Target

Adrian’s POV
The clinic was quiet when Adrian walked in, the soft hum of fluorescent lights the only sound in the room. He had to make sure no one else was there, just to be sure. The door creaked as he pushed it open, and he glanced around the small room. No sign of anyone except for the nurse, who seemed to be caught up in paperwork at her desk, unaware of his presence.
His heart pounded in his chest as he moved toward the bed where Elena lay. She was still, her face pale, her breathing slow but steady. The moment he saw her, a wave of guilt swept over him. He hadn’t expected it to feel like this-this overwhelming need to apologize, to make things right.
Elena’s eyes were closed, her body wrapped in a soft blanket. Adrian stood at her side for a moment, watching her in silence. His mind replayed all the times he’d doubted her, all the times he’d let the rumors and the gossip cloud his judgment.
He’d been so sure of everything, so quick to believe what everyone else was saying. But now, standing here in this room, watching Elena in such a vulnerable state, all of that seemed so wrong.
Slowly, he reached out, his fingers trembling just a little as he took her hand. Her skin was cold-too cold-and it sent a jolt of concern through him. He squeezed her hand gently, feeling the lifelessness in her limp fingers.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. His throat tightened, as if the words were stuck there, unwilling to come out.
He pulled the blanket up a little higher over her, tucking her in more securely. His actions felt so small, but it was all he could do in that moment. The guilt was suffocating him, the weight of it almost too much to bear.
Adrian paused, his hand lingering on her side as he bent down slightly. His lips brushed her forehead, just a soft, fleeting kiss, but it was enough to send a rush of warmth through him. “I’m sorry, Elena,” he said again, his voice thick with emotion. “I should’ve known better.”
It wasn’t just about the rumors. It wasn’t just about the gossip. It was about him, about his failure to trust her, to see her for who she truly was.
He reached over and gently placed her phone beside her pillow, his fingers brushing against her soft hair for a brief moment. He wanted to stay, to make sure she was okay, but he knew he couldn’t. Not yet. There was still so much left to do.
Standing up, Adrian gave her one last look-his heart heavy, but his mind clearer than it had been in a long time. He could feel the shift inside him, like something deep had changed. He knew, without a doubt, that he couldn’t let the rumors cloud his judgment anymore.
With one final glance, he left the clinic, the door clicking shut behind him.
As he walked back toward the ground, the weight of his actions and words still hung in the air. It wasn’t enough to just apologize. He had to prove it. He had to show Elena that he was on her side, that he saw the truth now.
But for now, all he could do was make things the right step by step.
Adrian’s POV
Adrian had just made his way down the corridor of the university grounds when a soft murmur of voices reached his ears. He paused, his instincts telling him something wasn’t right. Mia’s voice cut through the air, clear and sharp, making his stomach tighten.
He stood behind a pillar, hidden in the shadows, listening carefully, his breath shallow.
“She thinks she can just take everything, doesn’t she?” Mia’s voice was dripping with bitterness. “That Elena… she thinks she can waltz in and steal Adrian from us, get all the attention. Well, we’re not letting that happen.”
Adrian’s brow furrowed, the hairs on the back of his neck rising. He knew the tone in Mia’s voice all too well. It was the same tone she used whenever she was scheming, planning something malicious. But he stayed still, hoping to hear more.
“And what are we going to do about it?” came a softer voice Kelly’s, if Adrian wasn’t mistaken. “She’s already kind of a target, but we need to do more, right?”
“Exactly,” Mia replied, her voice laced with a dark amusement. “We’ll make sure she doesn’t get what she wants. We’ll spread more rumors, make sure the whole school knows exactly what kind of person she is.”
Adrian’s jaw clenched. The mention of rumors made his blood run cold. He had already heard whispers vague things about Elena, things he hadn’t paid much attention to. But this… this sounded different. It sounded like Mia was preparing to strike, and the thought of it made his chest tighten.
“Like what? What more could we do?” another voice asked. It was kelly, her tone hesitant but clearly curious.
Mia let out a short, cruel laugh. “We need something bigger. Something that’ll stick. We’ll really make people believe it this time.”
Adrian’s stomach churned as he pressed himself further into the shadows, unwilling to make a sound, unwilling to alert them to his presence.
“We’ll make sure people know about the two-boyfriends thing,” Mia continued. “She thinks she can just use Adrian to get ahead? We’ll make everyone see that she’s nothing more than a girl who sleeps her way to the top. That should keep her in her place.”
Adrian’s breath caught in his throat. Two-boyfriends? What was she talking about? His mind raced. He didn’t want to believe what he was hearing. But deep down, he knew it was Mia’s way of spinning the truth into something twisted and damaging.
“There’s no way people will buy that,” Kelly said, but she didn’t sound entirely convinced. “Right?”
Mia’s laugh echoed again, even more bitter this time. “Oh, trust me. They’ll buy it. Once the rumors start circulating, people will believe whatever they want to. Especially when they see how much attention she’s been getting.”
Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides. He could feel his anger bubbling up, threatening to spill over. But he stayed quiet, listening, forcing himself to hear every word.
“And once we’ve got them convinced,” Mia went on, “we’ll target the professors. I’ll make sure Marcus hears about it. We’ll make them question everything. Especially Adrian. If he believes the lies, so will everyone else. He’ll be the last one holding on to her. I’ll make sure of it.”
Adrian’s chest tightened with every word. So this was her plan. This was what Mia had been working on all along. To ruin Elena, to tear her down, to make sure she never stood a chance.
But the worst part? Mia was using him. Using his reputation to validate her lies.
Adrian felt a wave of guilt crash over him. How could he have been so blind? He had let this happen. He had trusted the wrong people, and now Elena was caught in the middle of it all. But he wasn’t about to let it continue. Not after hearing this.
“Are you sure this is the best way, though?” Sarah asked, her voice uncertain now. “What if she gets hurt?”
Mia’s response was cold, her tone sharp as a knife. “If she gets hurt, that’s her problem. She’s been nothing but a distraction. We’ll make sure Adrian sees her for what she really is. She won’t have any backup left.”
Adrian’s thoughts raced, his heart pounding. Mia had crossed a line, and he wasn’t going to stand by and let her destroy Elena.
As he pulled back from the corner, retreating silently to gather his thoughts, his mind was spinning. He had to find a way to stop this. But how? He couldn’t ask Mia directly. Not yet.
But he could protect Elena. He could make sure she wasn’t alone in this.
For now, he would stay quiet. He had to observe. He had to understand more. But this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
He just hoped Elena was safe, wherever she was.
As Adrian walked back toward the clinic, his thoughts were consumed by what Mia had said. He couldn’t shake the image of Elena, the girl who had only ever tried to be kind, being dragged through the mud like this. How could anyone do that to her? Why?
He didn’t know the answers yet, but he would find them. And when he did, Mia would regret ever crossing Elena.
The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. This fight wasn’t just for Elena’s reputation-it was for her dignity, her future, and her peace of mind.
And he wasn’t going to let anyone, especially Mia, take that away from her.
The first step was to make sure she didn’t have to face this alone.
Adrian quickened his pace. He had no time to waste.