Chapter 3

Emily quickly became the star athlete everyone at school was talking about.

The students surrounding her were all varsity stars and the most talented athletes on campus.

But she soon realized something didn't make sense. Unlike my previous life, I wasn't being isolated by the other girls.

If anything, everyone still laughed and talked with me as usual.

She couldn't understand it. Why was it that, despite having the Beauty System, despite becoming the prettiest girl in school and constantly being the subject of anonymous crush posts online, I wasn't surrounded by jealous girls?

The truth was that people hadn't disliked Emily in my previous life because she was beautiful.

"Hey, Olivia."

A familiar voice called out from the hallway. Jake Carter, the school's most notorious troublemaker, was leaning against a row of lockers with that familiar cocky grin.

"You coming to the bonfire after the game tonight?"

Jake came from one of the wealthiest families in town. His father owned casinos, luxury resorts, and half the entertainment businesses in the county.

Everyone knew the Carter family had connections powerful enough that even the school administration preferred not to challenge them.

In my previous life, Jake had chased Emily just as relentlessly. Back then, she loved the attention. She was always riding around town in the passenger seat of his brand-new Corvette.

While everyone else was studying for exams or training after school, she skipped classes to follow Jake around, using his reputation to intimidate other students.

That was why people disliked her. Not because she was beautiful. Because she treated everyone else as if they were beneath her.

I wasn't going to repeat those mistakes.

Jake walked straight to my desk, resting both hands on it as he looked down at me.

He was handsome. Popular. Generous with money. Half the girls in school had a crush on him. Unfortunately, he also had a terrible temper.

"So? You coming or not?"

I shook my head. "No. I'm going home after school."

It was the fourth time I'd turned him down.

His patience was obviously running out. A flash of irritation crossed his face. The curious stares from everyone around us only made him angrier.

"Olivia Brooks. Don't push your luck."

"I'm actually into you right now. So quit acting like you're too good for me."

The hallway fell completely silent. Everybody was looking at us. Just last month, Jake had put another student in the hospital after a fight in the parking lot.

I lowered my eyes. Quietly pinched my thigh as hard as I could.

When I looked up again, my eyes were already shimmering with tears.

"Jake... How could you say something like that?"

His anger vanished instantly. He scratched the back of his head, looking completely lost.

"Whoa, I didn't even do anything."

"Hey, don't cry. If you don't want to go, then don't."

I ignored him completely. Sniffling, I wiped away my tears and hurried down the hallway.

Another second and I probably wouldn't have been able to keep crying.

I had to admit it. Beauty could be a weapon.

But it was always a double-edged sword. If you didn't know how to use it, you'd only end up hurting yourself.

Confronting Jake head-on would've been foolish. For now, showing a little vulnerability was the safest way to protect myself.

Before I had the strength to protect myself, my beauty was a liability disguised as a blessing.

But unlike Emily, I had no intention of relying on a powerful man to keep me safe.

Building your future around strangers who only value your appearance was a losing strategy from the very beginning.

Even the most beautiful flower loses its charm once it becomes familiar.

A bird in a gilded cage can never truly soar.

I wasn't meant to belong to anyone.

I was meant to fly on my own.