Elena hurried to her seat, clutching her notebook tightly. The familiar cold tone of Professor Blackwood echoed in the room as he began the lecture. He was strict, focused, and more distant than he’d been that morning.
“Miss Harper,” Adrian’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Care to explain why your answer is incomplete?”
Elena blinked, realizing she’d been staring blankly at her notes. “I.. I… didn’t…” she stammered.
“Didn’t what? Finish reading the material?” Adrian’s gaze was sharp, his tone flat.
Her cheeks turned red as she stumbled over an answer. “I’ll.. I’ll do better next time.”
“I expect nothing less,” he said curtly, turning back to the board.
Elena sank lower into her seat, biting her lip. Why was he being so cold? Just hours ago, he’d ruffled her hair and chuckled, but now it was as though that version of him had vanished.
The class ended without further incident, but Elena felt small under his strict gaze. She collected her things quickly, hoping to avoid any lingering questions.
In the courtyard, Elena walked briskly toward her next class, but the sound of hushed whispers and giggles made her stop. A group of girls stood nearby, their eyes locked on her.
“Well, look who decided to play dress-up,” Mia’s voice rang out, dripping with mockery. “Harper, is that really you? Or did someone lend you those clothes?”
Elena froze, her heart sinking.
Another girl chimed in, her tone equally cutting. “Seriously, did you rob a store? Or maybe your boyfriends pitched in to help you finally look decent?”
Mia smirked, stepping closer. “We all know you can’t afford anything that doesn’t look second-hand. So, who’s funding your little makeover?”
Elena’s fists clenched at her sides, but she couldn’t find the words to defend herself. Her throat felt tight, and her face burned with humiliation.
“I-It’s not…” she stuttered, but Mia cut her off.
“Save it, Harper. Everyone knows you’re just good at playing the poor little victim.”
Elena felt tears prickling her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
Adrian stepped out of the building just in time to catch the exchange. His sharp eyes immediately landed on the group surrounding Elena. He paused, his posture rigid, as he observed the scene from a distance.
Mia’s laughter grated on his nerves. He watched as Elena shrank under their words, her usual spark dimmed by their cruelty.
“Do they have nothing better to do than tear someone down?” he muttered under his breath.
His expression darkened as he strode toward them. The moment his presence was noticed, the girls quickly scattered, their laughter dying in their throats.
Mia glanced at him nervously before mumbling, “Uh, let’s go, girls.”
They disappeared into the crowd, leaving Elena standing there, still staring at the ground. Adrian stopped a few feet away, his voice cutting through the silence.
“Miss Harper, are you planning to stand here all day?”
Elena jolted, looking up at him with wide eyes. “I was just…”
“Just what?” he interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. “Let me give you some advice: ignore them. They thrive on attention. Don’t give it to them.”
She nodded quickly, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill. “Yes, sir.”
For a moment, his gaze softened, but it was gone just as quickly. “You’re late for class. Go.”
Elena didn’t need to be told twice. She hurried away, clutching her bag tightly. Adrian watched her retreating figure, his jaw clenching once more.
—
Later that afternoon, Adrian sat in his office, trying to focus on the stack of papers in front of him. His thoughts, however, kept drifting back to Elena. The image of her standing there, helpless under the weight of those taunts, wouldn’t leave his mind.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. It was Harvey.
“Sir, Miss Harper’s phone is ready,” he began, stepping inside.
Adrian gestured for him to continue. “And?”
Harvey hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. “There’s something you need to see.”
“What is it, Harvey?” Adrian’s patience was wearing thin.
Harvey handed him the phone. “There are texts on here… disturbing ones. Threats. And whoever sent them-they know things about her.”
Adrian’s brow furrowed as he unlocked the phone and began scrolling through the messages. Each one was worse than the last.
“You can’t run forever.”
“You’ll pay for what you did.”
“I know where you are.”
His grip on the phone tightened, his jaw set in a hard line.
“Who sent these?” he demanded, his voice low and cold.
“I don’t know, sir. The number’s untraceable,” Harvey replied.
Adrian’s expression darkened as he stared at the screen. Whoever was behind these messages wasn’t just trying to scare her-they wanted to break her.
“If they come anywhere near her…” Adrian muttered, his tone icy, “they’ll regret it.”
Harvey nodded, stepping back. “Should I return the phone to Miss Harper?”
Adrian shook his head. “Not yet. I’ll handle this.”
As Harvey left, Adrian leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. The thought of Elena being targeted like this ignited a protective anger he hadn’t felt in years.
He glanced at the messages again, his chest tightening. Whatever this was, it wasn’t over.
And he would make sure she stayed safe, no matter what it took.