Chapter 01

Penelope's POV.

“Have you heard? Sebastian Vanderbilt is now engaged.”

I froze in my tracks as I stood near the lockers to eavesdrop on the girls talking.

“Oh my goodness!” one of them said. “How did you know this?”

“Mr. Vanderbilt himself told my daddy,” The girl said proudly. “Our press company is going to air it later today.”

“But who is the lucky girl?”

“This is VIP information; you can’t tell anyone.”

“Oh Anne, I promise! Hurry, tell me!”

“Madeleine Bancroft.”

I staggered backwards in shock and pretended not to have heard the girls. Not sparing a glance at them, I hurriedly walked to my class.

Madeleine Bancroft.

Wasn’t she the girl who came by Vanderbilt mansion yesterday? She was totally treated like royalty, and I wondered who she was. I dared not ask any question though. My father was the bodyguard of Sebastian’s family, and I have lived in their house since I was two.

For fifteen years, we stayed in the wing of the house reserved for staff. We were two people living under the same roof, but with different lives. Sebastian’s family was the richest in the Upper East side.

When talking about power, generational wealth, and fame, the Vanderbilts ranked first. This was not only on the Upper East side, but in the whole of New York. In fact, the Vanderbilts were no less than royalty. And that was a contrast to me, who was just Penelope Hastings from Seattle.

Everyone in Whitmore came from traditionally wealthy families. There was nothing like being poor. You were either wealthy or stupendously rich. Since my father worked as with the Vanderbilts, I was afforded certain luxuries like attending this prestigious school. A tap on my shoulder jolted me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see my best friend, Lena Sinclair.

Lena was one of the few Upper East siders whose family gained new wealth. Unlike the other families that had wealth for several generations, the Sinclairs came into wealth only two generations ago. According to the hierarchy around here, they were one of the least wealthy.

“Lena…”

She beamed at me. “What are you looking at, Pen?”

“Nothing.”

“Why didn’t you tell me the latest news?”

“What news?”

“About Sebastian’s engagement. It was aired on the news a few minutes ago.”

“I just got to know myself.”

Her blue eyes shone. “They said she’ll be transferring to Whitmore today as a VIP student. Oh, she’s so lucky to have Sebastian.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t share her opinion about him. Yes, Sebastian was very handsome, but I only saw him as someone I grew up with. As children, he was always mean to me, constantly telling me that I had no place in his world. I had come to accept that and keep him at a distance, despite attending the same school.

“Everyone, they’re here!” someone screamed, and the students scrambled out of their seats, running to the hallway.

“Who?” I asked Lena as we got out of our seats too.

“Sebastian and his fiancée.”

I shook my head as we made our way to the hallway where everyone was now gathered. It was such a strange thing to me that seventeen-year-olds being engaged was totally normal around here.

Suddenly, everyone hushed as Sebastian appeared, holding his fiancée’s hand, while his notorious playboy best friend, Theodore Beaumont followed closely behind. Standing at six feet, Sebastian was the sweetheart of the girls.

He had brown hair, and warm honey eyes, even if his heart was anything but warm. He was the captain of the school swim team, and the idol of other boys. Theo was equally handsome with exceptional features.

Now, their attention was drawn to Madeleine. She was the famous heiress of Bancroft corporations. Their family was one of the most powerful in America with a deep-rooted generational wealth.

She was no doubt beautiful. She was tall and slender with a pair of fine, long legs. Her auburn hair was straightened neatly to perfection, and her pretty face hard and calculating. She looked at all of us like peasants, silently daring us to look her directly in her eyes.

Of course, I did.

Her eyes met mine for a while, and I refused to avert my gaze. Instead, I stared back defiantly. She smiled and walked to me.

“You.”

I turned to look at Sebastian who stood there with an expressionless face. My gaze settled back on Madeleine’s.

Her smile widened. “Oh wow. Isn’t this interesting?”

I didn’t know if it was because I refused to look away, or if there was something else she saw.

She continued. “You’re the bodyguard’s daughter I saw yesterday, right?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“I must say, I’m surprised to see you here. The Vanderbilts’ generosity knows no bound.”

“They treat us well.”

“How loyal,” she said, and everyone laughed.

She then turned to Sebastian. “Let’s go, shall we? I can’t wait for you to show me around.”

They left, with everyone admiring the power she held to command, except me. And Sebastian didn’t even spare me a glance.

**** **** ****

At home, I sat down in my room, trying to study. I couldn’t bring myself too. It had been a long time since I was bullied because of my background. Now, it seemed like Madeleine was bringing that back. I sighed loudly and collapsed on the bed.

Despite being in the staff quarters, this place didn’t seem like it. It was just like a luxurious room where I had my own room, and my father had his. Remembering that I needed to take a book in the library of the main wing, I walked out.

Since I was little, I wasn’t restricted from entering the main house. The only restrictions were the rooms the family used. I walked into the house to see the family having dinner with Madeleine and an older version of her which must be her mother.

Madeleine saw me, and her expression changed. She tugged at Sebastian’s arm. “Doesn’t she live in the servants’ quarters?”

“I’m sorry to bother you,” I said quickly. “I only came to borrow a book.”

“Well, you can as well get the book in school,” she spat.

“Allow her,” Sebastian said coldly.

The room fell into a hush.

Did Sebastian just defend me?

“But…”

He cut her short.

“As long as she isn’t bothering anyone, let’s finish our meal.”

She held his hand. “You don’t need to concern yourself with staff.”

He looked me squarely in the eyes while speaking. “I don’t.”

But somehow, his eyes seemed like he was lying.