Chapter 1
The classroom buzzed with the energy of debate as students raised their hands, voices colliding with one another in the charged atmosphere of the criminal law lecture hall. Baby Hassan, leaning back in her seat with one arm draped casually over the back of her chair, tapped her pen against her notebook, watching as yet another student made what she considered a half-baked argument. She’d let them finish before she put them in their place.
“While I understand the principle,” the student said, glancing nervously at the professor, “it’s just unrealistic to think the justice system can be completely unbiased. I mean, people bring their personal views into everything.”
“Interesting point,” the professor said, nodding thoughtfully. “Anyone care to respond?”
Baby’s hand shot up, her movements deliberate and sharp. Without waiting for the professor to call on her, she spoke, her voice ringing clear over the low murmurs of the class.
“That’s such a defeatist way of looking at things,” Baby said, straightening in her chair. “The system isn’t perfect, but saying it’s inherently biased is just an excuse to avoid fixing it. If people bring their biases into the system, isn’t that all the more reason for us—future lawyers, judges, and policy makers—to hold ourselves accountable and change it?”
The room went quiet as Baby’s words sank in. The professor raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “A strong argument, Ms. Hassan,” he said.
Baby leaned back again, a confident smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She didn’t need the validation, but it was nice to know she’d made her point.
Across the aisle, a guy rolled his eyes. “Sounds like you think you’re going to single-handedly fix the entire system.”
Baby turned to him, her gaze steady and sharp. “Not single-handedly. I’ll need competent people to back me up. Which probably excludes you.”
The class broke into scattered laughter as the guy flushed and slouched back in his seat.
Baby walked out of the lecture hall, her heavy backpack slung over one shoulder. Her long, voluminous curls bounced with each step, catching the sunlight streaming in through the windows. She glanced at her phone—a missed call from her dad. Ahmed Hassan rarely called during the day unless it was important. She made a mental note to call him back after practice.
“Honestly, Baby, do you ever take a day off from being a show-off?” came a familiar voice behind her.
She turned to see Alison Grant strutting toward her, flanked by Eloise and Claire. Alison looked flawless as always, her platinum blonde hair slicked back into a high ponytail, her designer heels clicking loudly against the tiled floor. Her followers, Eloise and Claire, trailed behind her, nodding at every word she said.
“Not my fault I actually have something to say,” Baby shot back, turning her full attention to her phone as if Alison’s presence wasn’t worth noting.
Alison arched an eyebrow, her glossy lips curving into a smirk. “You know, you could be cute if you actually tried. Maybe wear something other than gym clothes for once.”
Baby glanced down at her black joggers and cropped hoodie, then back up at Alison. “And maybe you’d be cute if you wore something other than that fake personality you keep recycling.”
Eloise and Claire’s mouths dropped open, and Alison’s eyes narrowed for a brief moment before she tilted her head with a fake laugh. “Always so feisty. No wonder guys avoid you. Intimidation doesn’t look good on anyone, darling.”
“Neither does desperation,” Baby replied with a sugar-sweet smile before walking off.
Eloise whispered something to Alison, and Claire giggled nervously, but Baby didn’t bother looking back. She’d heard it all before—Alison’s snide remarks, her attempts to rattle Baby’s confidence. It never worked, because Baby wasn’t like Eloise and Claire. She didn’t worship Alison, and she definitely didn’t need her approval.
The rhythmic beat of Baby’s sneakers hitting the treadmill drowned out the noise in her head. She always felt most like herself here, sweating out the tension from a long day of classes. Her toned arms and sculpted abs were a testament to how much effort she put into her fitness routine—not for anyone else, but for herself.
She stepped off the treadmill, grabbing a towel to wipe her face, and caught her reflection in the mirror. Strong, determined, unapologetic. That was her.
Her phone buzzed again, pulling her attention. It was another call from her dad. Something about the repeated calls made her stomach twist. Ahmed Hassan rarely called more than once.
She sighed, hitting the green button. “Hey, Dad. What’s up?”
“Baby,” her father’s voice came through, warm but laced with an edge of worry. “Can you come by the house tonight? Your mother and I need to talk to you.”
Her pulse quickened at his tone. “Is everything okay?”
Ahmed hesitated for a moment before answering. “We’ll talk tonight. It’s… important.”
Baby swallowed hard. Her father’s voice rarely wavered, but there was something in it now—something heavy. “Okay, I’ll come by after I finish my homework.”
“Thank you, habibti,” he said softly before hanging up.
Baby stared at her phone, her reflection still visible in the mirror. Whatever her father wanted to talk about, it wasn’t going to be good. She could feel it.
Later that evening, Baby met up with Alison, Eloise, and Claire at their favorite café near campus. Alison was already holding court, regaling the group with her latest Instagram influencer drama.
“…and then she had the nerve to copy my whole aesthetic! I mean, the caption, the pose—it was like a knockoff version of me. I wanted to comment, but you know, I’m too classy for that.”
Baby sipped her iced coffee, barely listening. Eloise and Claire were eating it up as usual, their heads nodding like bobbleheads.
“You okay, Baby?” Alison asked suddenly, her sharp eyes zeroing in on her.
“Fine,” Baby said. She wasn’t about to explain her dad’s cryptic phone call to Alison of all people. “Just tired.”
“You always are,” Alison said, flipping her hair. “Maybe you should try doing something fun for once. Like a makeover. I could help you look less… gym rat, more campus chic.”
Baby grinned, though there was no warmth in it. “And maybe I could help you look less like a Barbie. But I guess we’re all set in our ways, huh?”
Alison glared, but before she could retort, Baby stood. “Anyway, I’ve got to go. Thanks for the coffee, though.”
As Baby walked out, she pulled her phone from her pocket, the weight of her dad’s earlier call still heavy in her chest.
Baby walked back to her apartment, the cool night air brushing against her face. Her phone buzzed with another notification, but she ignored it. Whatever her father needed to tell her, she’d face it head-on, the way she faced everything in life.
Little did she know, her world was about to change forever.
