Chapter One
Eliza’s POV
I can’t believe I made it to France to attend one of the most prestigious Universities in the world, the Arch Roads Academy.
“The new student? It seems you are a long way from home, little sheep. No one will ever want someone like you, stuttering and ugly.” I shook my head to rid myself of the harsh words from Kaley Monroe, whom I have had a few run-ins with since I started going here a month into my studies.
I am looking smaller, hugging my textbook to my chest for social work, seeing that I want to be able to help children who have been lost in the system.
I don’t want innocent children to go through what I have gone through in the American system and different foster homes.
“Hey! New girl!” I turned my head, and my eyes widened as I saw one of the jocks who were friends with Kaley jog over. I did not want to converse with them, given how they had humiliated me the previous week during swim class.
I quicken my pace, not listening to what he had to say about anything, knowing it was another trap and I did not want to deal with any more problems here while I am trying not to make a difference in the world.
“God damn it, whore! Wait up!” I felt tears prickling my eyes as I heard him call me that in front of the whole student body.
I did not realize where I was going, but the impact occurred, and I closed my eyes, feeling fresh tears fall down my face, afraid of what was about to happen.
I opened my eyes to see one of the three kings holding me with his intense, dark green eyes and clean-cut red hair, with the longer pieces falling into his eyes.
I blushed under his intense stare, and I quickly got out of his hold, not wanting to be seen with any of them, knowing Kaley would cause me issues even worse, as she already threatened me to stay away from them.
“S-sorry,” I softly said, taking off down the hall towards my next class, away from the commotion of everything happening.
I couldn’t believe I had a run-in with one of the three kings, and with Kaley’s warning telling me to stay away from them, blared in my mind.
I shivered in fear and anxiety at the prospect of having a run-in with Alaric McIntosh, the Scottish prince of his family.
I took my seat in the front row, waiting for our professor to start on our next assignment for the Social work thesis.
Everyone fell quiet when the door slowly opened, and my eyes widened as Alesandro Moretti walked with a powerful aura surrounding him, making his way to his seat.
I kept my head down, not wanting to draw more attention to myself after what happened this morning with Kaley’s friend trying to harass me before classes started.
“So that you know, Eliza. Everyone here knows you don’t belong, and when Kaley finds out you were talking to one of the three kings, she will make her point. Just saying charity case.”
My hand tightened on my pencil, trying to stay strong and ignore the harsh words that came from Jessica, Kaley’s best friend, who is also in my Social Work thesis class.
I ignored her words, knowing I had to keep my head down and continue with my studies, as my scholarship was on the line.
“Can someone tell me what the importance of being a social worker is?” I slowly raised my hand, knowing how much this meant to me.
“Yes, Miss Kenneth?” I blushed under Professor Winslow’s gaze.
“T-The importance of being a social worker is to conduct ourselves professionally for the sake of the children who are going into the system of child protection services.” I softly stuttered, trying to keep my shaky hands still folded on my lap.
“Correct, Miss Kenneth.” I nodded, blushing from embarrassment, when I heard the soft snickering of the other students in the room mocking how I spoke.
I used the sleeve of my school blazer to wipe my tears that were threatening to fall, being used to all of the hate all my life and being alone after my parents had abandoned me when I was two years old.
The life I had grown up in was hard when you’re in foster care, especially dealing with mental, physical and sexual abuse from all of my foster fathers who only wanted the money.
The bell rang, and I quickly gathered my things, ignoring the heated gaze that was coming from Alessandro Moretti, the heir to the Moretti family.
I ran out of the room, heading towards my hiding place in the library, wanting some time alone to forget about the sneers, the snickering, the harsh words that were coming from every student in this establishment.
I made my way inside the library, finding my little alcove that has been my safe place since I started going to Arch Roads a few months ago.
I retrieve my small, worn-out bag, which holds all the things I need for class and work, placing it down where I will curl up and rest before my next class later this evening.
I let my tears fall, feeling the harsh reality of everything happening around me, and I have been trying to keep fighting, to prove my worth, not to anyone but myself.
Yet, every day is a hard lesson in battle to survive in a place like this, especially with the queen bee, Kaley.
“Miss, are you all right?” I blinked my teary eyes open and they landed up seeing the last of the three kings crouched in front of me with his head tilted, trying to figure me out like I’m some puzzle.
“Y-yes, I-I’m okay,” I whispered, not wanting to be seen with the last of the three kings.
First, I ran into Alaric this morning, and then Alessandro was sitting behind me in my social work thesis class, watching my every move, and now, the golden angel.
Nolan Paulson, the music protégé, was crouched before me, his blonde, styled hair gelled back and messy, his piercing blue eyes and sharp features showcasing his handsome looks.
I blushed, feeling my heart race with unfamiliar feelings, recalling how it had been when I ran into Alaric that morning and when I locked eyes with Alessandro.
I don’t know how to understand how my heart can race with these strange feelings, considering I’ve never felt like this for anyone in my life before.
“Little bird, shh, it’s all right.” I tightly closed my eyes and gripped the front of his blazer, letting out everything I was feeling from the fear and the bullying to my dark past of being used and broken. “Shh, sweet girl. I have you.” I hiccupped and sobbed some more, feeling like a burden, and allowing him to hold me, even if it made me feel safe.
