Chapter 7

Trust is like glass, once cracked, it never looks the same again."

Arielle – POV

Everyone had seen the video.

I couldn’t breathe without feeling their eyes crawling over my skin. Their whispers sliced deeper than knives.

“She moaned like she meant it.”

“Bet she’s not so innocent anymore.”

“Xavier made her wild.”

I wanted to disappear.

Hide under a blanket and never come out.

But life didn’t work that way, especially not when the guy in the video was Empire High’s golden boy.

And I was just the nobody who got caught touching him.

Knight Mansion – Xavier’s POV

I punched a hole in the wall.

Not metaphorically. Literally.

My father didn’t even flinch. Just looked at the damage and sipped his scotch.

“You leaked it,” I growled.

He didn’t answer. Didn’t deny it.

“You used her.

He finally looked at me. Calm. Cold. Dangerous.

“No, Xavier. You used her. I just revealed the truth.”

My fists clenched again.

“You’re disgusting.”

“And you’re distracted.”

I stepped closer. “Stay away from her.”

He smirked.

“I would. But you keep bringing her into my world.”

Arielle – POV

I skipped school the next day.

I didn’t have the strength to fake smiles or pretend I hadn’t been digitally stripped in front of the whole school.

Aunt May brought soup and didn’t ask questions.

Until late evening.

“Did you love him?” she asked softly.

I blinked.

“I don’t know.”

She tucked my hair behind my ear. “Then that makes it more dangerous.”

Aunt May – POV

I saw the video.

I nearly dropped the cup in my hand when it popped up on my F******k feed, captioned:

“Empire High’s Arrogant Senior Gets Handsy With His Wife.”

My heart shattered. Not because of what they did, but because of how cruel the world was going to be to Arielle because of it.

She’d be the target.

He’d still be adored.

Boys always got away with being wild.

Girls got labeled forever.

Xavier – POV

I knocked on her door three times.

She didn’t answer.

“Relle, it’s me.”

Still nothing.

I sighed.

Then her voice came, muffled through the wood.

“Go away.”

I flinched.

This girl once cried into my hoodie.

Now she wouldn’t open the door.

Arielle

“You promised you’d protect me,” she said. And now the whole school has seen my bra.

My chest ached.

“I didn’t leak it. You know that.”

She opened the door slightly.

“I don’t know that, Xavier. I thought I knew you. But now? I don’t even know what’s real anymore.”

🔥 Flashback Scene – Arielle’s POV (Adult Content Recap Memory)

My body remembered him.

The way his hands roamed. The way he whispered my name.

The way he made me feel like I was fire and glass at the same time.

But now…

Now, all I could feel was shame.

And heat I didn’t ask for.

Back to Present – Xavier’s POV

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” I said.

Arielle folded her arms. “But it did.”

Her eyes were wet. Not crying, but closed

“I need space,” she whispered.

I nodded.

But my heart cracked like ice under pressure.

“Okay,” I said.

Then I turned and left.

Mr. Knight – POV

I watched the cameras.

Xavier walked away from her door, shoulders heavy, eyes haunted.

Perfect.

Now, the real game could begin.

I pulled out the next document.

A forged transfer paper.

Let’s see how Xavier handles losing her for good.

Next Day – School Courtyard

I came back to school with my head held high.

People still whispered

Still stared.

But now… I stared back.

Mira linked arms with me.

“You’re a legend,” she said.

“I’m a headline,” I muttered.

“Same thing in this school.”

Then I saw him.

Xavier.

Looking wrecked.

He walked toward me slowly.

Paused a few feet away.

And said the one thing I didn’t expect:

“I’m transferring schools.”

My world spun.

“What?”

“My father’s making me leave.”

My throat closed.

I blinked.

“No.”

“I don’t want to,” he said. “But if I stay, he’ll destroy everything.”

He reached for me but I stepped back.

Because my heart had already shattered once

And I didn’t know if it could handle more.

Aunt May – POV

He showed up at my house again.

This time, I answered the door before Arielle could.

“I need to see her,” he said.

“No,” I replied.

“She needs to know”

“She needs time.”

He opened his mouth.

I stopped him with one hand.

“I don’t hate you, Xavier. I just don’t trust that you can protect her from what’s coming.”

He looked like he’d been stabbed.

“Then I’ll learn how,” he whispered.

And walked away.

Nighttime – Arielle’s POV

I stared at the ceiling.

Wondering how something so intense could fall apart so f

ast.

I missed him.

I hated that I did.

I missed his eyes. His smirk. His hoodie. His mouth.

But I also hated the pain that came with all of it.

My phone buzzed.

A message.

“I’ll come back for you. I swear it. – X”

I hugged my pillow.

And let the tears fall silently into the dark.