? That’s so rude, you know. I brought you snacks.” She held out a bag of chips and a smoothie like it was an offering to a king.

Without a word, Orion stood and slung his backpack over his shoulder, walking off without so much as a glance back.

Skye blinked, mouth open. “Seriously?!”

Orion didn’t care.

He kept walking, hands in his pockets, head down, moving through the almost-empty corridor of the Arts building. As he turned a corner, he almost collided with someone.

It was her.

Leah.

His lecturer.

Her soft perfume lingered in the air, and she looked as graceful as ever in a simple black dress and flats, a few books clutched to her chest.

They both paused.

Her eyes flickered over his face but just briefly. No smile. No recognition.

Then she walked past him.

Like a stranger.

Orion stood still, frozen.

His heart twisted painfully.

“She doesn’t even remember me again…” he mumbled to himself, voice barely audible.

The ache in his chest deepened.And just like that, he was alone again.

WILLIAMS COMPANY

The glass doors slid open and Ivy stepped inside nervously, clutching her end of her worn out hoodie. She had barely slept, and her eyes were slightly red and puffy from crying.

She needed to talk to Damon.

Employees in sleek suits walked past her without a second glance. She took a hesitant step forward, unsure of where to go when.....

"What are you doing here ?! Who let this lowlife in ?! " a sharp voice rang out behind her.

Ivy froze, She turned slowly and came face to face with Celeste, ivy immediately recognized her as the lady who had come into Damon's room the other day with two kids.

She was Tall, Elegant, Cold and hard for one to forget her face.

Her glossy heels clicked as she approached, lips curled in distaste.

“You must be really shameless, Showing up here after everything Damon has done to make it clear he wants nothing to do with you ”Celeste sneered.

Ivy swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady.

“I just need to speak with him. It’s about my brother, please....”

“Oh, your brother?” Celeste cut in with a cruel laugh. “The same one Damon ordered us to throw out of the hospital? Or maybe you’re talking about the building you live in yeah, the one he’s buying so we can evict you ”

Ivy’s heart dropped. “What…?” ivy had her suspicion that all the bad things happening to her might have something to do with Damon but hearing it from his worker still kind of shocks her.

“Oops. You didn’t know?” Celeste smirked. “Well, now you do , So be a smart girl and leave before I call security ”

She stepped closer, voice dropping to a threatening whisper. “Damon doesn’t want trash like you anywhere near him, so do me a favour and f**k off ”

Ivy's eyes welled up, but she held her ground. "I am not going anywhere till I see Damon and speak with him "

"You better leave this instance and don't make things more difficult than it needs to be "

Celeste turned sharply, about to wave over security when an icy tone sliced through the room like a blade.

“Celeste ”

Everyone turned.

There stood Damon, tall and intimidating in his navy suit, eyes fixed coldly on Celeste. The air in the room thickened instantly.

His gaze then dropped to Ivy and something in him softened. Just for a moment.

“Step away from her ”

Celeste blinked in confusion. “Sir, I was just....”

“I said,” Damon’s voice deepened, “step away from her ”

Celeste stepped back, face flushing with embarrassment.

Damon walked straight to Ivy, took her hand gently. “Come with me ” he said.

He led her away, leaving Celeste frozen and humiliated in the middle of the lobby.

As the elevator doors closed behind them, Ivy stole a glance at Damon.

He was silent, after a while the elevator door opened , he took her by her hand and dragged her into his office.

Once they were inside his office she forcefully removed her hand from his grip and he stared at her.

"Why are you here ?" He asked coldly.

"Do you really have to go that far to ruin my life ? First you brought the building I live in making me homeless then you asked the hospital to send my brother out, why are you so heartless?!!! My brother could die if he isn't closely monitored in the hospital!!! " She yelled with tears streaming down her face.

The thought of her brother dying haunted her deeply and makes her super sad and scared.

"I wouldn't do any of that if you simply returned to me Selena "

"I am not Selena....."

"Without you by my side I will go insane , you are the only thing that keeps my sanity in check , you have to return to me Selena " He said and cupped her face in his hands.

"Do you have to be so selfish? Do you care to ask me about what I feel and if I don't want to be with you ? "Tears rolled down Selena's face as she spoke.

"You have no choice you are stuck with me for life and if you refuse to return to me I will make sure you know what pain is Selena , I will break you entirely then fix you back doll you belong only to me " He whispered into her ears.

"This obsession " She mumbled in between her tears.

"Yes doll , I am obsessed with you and only I dare to make you cry , moan and feel another thing you belong to me , Selena and I will kill every single person that gets in our way " Damon said possessively..............