All Chapters of BENEATH HER SCARS: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

The noise from the crowd filled the schoolyard, loud like the sound of a thunder, going up and down with each pass, tackle, and score. The smell of fresh grass mixed with the excited energy of the students. It was game day at Rosewood Elite, and everyone was watching the football field."Aria, sweetie!" her mother called out to her as she ran out the front door that morning, holding a colorful lunchbox. "You forgot this!"Aria had rolled her eyes in a rude way but took it anyway, more to end the scene than out of gratitude. Her mother, always looking gorgeous and classy, lightly kissed both of her cheeks before moving back. Her father, Daniel Richmond, a powerful businessman in Rosewood, walked up to her, opened his briefcase and brought out some money.“Here,” he said with a warm smile, slipping a folded bundle of cash into her hand. “Just in case you need anything. And remember don’t let anyone dim your light.”He kissed her forehead gently. For a brief moment, Aria’s smile softene

News flash spread through the hallways of Rosewood Elite like wildfire.“Did you see her fall?”“Someone slowed it down and added music.”“She was wearing heels, for crying out loud.” Who wears heels all the time? They laughed.By noon, the video had been reposted on almost every student’s snap, with the captions. The Queen Bee had fallen and Rosewood was buzzing.But Aria didn’t break.She left the nurse’s office with her head held up high and a bandage on her elbow. She felt proud because she was strong. Bella and Tina walked beside her, pretending to care but really just acting.“I swear someone poured that soda on purpose,” Bella said, trying to keep the atmosphere lively.“Maybe one of the Drama kids,” Tina added, with gritted teeth. “They’re always dramatic.” They both giggledAria didn’t respond. She had bigger suspects.She walked with a calculated move through the main hallway, her Louis heel clicking with renewed fury. Then she saw Hope laughing with Marcus near the Soda

The late afternoon sun shone gently through the tall windows of Rosewood Elite Class, a place for the best students and children from rich families. The walls were cream colored and shiny, with gold decorations and fancy moldings. The furniture looked like it belonged in a five star hotel well polished wood with glass tops, soft leather chairs in royal blue, and long velvet curtains in light blue. Each desk had a screen built into the wood for private reading and lessons. A small but elegant chandelier hung in the middle of the room, casting a warm light over the students sitting in neat rows.Miss Carolina, the class’s kind but firm teacher, dropped her pen and looked up from her lesson notes with a gentle smile.“I’ll be stepping out for a few minutes,” she said. “Please use this time wisely to read your book. No noise.”As soon as the door closed behind her, quiet talking started. People whispered to each other across the room. At the back, Zayne leaned toward Jayden and Marcus. T