Chapter 1- The Scholarship Girl
HARPER CARTER’S POV
The first thing I noticed about St. Asteria Academy was that everything looked expensive.
Not beautiful.
Expensive.
The kind of expensive that reminded you, every second, that you were standing somewhere you weren’t supposed to be.
The enormous iron gates alone probably cost more than my entire house.
Beyond them stood perfectly trimmed gardens, elegant stone buildings, and students walking around like they belonged on the cover of a magazine instead of a school campus.
Black luxury cars pulled up one after another.
Students stepped out wearing designer watches, carrying handbags that probably cost more than my monthly expenses, and laughing like the world had always been designed for them.
And then there was me.
Harper Carter.
Scholarship student.
The girl who got here because of grades, determination, and sleepless nights instead of a family name.
I looked down at my uniform.
Same colors.
Same school badge.
But somehow…
I felt like everyone could see the difference.
“Remember why you’re here.”
My father’s voice replayed in my head.
“You earned this, Harper. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong.”
I tightened my grip on my backpack.
He was right.
I didn’t beg for this opportunity.
I worked for it.
So if anyone had a problem with me being here…
That was their problem.
Not mine.
I lifted my chin and walked through the gates.
“Excuse me.”
I turned toward the administration desk.
A woman with perfectly styled blonde hair looked up from her computer.
“Name?”
“Harper Carter.”
Her fingers moved across the keyboard.
A few seconds later, her expression changed slightly.
“Scholarship recipient.”
Not a question.
A statement.
I smiled politely.
“Yes.”
She handed me my schedule.
“Class 3-A. Dormitory building C. Welcome to St. Asteria.”
Her voice sounded professional.
But the girl standing beside her whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
“Another scholarship student.”
The other girl giggled.
“How many are they accepting this year?”
I ignored them.
People like that wanted a reaction.
I wasn’t giving them one.
Finding my classroom should have been easy.
It wasn’t.
St. Asteria was basically a city disguised as a school.
After walking around for ten minutes, I finally found the right hallway.
I sighed in relief.
“Finally.”
I checked my schedule again.
Class 3-A.
Perfect.
I was about to enter when someone walked directly into me.
Hard.
My books slipped from my arms and crashed onto the floor.
“Seriously?”
I looked up.
A tall guy stood in front of me.
And immediately, I knew he wasn’t ordinary.
The hallway had gone quiet.
Too quiet.
Students who were talking moments ago suddenly stopped.
The guy looked down at me.
Cold.
Unbothered.
Like knocking my things over wasn’t even worth acknowledging.
I waited.
For an apology.
Nothing.
I glanced around.
Was he serious?
“Are you planning on helping me pick those up?”
Still nothing.
His expression didn’t change.
Okay.
Interesting.
I crouched down and collected my books myself.
Then I stood.
“Wow.”
His eyes moved to mine.
“You don’t talk much, do you?”
Silence.
I stared at him.
“Or maybe you just don’t apologize.”
A few students nearby looked horrified.
One girl whispered,
“She’s talking to Ethan Blackwood.”
Ethan Blackwood.
The name meant nothing to me.
Apparently, it meant everything to everyone else.
I crossed my arms.
“Well?”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You always talk this much?”
His voice was deep and calm.
Finally.
A sentence.
I raised an eyebrow.
“You always avoid basic manners?”
A few people gasped.
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Because judging by everyone’s reaction…
Apparently, I had just committed a crime.
Ethan Blackwood stared at me.
Most people probably would’ve looked away.
I didn’t.
If he expected me to be scared because everyone else was…
He was going to be disappointed.
After a few seconds, he stepped aside.
“You’re new.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Congratulations. Your observation skills work.”
His eyes changed slightly.
Not much.
But enough for me to notice.
Was that surprise?
Interesting.
I adjusted my backpack.
“Now if you’re finished blocking the hallway, I have class.”
I walked past him.
Then stopped.
Turning back, I added,
“By the way…”
His eyes met mine.
“Being rich doesn’t excuse being rude.”
The hallway became completely silent.
I didn’t wait for a response.
I walked into my classroom.
ETHAN BLACKWOOD’S POVNo one talked to me like that.
Ever.
Students either wanted something from me or wanted to avoid me.
They watched their words.
Measured their actions.
Stayed away.
But her?
Harper Carter.
She looked at me like I was just another person.
Not Ethan Blackwood.
Not the heir to the Blackwood empire.
Not the person everyone at St. Asteria feared.
Just…
A rude guy who bumped into her.
I should have been annoyed.
Instead…
I was curious.
“Who was that?”
I turned.
Liam Hayes stood beside me, amused.
Noah Brooks looked like he was trying not to laugh.
“She just insulted you,” Noah said.
I looked toward the classroom door she disappeared behind.
“She did.”
“And you’re not angry?”
I didn’t answer.
Because the truth was…
I didn’t know.
For the first time in years…
Someone had challenged me.
And strangely…
I wanted to know why.
