Chapter 1

Rose Ashcroft There is only one rule in my life— —obey Leonard Gavinsky under any circumstances. “And—” “Whoaaaa!” “And the final goal comes from our star captain, Leonard Gavinsky! Our genius! At this rate, we'll definitely be bringing home another gold medal this year!” Applause exploded. Screen in front of me, Leonard's sweat-soaked face, a gold trophy clutched in his hand. His last-minute goal had completely saved victory. The moment he stepped outside the arena, countless reporters rushed toward him. Tall, 6'5" athletic Alpha, a body carved from years of brutal training. The face even God might have sculpted. Sweat dampened his blond hair. The second he smiled, girls across the room screamed. Except me. Which the same face had been giving me a nightmare every day, for 10 years. “Yoooo! Four eyes!” Laughter broke the classroom. Deep voice, muscled body that barely covered by a hockey uniform, laughed as he dragged his gold trophy to the wall. Since morning, I had been hiding behind my laptop, hoping he'd leave me alone for once. Though, be it an ordinary day or match day, bullying me is the only thing Leonard never skips. “Oh, there you are.” He grinned. The room instantly filled with the scent of his Alpha pheromones along with his sweat. Leonard dragged a chair beside mine and sat down, as if he hadn't noticed how pale I'd become the moment he approached. “Well? Do I look good today?” His broad shoulders brushed against my desk. Those sky-blue eyes locked onto me like a predator watching its prey. I hated how his presence could make me feel small. I hated how Leonard made me believe I deserved his bullying simply because I was an ugly, nerdy orphan. “Let me take a look.” He snatched my laptop. He reads the new article I have been working my ass off this week, with unsatisfied look. He slammed the laptop almost like breaking it in half. “Delete it. I don't like it.” He tossed the laptop back onto my desk. “Write a new one. I want the entire article to be about me only. And have it published tomorrow before my champion party.” “I-I c-can’t—” “What did you say?” I tightened my grip around my laptop. “T-Tomorrow is my mother's death anniversary, so—” “Ah, just changed my mind,” Leonard cut me off, “Make it ready today. I want my article posted TODAY.” “W-what!?” I snapped. My fists clenched as heat rushed to my face. This bullying had started even longer than I remembered. I forgot when it started, but ever since I refused to give him my chair in the middle school, Leonard kept targeting me until now. For years, he'd called me “Four Eyes.” He'd forced me to write articles simply because I worked as a student writer. I'd foolishly hoped that winning today's championship would make him leave me alone. What a joke. A monster was still a monster, no matter what day it was. Leonard planted one hand against the wall beside my head, “Make it ready before class ends,” His voice dropped lower. “Got it?” “I-I can't.” My voice trembled. I clutched my laptop against my chest. “Y-You heard me. Tomorrow is my mother's—” “And do I look like care, Four Eyes?” He leaned closer. His high nose almost bumped mine. Before I could react, Leonard snatched my glasses from my face and slid them onto his own nose. He gave me a disgusted smirk. “Now I understand why your articles are so terrible.” He tapped the frame. “These glasses made your eyes even more pathetic.” My stomach twisted. Leonard pulled the glasses off, shoved them back onto my face. “Just write something decent for once, hm? We wouldn't want your scholarship to disappear because you damaged my reputation, right?” “G-Got it,” My voice almost looked like crying. As soon as Leonard mentioned my scholarship, all plans to fight him back faded into a second. “G-Give me time. I’ll upload the article before evening.” He let out a fake smile, “Excellent.” He patted the top of my head. He snatched his helmet back. His head turned a little before left, to me, grinning as watching me unable to move after his intimidation. “See you before class ends, Four Eyes~” He slammed the door. Then my body—me, finally collapsed to the floor. My entire body trembled. I tried gathering the things that had fallen from my desk, but my hands felt too weak to cooperate. Leonard had always been like this. Ever since we were kids. Our parents had known each other, Leonard knew it and used it as my weakness. Ding…Dong… The bell for first period rang. I rushed outside as I was about to be late for my shift. I wiped away my tears when