LEILA'S POV~I hate myself. I hated this life as well. I hated that each day I woke up, I was in the same body, living the same life. Standing in front of the large school gate, I felt my stomach knot. Firstly, I alone knew how this place was a place of hell for me, filled with ugly memories. Secondly, it was because three times now I've seen a strange man wait outside the school compound and his icy eyes piercing into mine, it always unnerved me. Tall, and extremely huge, had a black large cap that shielded his face and it was eerily. I had no idea why a strange sensation always creeped into my skin, whenever he was near. I gulped hard before forcing my eyes away and my heavy legs into the school premises.I bowed my head as I walked, trying to stay as invisible as possible. The class corridors were filled with lots of students, much to my horror, which made my heart sink. I hated every single second here.The moment my sandals seemed to tap on the tiles of the large hall flooded w

LEILA'S POV ~A teacher began to unlock the chains around my wrists and legs, her voice soft and cautious. "Are you alright, dear?"I recoiled in fear, trying to get away from her, but hit the headboard and froze. "Don't be scared," she said as she pulled away, and I rubbed the sore spots on my wrists.I hurriedly made my way out of the room when the teacher stopped me. "The principal wants you to meet her tomorrow. Don't forget that."Ignoring her, I ran out of the strange room and raced toward the hallway. Other students were casting wary glances at me and moving away.I ran with all my might from the school compound, the security at the gates letting me go, and when I reached the bus stop, I realized I had left everything behind at school. Frustrated, I broke down in angry tears as I began to race home, my heart pounding with fear.Wiping away my tears, I began to race home. Just before I could try to cross over the road, I felt my head collide with something hard. Before I could

DOMINICK'S POV~When I pulled her back away from the car, Matteo and I shared a look. Matteo gave me a confused look, but I swallowed hard. Where the hell had I seen this familiar mark before? I had no idea why seeing it on her had weakened me."Leila! Leila!"The sound of a little girl's voice reached my ears, and I stiffened. It was followed by the slamming of a car door and hurried footsteps."Get back here!" an angry voice called after the little girl had shouted.I saw Leila stiffen before she began to thrash, wanting me to let go of her, and I didn't hesitate to release her. I was in a state of confusion because I had no fucking idea what I had done. I had just put myself in danger to save a girl, something I had never done for any woman. What was wrong with me?"Oh my God, Elena!" Leila cried out, rushing to the girl who appeared to be her little sister."Have you been sentenced to death?" the girl, Elena, asked, examining Leila's body. I could see how Leila's eyes dimmed insta

DOMINICK'S POV~I gradually pulled away from her, taking a step back as I observed her features. Her once vibrant, green eyes that had captivated me during our first encounter now seemed dull, and I noticed that my words had struck a nerve. My chest tightened at the sight, and I despised the feeling—I hadn't experienced anything like it in a long time, and I refused to feel guilty.I meant what I said, and I didn't care if it made me an asshole. Since when had I ever cared about anyone?Why the fuck was she playing innocent too? Ignoring the turmoil in my heart, I pointed at the large table and watched as her eyes continued to redden. "Let's begin with the first steps. Tomorrow, you'll start classes, and these are the files you'll need to sign since you have no guardian to do it for you. The terms are also outlined here. You'll need to maintain high grades and pass the tests set by the school. If you succeed in our evaluations and exams, you'll graduate and be granted custody of your

LEILA’S POV ~The bell rang, signaling the end of the chemistry class. Every nerve in my body froze, and I wished the class could go on forever. I didn't want to leave my seat.It had been three weeks since I started attending this new school, and each day felt like a nightmare.As the chemistry teacher put down his marker and reminded us to study for the next topic, students started to murmur, their chairs screeching, their feet shuffling as they began to pack. My heart was pounding so loudly I feared it would burst out of my chest. "Hey, idiot! Are you going to wet yourself? You look ridiculous!" a girl snickered. My breath caught in my throat. I followed her gaze and noticed that my limbs were trembling. Anxiety began to suffocate me.The girl next to her nudged her, "I've told you before, we're not supposed to talk to these kinds of people. She's a rut and the girl is disgusting." They both got up, giving me nasty looks as they walked past. I let out a deep sigh of relief as they