Chapter 2

Tears streamed down from my eyes to my cheeks. I stared at Trevor. His eyes resembled the darkness between white shadows.

My stomach started twisting inside. My hand felt numb from his hard press. I did not know if I was going to lose my hand today, but the disgust in his eyes stabbed my heart.

"Kevin knew Trevor was coming. That's why he told her to offer him the bottle. He knew Trevor would get mad."

"How silly she is!"

"She is clumsy."

"Or she fell on the floor intentionally to get Trevor's attention?"

"What a bitch! First she bumped into Kevin, and now she wanted to catch Trevor's attention."

The whole hall was whispering about me. I felt like dying in embarrassment. I did not want to get the Kingston brothers' attention. I was only trying to leave silently.

Trevor's leg remained pressed against my hand, as if he was unwilling to move it until he received an answer to his question.

What would I reply to him? Who was I? An ordinary girl who was admitted here with a scholarship, or would I tell him that I was a helpless girl who kept surviving in pain?

The coldness in his eyes frosts my heart. As if something in his gaze kept me staring at him, I did not dare to move my lips.

Someone spoke behind me loudly as the sounds of clicking heels rushed toward me.

"She is with me."

That time the eye contact between me and Trevor broke. I turned my head and looked at Julia.

She came to stop beside Trevor and said,

"Please let her go. Don't listen to others. She did not have that kind of intention."

Trevor did not look at Julia. I could still feel his gaze on me, unmoved.

“Bro, what's wrong?”

Kevin's voice approached from behind. I turned my head to face him. He looked at his brother and said,

“I was the one who told her to give the bottle.”

Trevor scoffed at him, slowly removing his boot from my hand. It caused me to gasp in pain.

“You are really in the mood to play with me today,” Trevor said to Kevin.

Trevor walked past me, pressing on the broken bottles and crushing them with his shoes.

Kevin moved toward me and got on one knee.

I flinched when his breath touched my ear. “Just gave you one punishment, but you missed it. I will take it as due.”

Julia froze, as she could not let out anything before the two brothers.

I looked into Kevin's eyes, which were filled with anger. “Y-You knew he—”

He cut me off and replied, “Of course I knew. I am really in a bad mood today. It's better if a poor and vulnerable girl like you leaves our party with your disgusting scent.”

I bit my lower lip, trying not to let out a cry. Julia cleared her throat. “Please don't bully her. Let her go.”

Kevin raised an eyebrow, turning his head to Julia. “Who is bullying her? She doesn't have the quality to make herself our target.”

Kevin gave my hand a look, got to his feet, and sneered, then went back to Trevor, who was now enjoying the party around girls.

I was sad. His words hurt me.

When Julia noticed me getting up, she helped me.

"Elara, Your hand!" Julia said with a worried tone.

I glanced at my hand and found blood flowing out of my palm and fingers.

"Let's go to the infirmary," Julia said, wrapping my hand around her shoulder.

I limped out of the hall. I needed to check on my legs too. My whole body was burning in pain.

With Julia's help, I reached the infirmary. The nurse seemed surprised to see me in that condition.

She told me to lie on the bed. A female doctor came and checked on my hands and legs.

"You are lucky that your leg is not broken. An omega should always take care of herself since it takes a lot of time to heal. Your skin turned blue. Your knees got hit by something really hard."

I nodded my head. It was because today those men hit my leg with a hockey stick. I sighed when the doctor bandaged my hand.

"Doctor, I have a piano audition. Can I remove it tomorrow?" I asked.

The doctor gave me an upset look. "Girl, you can't use your hand for a week."

My eyes widened. I shook my head. "No, no. I have to go there. I can't lose this chance."

Julia, who was sitting in a corner, dashed toward me and hugged me. "Elara, calm down."

I held her hand and cried. "What will I do now, Julia? My piano audition..."

The fear and pain were killing me inside. Those men would come to my house again next week. If I did not pay them, they would sell me.

"You still have an option, Elara. Just call Aunt Mary. She is your mom. She will do something."

My mom, Mary Stones, was a beautiful woman who had already moved in a world of wealth and privilege, a world that I both envied and resented.

She had a knack for attracting powerful men, men who showered her with gifts and adoration. I was totally opposite. I only believed in love.

​My mom was like a rare flower, always in bloom, always drawing attention.

She always dated wealthy men. Beneath the charm and elegance, I saw a cold calculation.

“No.”

I shook my head in refusal. I refused to call my mom. The last time we met, she told me that she did not have anything to do with dad and me.

I wiped away my tears and exhaled deeply. I remembered the job I had been offered a few days ago. It was from a night club near our university. They needed a young waitress. I came to the conclusion that I would have to join the job.

I left the infirmary and went back home after taking a sick leave from the coffee shop where I worked part-time.

When I entered my house, it was messier than before.

Something hit my mind. I dashed over to my room, forgetting the pain in my leg. I saw my cupboard was broken. With a slow step, I approached it. My hands shook when I found the money in my bag was gone.

I got the money yesterday from my part-time job. I thought about buying groceries for the month, but my father had taken them away. Now how would we live for the whole month?

I closed my eyes, letting out tears.

"Moon goddess, is there any way to survive? How long will you take my exam? My mom abandoned me. My father wants to sell me... When will I find someone who will love me?"

Trevor's face flashed on my mind, which caused my closed eyes to fling open.

I lowered my head to my wounded hand. "But he is too cold to notice me, and we can never be together."

Suddenly my phone started ringing. I pulled out my phone and saw my mother's number.

I bit my bottom lip and received the call.

As soon as I brought it near my ear, I heard her sweet and soft tone.

"Elara, my dear."

I could not help but let out a sob. "M-Mom."

"Are you okay? Why are you crying?"

I composed myself, taking deep breaths to calm my rapid heartbeats.

"I am fine, Mom. How are you?"

She was silent for a moment and then replied,

"I am getting married tomorrow. You need to come to my wedding. I am ready to introduce you to your new dad and your two brothers."