Chapter 1

We were splitting into groups for our senior AP capstone project, and everyone had the freedom to choose their own teammates.

When it was my turn, I asked five different groups, and every single one of them awkwardly rejected me.

Chloe Miller, the new transfer student, held the sign-up sheet and looked at me with a smirk.

"How does it feel? I told you, with just one word from me, no one in this entire grade would dare to team up with you."

"My dad is the CEO of the Vance Group. No matter how hard you work, you won't even reach my pinky toe."

Around her, Chloe’s little minions started snickering.

I, however, was completely frozen.

Only because the actual CEO of the Vance Group is my dad.

But my dad is a trophy husband who married into my mother's family on a strict prenup. Since when did he have the guts to father such a massive secret child?

Seeing me stand there in silence, Chloe became even more arrogant.

"What's the matter? Scared? A bookworm like you who only knows how to memorize textbooks will only drag down our GPA. Do you really think you're worthy of choosing your own teammates?"

Only knows how to memorize?

I stayed up for months doing field research and data analysis, volunteered at the community library every weekend to build my portfolio, and my extracurricular resume could easily fill three pages. And she dared to call me a bookworm?

Just as I was about to speak, Lily, our class representative, sighed and whispered, "Elena, why don't you... join the group over there? They still need one more person anyway."

I followed her gaze.

Three girls were sitting in the corner. They were the most quiet, overlooked girls in class, all of whom had been bullied by Chloe before.

There was Lily herself, who had once had a cup of Coca-Cola poured over her head by Chloe.

And two other girls—one who had been openly mocked by Chloe for a birthmark on her face, and another who had been publicly humiliated because her family was struggling financially.

Chloe called them the "Trash Disposal Unit."

Without hesitation, I walked over to their table and sat down.

"Great, let's be a group."

Lily looked up, her eyes slightly red. "Elena..."

I smiled at her. "It's fine. We'll nail this on our own."

Behind us, Chloe let out an exaggerated, mocking laugh.

"Oh look, the Trash Disposal Unit is officially formed! Good luck, girls. Try to get a D-minus so you don't tank the class average."

Her followers laughed along.

I didn't look back.

But I clenched my fists.

Chloe wasn't done. She walked over to my desk, looking down at me.

"Elena, you belong with this trash. This school wouldn't even run without my dad's donations. Let me tell you, I run this class. If I say you can't join a good group, you can't!"

"Who do you think you are to compete with me? Do you know that with one call to my dad, I can have you blacklisted from every prep school in this district?"

"What's all the noise about?"

An impatient voice came from the door.

It was our academic advisor, Mr. Carter.

He walked in with a grading folder under his arm, frowning as he scanned the room.

"It's just a group project. Why are you all shouting? Who's causing trouble now?"

Chloe instantly wiped the smirk off her face, replacing it with a victimized look. "Mr. Carter, Elena is throwing a fit because she doesn't like her group. She’s making a scene and disrupting everyone!"

I was almost laughing at how shamelessly she twisted the truth.

"Mr. Carter, that's not what happened—"

"Alright, alright," Mr. Carter interrupted impatiently, waving his hand. "It's just a group assignment. Chloe, your group is full. Elena, aren't you already with Lily's group? Just do your work. Stop arguing and get back to class."

He turned and left.

Throughout the entire exchange, he didn't bother to ask who was right or wrong, nor did he look at anyone.

He was like a fire extinguisher—spraying wherever there was a spark, not caring if the fire was actually out, as long as it didn't burn his own fingers.

Lily pulled at the corner of my sleeve and whispered, "Elena, let it go..."

I took a deep breath and sat down.

Let it go. For now.

Chloe gave me a triumphant look and walked back to her seat.

But I noticed a very strange, smug smile on her face.

That smile made a cold shiver run down my spine.

I immediately called my mom, but the call went straight to a automated voicemail.

She was on a flight to Europe.