The grand entrance of Vermillion Private School loomed before Celia Everwyn, its towering iron gates standing open, welcoming students into its pristine halls. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of freshly cut grass from the academy's expansive gardens. The morning sun cast golden streaks along the marble pathways, illuminating the elite as they made their way inside—heirs and heiresses, future rulers of industries, politics, and power.
And yet, as Celia stepped through the gates, a different tension filled the air.
The hushed murmurs. The stolen glances. The subtle way conversations halted as she passed by.
They were watching her.
Of course, they were.
Not because of admiration.
But because Damien Elford had humiliated her.
