*Roanne’s POV*The trial was over, yet the fizzling remnants of Sebastian's presence haunted me. His shadow loomed in every corner of my life, and though I felt safe and protected, I could still sense there was never going to be complete peace in my life until he was found.Then, as if fate had finally given me a gift, the call came. Aaron’s words from the other end were a like a victory song: "Sebastian was apprehended—false papers." My pulse quickened, adrenaline flooding my veins.I asked Aaron to take me to the secure station where he was held. He agreed to it and an hour later we were heading there, he drove with confidence, but there was also something behind his eyes, satisfaction.The room was sterile, cold—like his gaze. He sat cuffed, a fallen and desperate man grasping at straws. Our eyes locked, and the world fell away, leaving only the intensity of this final encounter."Roanne, you bitch!" Sebastian lunged, his voice filled with anger and rage. "You've ruined me!"
*Aaron’s POV*I leaned against a pillar in the courtyard, surrounded by my usual crew as we watched the incoming students on their first day back from summer break. It was a tradition for us to scope out the new sophomores and size up the competition.A blonde girl with a modest outfit and a stack of books clutched to her chest caught my attention. She wasn't like the other female students preening for attention."Who's that?" One of the guys asked, with a nod in her direction.Another one turned to look. "No clue. Kinda plain though, huh?"I studied her face. What was Roanne Mailen doing here? The last time I saw her was three years ago. But now here she was, walking across the university campus I called my kingdom, like she belonged here or something."What's up, man? Do you know her or something?" Another one asked, noticing the scowl on my face.I turned my head, ignoring the question."Plain? She's cute in a bookworm sort of way," one said appraisingly.I cut him a
*Roanne’s POV*Sebastian’s words slurred around the edges as he joked with someone I couldn't see. "Didn't think bookworms partied this hard," he quipped upon noticing me, a lopsided grin spreading across his face."Maybe bookworms are full of surprises," I shot back, my words more confident than I felt. Everything in me was screaming to get away, but I couldn’t show him that."Care to surprise me with a dance?" he held out a hand, but it was more challenging than invitation, his eyes darkened by the alcohol."Another time, maybe," I replied. It was a lie as big as I could muster, but in a public place like this, I needed to keep peace and avoid the drama."Playing hard to get? I like it," he said, his tone teasing but his eyes serious, probing."Or maybe just playing smart," I countered, holding his gaze for a moment longer than necessary before breaking away. I refused to let him see the panic forming inside of me.I turned back to Lila and Ryan, forcing a smile, letting the
The clamor of the university cafeteria swirled around me like a storm. The air was thick with the scent of brewed coffee and the tang of disinfectant, battling against each other in an olfactory war.I finished browsing for locksmiths in the vicinity before I spotted Lizzie sitting at a table, her auburn hair catching the light like strands of fire."Roanne!" Her voice cut through the din, warm as a summer breeze."Hey, Lizzie!" I replied, the affection I felt for her bubbling up in my chest and spilling over into a wide smile. I hugged her tightly and immediately slid into the chair opposite her, the metal cool beneath my fingers."Tell me everything," she urged, leaning forward, her eyes sparkling with genuine interest. "How was your first day back?"I hesitated for a moment, relishing the anticipation that tingled on my tongue. "It was... intense," I began, my mind flickering to what happened last night.Around us, the symphony of student life continued—laughter punctuating th
*Roanne’s POV*As I moved between classes, the weight of my textbooks in my arms was like a shield against the world. Some days, the Ivy League halls felt like a fortress, my sanctuary from memories too raw to touch. The familiar scent of old books and the murmur of ambitious minds were a balm to the chaos that once threatened to consume me."Roanne! Wait up!" A voice pierced through the hum of activity, and I turned to see Jenna, a new friend I made yesterday, her smile an anchor in the sea of faces. We fell into step, navigating the throng of students spilling out of lecture halls."Did you finish the assignment for Professor Klein?" she asked, her eyes bright with the unbridled enthusiasm of someone who had not tasted darkness as I had."Last night," I replied, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "I couldn't sleep, so I figured I might as well be productive.""God, you're a machine," she said with a laugh, nudging me playfully. "How about we grab coffee after class?""
*Roanne’s POV*The lecture hall's hush was a stark contrast to the tumult within me as I gathered my textbooks, sliding them into my bag with precision that belied my inner disarray. I had spent the entire class half-listening, half-ensnared by the lingering echoes of Sebastian's venomous words from earlier in the day. But Lizzie's encouragement was a warm ember in my chest, and I held onto it like a talisman as I shouldered my bag and stepped into the bustling corridor."Roanne Mailen," a voice, cool and slick as polished marble, cut through the din of departing students. "To what… do we REALLY… owe the pleasure of your esteemed presence at this institution?"I froze, my heartbeat quickening as I recognized Sebastian's drawl, and turned to find him leaning against the wall with an insolence that he wore as comfortably as his expensive leather jacket. His smile was all charm, but his eyes—sharp and calculating—belied the casual posture."Same as you, I imagine," I replied, my voi
*Aaron’s POV*The muted glow of dawn barely filtered through the heavy silk drapes, casting long shadows across my dorm room's expanse of polished oak and leather-bound tomes. I sat there, perched on the edge of a bed that cost more than most people's annual rent, feeling the weight of golden shackles tighten around my wrists.Burdened by legacy, I was expected to play the dutiful heir, but every fiber of my being screamed for rebellion against this gilded cage.The ring of my phone sliced through the morning stillness like the peal of some ominous bell tolling my fate. I glanced at the caller ID—Father—and felt my stomach churn with a familiar cocktail of anticipation and dread."Good evening, Aaron," came his voice, crisp and authoritative, as if he were opening a board meeting rather than speaking to his son."Evening, Dad," I replied, my tone flat, betraying none of the turmoil within. "To what do I owe the pleasure?""Your grades, Aaron." There was a pause, and I could alm
*Roanne’s POV*The room felt like a prison, walls closing in with each ragged breath I took. Hugging my knees to my chest, I sat on the edge of my bed—a lone figure marooned on an island of rumpled sheets and discarded dreams. My eyes were fixed on the white wall, yet I saw nothing but Sebastian's sneering face, heard nothing but his voice dripping with venomous charm."Ro? Roanne, are you in there?" Lizzie's voice pierced through the thick veil of my despair, muffled at first, then growing more insistent.Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Her knocks matched the erratic rhythm of my heart—a staccato beat signaling urgency, a crescendo of concern. "Roanne!" she called out again, her voice betraying a note of panic that echoed my own inner turmoil.I should answer, let her know I'm alive, albeit barely. But the words were caged inside me, behind bars forged from humiliation and hurt. Instead, I remained frozen, my gaze still locked onto nothingness."Damn it, Roanne. Please…" The desperat