other students headed into the classroom. Just as usual, I tried to forget the tightness in my chest using my busy time. ___ “Can you please ring this up?” The line at the library counter seemed endless. I forced myself to keep moving despite the soreness in my shoulders from spending an entire week working on Leonard's article. “Please sign here,” I said to the student checking out a book. “Okay, next.” I rubbed my numb shoulder and glanced at the clock. A few more hours before my shift ended. Every day, I worked at the campus library to cover my living expenses. Ever since my mother passed away, I've been working alone. My scholarship wasn't enough to cover textbooks, meals, rent, everything. “Next,” I muttered, staring at the endless line. I was scanning another book, when I felt a hand suddenly slide a lunch box across the counter, followed by a bottle of milk. The familiar gesture immediately caught my attention. “Nathaniel!” My exhaustion vanished instantly when I looked up and found a familiar face standing in front of the counter. “What are you doing here?” I jumped to my feet, wrapped my arms around him before I could stop myself. Nathaniel chuckled softly and patted my head. It had been far too long since we'd last seen each other. “I miss you so much…” I muttered. Almost crying. If anyone ever wondered how I'd managed to endure years of Leonard's bullying, part of the answer stood right in front of me. His twin brother. Nathaniel Gavinsky. His God-like face kept smiling at me. Despite sharing the same face, Nathaniel was far different from his twin brother. His blond hair was longer. Where Leonard looked sharp, intimidating, Nathaniel appeared gentle, approachable. Calm. Warm. Like the kind of prince that only existed in fairy tales. Nathaniel studied in the Art Department, while Leonard and I were in science. Even with his packed schedule, he always found time to visit me. Lunch time. We’re busy chatting each other. It’s been a while I can laugh so freely like this. “Um, Rose?” “Hm?” I looked up from the lunch he'd prepared for me. As expected, his cook is amazing. Nathaniel fidgeted, his face dropped before saying, “My brother, Leonard, he doesn't bully you anymore, right?” I paused, almost choked by meat. “T-that’s…” No matter how hard I tried to hide it, Nathaniel always knew. He knew Leonard always bullied me. And, he had offered help countless times. It’s my ego that refused it all. Nathaniel is my first love, and I still love him until now. I don’t want depend on him. More than that, it hurts to know Nathaniel cared about me just because we’re friends. Nathaniel is engaged. He already has a mate. For years, I could only hide my feelings every time he’s nice to me. I’m satisfied just being his friend. It still feels like a luxury to me. “No, he’s not,” I forced a smile. “He’s good. He’s your brother, of course he’s a nice person.” Nathaniel looked unconvinced, “Are you sure?” He grabbed my hand, “You can always tell me, Rose. You are like a little sister to me.” My chest suddenly felt tight at the words ‘a little sister’. He has used that phrase since we were little. It’s funny why I still haven’t gotten used to it. I let out a fake smile, although I was trembling so much that I almost cried. Nathaniel was still holding my hand, when suddenly I felt something wet, liquid, splashed over my head. I froze. A loud laughter echoed the library. “Busy flirting with my brother again, Miss Four Eyes?” Leonard stood beside me. Milk bottle in his hand. The milk Nathaniel had brought for me. As watched my clothes drenched, he pulled me closer. “I told you to finish my article.” Leonard's voice dripped low, with disgust. “Not spread your legs for every Alpha who gives you attention.” “Leo!” Nathaniel growled angrily. He pulled me away from Leonard. I couldn’t even open my eyes because of the milk. But… something inside me finally snapped. I used to silent whenever he bullied me. But right now… I can’t. Not here. Not in front of Nathaniel. Not after spending years trying to hide this humiliation from him. Before Nathaniel stepped in, I grabbed the lunch box that still full. I threw that lunch box straight at Leonard's face, so hard, that all the meals splashed all over his body. “Do you know why I deliberately wrote a terrible article about you?” My entire body shook with rage. “Because you are an asshole. Because you have nothing but your face! I purposely created that bad article so the whole world would know your true s**t personality! I hope you die!”