1

Chapter 1

Vivienne Sinclair

Ding!

‘... Reminder to pay up your loan to avoid it accumulating higher. Loan balance: Twenty-three thousand dollars’

Sighs. It was twenty thousand dollars last month and now an addition of three thousand? It's going to accumulate to thirty at this point.

My fingers tightened on the phone and I sighed. What a way to ruin this special day for me.

My fingers tightened at my sides. Should I have stayed in my former school? Maybe if I had, I wouldn't be in this mess now… But I just wanted the best for myself.

I'm not an orphan of both parents. Though my mom is dead, my dad is alive and doing well for himself… owns a company that was literally built with my late mom's sweat, yet, he refused to help me.

After he remarried and adopted his wife's daughter, his attention has shifted to her. He gives her everything… took her to the best sports school, and me… I was forced to go to the cheapest school, and even then, I paid my tuition fees sometimes.

My life wasn't going to amount to anything there… I needed to be in a popular school where I'll have a chance at a better future, so I saved up and transferred to Stormbridge academy… Saved up? No! I took loans.

Yeah, it was crazy. But I was desperate, and here I am in this mess.

Ugh! Fuck my life.

Sighs. I'll worry about this later, but for now, I need to head back to the arena and watch the conclusion of the hockey match... I need to see Noah Boulevard ace this match as usual.

Oh… It's the 2018 inter academy hockey match, and we're here at Stormbridge hockey arena. I stepped out in the middle of the match to use the restroom.

As I approached the arena, someone suddenly pushed me from behind, and my knees cracked against the floor.

I winced.

“What the fuck was…” I paused as I lifted my gaze, and the most annoying pair of brown eyes welcomed me.

Bailey Sinclair. My stepsister and dad's adopted daughter.

My mom had just passed away ten years ago shortly after my eighth years birthday, when my dad remarried and adopted this bitch, his new wife's daughter, as his.

He neglected me for her.

Oh… She's the perfect daughter dad always wanted, and me? I was a crazy bitch he regretted giving birth to.

Maybe I'd have been swayed too if I was in his shoes. I mean, Bailey presented herself as a perfect daughter, doing every of his bidding, and here's me who doesn't give two fucks about him or anyone.

Ugh! This bitch!

“Sorry… My hands slipped.” A smirk curled around her lips.

“I told you not to show your face here... Have you forgotten that you don't belong here?” She crossed her arms in front of her, eyes locked down on me.

Well, Bailey claims to be Stormbridge's queenbee, forcing herself on the school's popular hockey player, Noah, but she's obviously making a fool of herself... Noah doesn't give a shit about her.

Pain exploded through my knees as I tried to get up. God help this bitch, because she'd be so fucking screwed once I manage to get up from here.

“Bailey!”

“What? Does it hurt?” She huffed.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and when I lifted my gaze, I saw people walking out of the arena.

I gasped. Is the match over already?

‘What is going on there?’

‘Oh, my God! Isn't that Vivianne? Come on, let's go watch them. I think something interesting is happening there’

One thing I hate… People seeing me in my worst state, and right now, I feel like disappearing. I hate being pathetic.

Fuck! I need to put this bitch in her place!

I muffled a cry as I tried to stand on my feet, but limped and staggered, crashing back to the floor.

By then, students already had their phones in the air, taking videos of me.

"I thought she's strong. Why is she being all pathetic now?"

"What a day to witness the downfall of Vivianne. She's always so full of herself."

My nails dug into the marbled floor, my jaw tightening as I listened to them say shits to me.

Fuck!

Then suddenly, their loud noises slowly faded into silence, each head turning back as loud footsteps echoed behind them.

I blinked. What's that?

Bailey gasped, covering her mouth the moment she turned her head back.

“Noah?” Her voice cracked.

I blinked. Noah?

“What's going on here?”

My breath caught as his voice tore through the heavy silence. Sharp, firm, and demanding.

“No…Noah…” Bailey stuttered before she was shoved out of the way, and Noah stood before me.

He was still wearing his jerseys. On one hand is his skates, and the other is wrapped around his helmet, his honey brown eyes locked on me.

My pulse quickened, and stomach knotted nervously.

I've had a crush on Noah since I transferred to Stormbridge Academy months ago.

I'd daydream about him… imagine shits in my head… I'd even imagined what sex with him would feel like.

You wouldn't blame me, right? Noah is hot, talented, flirty, soft-spoken, and even the top student in the whole Stormbridge… In short, he ticked all my boxes. How could I not want him?

“Ms. Sinclair?”

I blinked. He knows my name? It's the first time he's saying my name. I always thought he never noticed me.

“Are you okay?” He dropped everything he was holding and hurried to squat beside me, my throat tightened as he held my shoulders and helped me up, but I crashed against him, letting out a sharp cry.

He turned to Bailey, his face dripping with rage. “Did you do this to her?”

Her lips trembled. “It's… it's not what you think, Noah. I was… I was…”

“You!” He gritted angrily, then turned to me and said, “I'll take you to the infirmary.”

And without a warning, he swept me off my feet.

I froze, my eyes widened.

Then he turned to Bailey. "You better be ready to explain to the principal why you were trying to ruin Stormbridge's reputation by bullying someone."

‘What’s going on between them?’

‘Why is Noah helping her?’

Whispers echoed behind us, as he walked away with me in his arms without even a single glance back at them.

My cheeks burned hot, eyes locked on his sharp jawlines, and heart pounding as my fingers fisted on his chest.

Is this a dream? Noah stepping up to help me? Or is he just trying to save the academy's reputation?

We reached the infirmary, and the health assistant attended to my wound.

*****

“Can you walk?” Noah asked as I limped beside him out of the infirmary.

‘No, I can't’

I wanted him to carry me again… It felt good earlier. I could see his face close-up… and I enjoyed the view, but still, I shook my head.

“Hmm… Thank you.”

“I'm sorry for bothering you.” I muttered, fondling my fingers.

“It's nothing at all.”

A smile crept up my face as I looked away. Thanks to that bitch, I got to be in Noah's arms. I guess I will forgive her this time... but wait! She fucking made me not to see the conclusion of the match.

Well, scratch that! I'm going to make her pay for this.

Maybe I should ask Noah how the match ended.

“Uhm… The match…”

“Stormbridge won the game today. We're having a party to celebrate our win tonight. Mind coming..." His voice trailed off and he sighed, glancing down at my knees. "Sorry... I almost forgot. Of course, you can't make it."

Can't make it? Give me a fucking break! I don't mind going there in a wheelchair. I mean, Noah just invited me, so I must be there.

"Yeah, sure... I'll be there."

He blinked.

"Oh... This is fine. It doesn't hurt as much." I chuckled nervously.

Unlike some other rude rich kids, Noah is different. He is down-to-earth, sweet, polite, and cheerful despite being the son of the wealthiest man in New York, and the future heir of Boulevard's empire, owned and managed by his dad, Mr. Boulevard.

"Are you sure about this?"

I nodded.

"Let me have your phone."

I handed him my phone and we exchanged numbers.

"Saved it for you." he turned my phone screen to me. He'd already saved his number on my phone.

"Send me your address. I'll pick you up tonight."