Chapter 32: Diamond in the Rough

Elara slammed her notebook shut as the dismissal bell rang in the background.

She sighed.

Going through school again was really tiring.

She might be a top student, but that doesn't mean she liked school. It was a boring place filled with spoiled brats.

One would think since their school was an elite academy, the students would be poised and elegant. But as she watched some students taunt and bully a quiet student, she shook her head.

"Sis!" Selene jumped in front of her table.

"Are you ready to go home? Let's go together."

Selene offered cheerfully.

Recently, Elara had been doing things without her and now she didn't even know what she was up to.

She had to stick to her.

Elara glanced up at her with a smile.

"Sister," she dragged it.

"I'd like to go with you too, but I have advanced maths lessons."

Selene's lips rounded in an "oh."

Though she had a slight suspicion.

Elara sensed it and stood with her bag, looping arms with Selene.

"Or, why don't you come with me. After which we can go home together."

Selene immediately unhooked arms and took a step back.

She chuckled nervously.

"Sis, on second thoughts maybe we'll meet at home." Then she scurried off.

Elara scoffed in disdain.

She knew Selene hated to study. She just wanted an easy life where she reaped where she didn't sow.

A ping from her phone drew her attention.

It was a message from Damian.

"Darling, I'm on my way to you now."

Elara's lips twitched.

They just keep coming.

She heard the voice in her head go:

'Do you have a magnet for trash or something?'

Elara thought she really might.

She typed back.

"Baby, I'm sorry but my period just started all of a sudden. I'm really sorry but it really hurts…I can't go with you."

She could already envision Damian clenching his teeth since things weren't going his way.

And she confirmed it from his cold reply.

"Okay."

She scoffed.

Then as if he realised he was being too cold, he added.

"Know you mean the world to me." And that was it.

How ironic.

If he really meant what he said, he'd have at least asked if she'd taken painkillers or needed anything.

She sighed at her misfortune, rubbing her lower tummy.

She wasn't really lying about the period thing.

She was indeed on her period and though it hurt, it wasn't so bad that she couldn't go. She just didn't want to add to her problems.

With a sigh,she made her way towards the door of the class to go meet with Mr Hanover who had long informed her he had arrived.

But suddenly,a book slid across the floor and landed perfectly under her feet.

She paused.

Following the direction it came from,she saw the student they had been bullying still crouched on the ground with his head lowered while his bullies looked at her.

One of the bullies walked towards her and tried to take the book from under her feet,but she stood firmer. This way,the girl couldn't snatch it.

“Do you mind moving your foot!?”

The girl had an attitude,one she tried to watch in the presence of Elara.

Elara cast her a side glance.

“And why should I?”

“You—” She wanted to clap back but she knew she couldn't afford it if she offended Elara and her father heard about it.

“Well well,who do we have here?” Another girl stepped forward. More daring than the other.

“Vanessa,fall back.” She told the first girl.

Tessa spoke so freely because she felt she could afford to.

She thought Elara's family and hers might be on the same level now her parents were no more.

“If it isn't the latest orphan.” She spoke dauntingly with a smirk.

Elara felt a bell go off in her head and she turned slowly.

“What did you say?”

Tessa scoffed mockingly.

“I said you're the latest—”

A heavy slap sent the remaining words flying from Tessa's mouth.

As she clutched her red cheeks,she felt the world spinning before her.

“You dared say it again!” Elara's voice was ice cold and dangerous. She looked like she wanted to kill Tessa.

The bullies were five in total,so the three boys that had been holding the victim down rushed forward to protect their leader.

“How dare you lay your hands on our leader? Don't think we don't dare hit you because you're a girl.” The tallest of the boys tried to intimidate her with his huge frame.

Elara snickered and soon burst into full laughter which left them confused.

But as quickly as the laughter came,it disappeared. It was replaced by a cold face.

“Don't. Even.Dare!”

She took heavy steps towards them.

For some reason her small frame appeared very intimidating to them.

They didn't know that what they felt was the aura of someone who had tasted the dampness of the grave.

“Let me make one thing clear.”

She stopped walking, making sure she made eye contact with every single one of them.

“That boy,” she pointed at the victim who still had his head lowered so that she couldn't even see his face.

“Is under my protection. And if any single one of you tries to bother him anymore,I'll demonstrate a power that even your alive but useless parents can never attain.”

The bullies all stood petrified.

“Now scram!”

They didn't wait for her to finish talking before they all disappeared.

With quiet once again restored to the class,she sighed.

Could this day get any worse.

As she turned,her eyes fell on the boy who was now quietly packing his books.

She bent down and picked the one that had gone under her foot.

Walking to him,she stretched her hand.

“Your note.”

He stretched out his hand to take it,but at that moment her eyes fell on his name.

‘Armani Winthrop’

The name echoed in her head,it sounded familiar.

That's when it struck her and she looked at him in shock.

‘This guy was a member of the powerful Winthrop family?’

She couldn't believe it.

His blood was in no way inferior to hers.

Then why was he letting himself get bullied?

Armani’s hand had been stretched for quite some seconds but the book hadn't fallen in yet.

“Raise your head.” Elara's voice was calm, nothing like when she spoke to the bullies.

Armani scoffed weakly,he couldn't believe his luck.

What did she want?

Was she also trying to bully him?

“Armani?” She called his name calmly.

Then finally he raised his head up.

Elara's breath caught in her throat.

How did she never know that her class had such a dashing face?

When she was silent, Armani didn't know what to think so he quickly reached for his discarded glasses and put them back on.

Elara snapped out of her daze and bent down so she was on the same eye level as him.

“Take it off.”

Armani’s eyes were dewy already and his voice deep and choked.

“I really cannot connect you with my father…or my brothers.”

He shook his lowered head weakly.

“Please, just let me be.”

Elara felt a deep sadness in her heart as she watched him.

She didn't know when she lifted her hand and rubbed his head like a grown up consoling a sad child.

Armani was confused and surprised,he raised his head and locked eyes with her.

In her eyes,where pity should have been,all he saw was empathy.

Finally convinced she might not want something from him like the others, he felt a little more relaxed.

“What do you want?”

He asked her.

Elara smiled at him sadly.

“Why do you let them treat you like this?”

He was silent.

“I know what it's like to be treated like trash,even with all the power.” Elara continued.

‘She knew?’ Armani didn't want to believe it.

“You have to stand up for yourself,no one else can.”

Armani felt the comfort in her words and let himself believe her.

“Come on,stand up.” Elara stood up and stretched a hand to him.

He spent a few seconds considering if he should,but then he cast all thoughts aside and accepted Elara's helping hands.

When he stood to his full height of 185cm,Elara had to lift her head slightly.

Elara nodded in amazement.

How could someone so tall let people bring him down when he could simply knock them down with his jaw.

She tilted her head as she noticed something.

“Bend a little.”

Armani wondered why she wanted him to bend but he did anyway.

This way he was in direct eye contact with Elara once more.

Elara took off his glasses and pushed up his overgrown bangs.

She clicked her teeth.

“What a waste of excellent features. The screen would better suit you,not this annoying classroom.”

Armani thought she was speaking rubbish but just let her do as she pleased.

While she examined his features,he couldn't help but notice her eyes.

“Elara”

A voice called from the doorway and they both turned to look.