Adrian Blackwood stood at the window of his office, his sharp eyes watching the students scatter across the university courtyard below. His mind replayed the scene from earlier. Elena Harper. A girl from Meadowbrook who somehow managed to be the center of attention at Kingston University. Her shaky attempt to answer his question had only strengthened his belief that she might not be as exceptional as Marcus seemed to think.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Liam entered, holding a tablet. “Sir, I’ve narrowed it down. The photos of Elena Harper and Gabriel were posted using the library’s network. The timestamps suggest it was done during class hours.”
Adrian frowned, his sharp features tightening. “Someone at the university is behind this?”
“Yes, and they’re careful. No identifiable devices or direct uploads. Just subtle enough to stir trouble,” Liam explained, scrolling through the data. “The pattern suggests someone targeting her specifically. Elena Harper isn’t as universally adored as she seems. Jealousy, perhaps?”
Adrian crossed his arms, his gaze hardening. “She’s not a victim until proven otherwise. Find out who did this. I want a name.”
“Understood,” Liam said, leaving the office.
Adrian leaned back in his chair, his jaw tense. The university was his responsibility, his mother’s legacy. He wouldn’t let petty dramas and gossip tarnish its reputation.
Meanwhile, Elena hurried across campus, clutching her bag tightly. Her father’s voice still rang in her ears from the earlier phone call.
“I need you to come home, Elena,” he’d said firmly. “The family’s falling apart, and you’re out there, playing at being a scholar. We need you here.”
The guilt gnawed at her. She couldn’t tell him how hard she was working to make something of herself or how much she wanted to escape the suffocating expectations of her small-town life.
“Hey, watch it!” a voice snapped as she accidentally bumped into a student.
“Sorry,” Elena muttered, her head down, her mind elsewhere.
She didn’t notice Gabriel and Andrew watching her from across the courtyard. Gabriel nudged Andrew with a smirk. “Think she’ll be okay? She looks like she’s carrying the weight of the world.”
Andrew’s brows furrowed. “She’s been quiet lately. Something’s bothering her.”
“You think it’s Blackwood?” Gabriel asked, leaning against a tree.
Andrew shook his head. “Could be her family. She doesn’t talk about them much.”
“Maybe we should get her to open up,” Gabriel suggested.
Andrew gave him a look. “She’s not a project, Gabe. Let her handle it her way.”
Gabriel held up his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, but I’m not just going to sit back if she keeps looking this miserable.”
Elena’s next class was history, her favorite subject, though her heart wasn’t in it today. Marcus greeted the students warmly as they filed in, his cheerful demeanor a stark contrast to Adrian’s cold intensity.
As the lecture began, Marcus turned his attention to Elena. “Ms. Harper,” he called, his smile wide.
Elena stiffened, her cheeks coloring as she stood.
“I want you to do your excellent score in next week’s test withTop marks in the class,” Marcus announced proudly.
The room buzzed with whispers, some impressed, others less kind.
“Thank you, Professor,” Elena said softly, feeling both pride and discomfort.
Gabriel leaned over, whispering, “Told you you’re brilliant.”
Andrew nodded in agreement, his eyes warm with encouragement.
But not everyone was pleased. Mia, seated a few rows back, smirked as she leaned toward a classmate. “Bet she cheated. No way someone like her actually knows anything about history.”
Elena ignored the murmurs, focusing on Marcus’s lecture. But as the class went on, she couldn’t help but notice the way Adrian Blackwood’s earlier words still lingered in her mind.
Later that evening, Elena found herself in the library, hoping to escape the chaos of the day. She settled into a corner table, her history textbook open before her.
“Studying hard, I see,” Gabriel’s voice teased as he slid into the seat across from her.
“Do you ever stop bothering me?” Elena asked, though her tone lacked bite.
“Never,” he replied with a grin. “So, what’s the plan? Ace another test and make everyone jealous?”
Elena rolled her eyes. “I’m just trying to stay afloat.”
Andrew joined them a moment later, his presence calmer. “Gabriel, give her a break. She’s had a long day.”
Gabriel feigned offense. “I’m just here for moral support!”
Elena couldn’t help but smile at their banter, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. For all their teasing, Gabriel and Andrew had become her unlikely allies at Kingston, their friendship a small comfort amidst the constant challenges.
Meanwhile, Adrian returned to his office after a long day. The evening sky outside his window was painted in hues of orange and purple, a stark contrast to his mood.
He glanced at the photo on his desk-a picture of his late mother, her kind eyes and warm smile a reminder of why he was here. The university was her dream, a place where students could thrive. But as much as he wanted to honor her memory, the distractions and scandals grated on him.
His thoughts drifted to Elena Harper again. Despite his reservations, She wasn’t polished or self-assured like many of the other students.
Adrian shook his head, brushing the thought aside. “Focus,” he muttered to himself.
He reached for the stack of papers on his desk, preparing for the next day’s lectures. Whatever mysteries Elena Harper carried, they weren’t his to solve. Not yet.
Back in the small one room home she stays when she has to go the job, Elena sat on her bed, her notebook open in her lap. The weight of her father’s words and the rumors swirling around her felt suffocating.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Gabriel’s head peeked in, his grin as mischievous as ever. “You alive in here?”
“Barely,” Elena replied with a small laugh.
Gabriel stepped inside, followed by Andrew. They settled into the chairs by her desk, their presence comforting.
“Listen,” Andrew began, his tone serious. “Don’t let people like Mia get to you. You’re doing great, Elena.”
Gabriel nodded. “Yeah, and if Blackwood gives you any more grief, just let me know. I’ll take care of him.”
Elena smiled despite herself. “Thanks, but I think I can handle it.”
As the three of them talked and laughed, the weight on Elena’s chest lightened just a little. For now, at least, she wasn’t facing everything alone.