Chapter 159 Hope in distress

Jimmy was looking so anxious. He stared at Nadine, looking at her with hope. What would be the result of the call? Would he be expelled?

Nadine faced him and held his hands. For a moment, Jimmy was stunned. The soft brush of Nadine's soft hands made him shudder softly, and it was weird because being a scholarship student was hard enough. But imagine being tagged a fag in a private elite school—he would be bullied to death, that's if they didn't expel him first.

"Calm down, Jimmy. I know you will be fine. You didn't do anything wrong. You were fighting for my self-respect, so hold your chin up high, guy." Nadine's words were obviously sincere because she appreciated Jimmy coming to her rescue, and him being punished would make her feel bad.

"Thanks, Nadine. And since we are on the road of apologies, let me use the opportunity to apologize for being a jerk face and almost forcing myself on you. That was ungentlemanly of me," Jimmy apologized.

Nadine smiled, her face radiating, making her beauty come out even more. Jimmy, for a moment, thought of Luna. Had he really lost her forever? But a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Mr. McCarthy, you can come in..."

Jimmy looked once more at Nadine before stepping into the building, and Nadine gave him a thumbs-up, wishing him luck.

---

After she had escorted Jimmy to the principal's office, she made her way to her dorm, only to see a shadow moving along the nearby corridor opposite her dorm. Nadine couldn't explain what happened, but she felt a sudden chill, like a change in the temperature of the air. She decided to walk directly, but her mind was warning her, telling her not to, that it was dangerous. Wanting to confirm her doubts, being that nothing was happening, she ventured into the corridor and ended up seeing nothing, only Harlan and Emily's heated argument—or what she would call a confession.

"Why are you saying this? I told you to give me a chance, Harlan. What do you see in Slyvia that I don't have? Please, talk to me." Emily was speaking, obviously at the point of breaking down.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Emily, but I don't have an ounce of feelings for you. I like someone else, and it would do you good to forget about me and move on, please." Harlan's words were cold and brutal. Nadine flinched at the intensity of the tone.

But something made Nadine mad. Why was Emily begging for Harlan's affection? Like, what the fuck? Couldn't she move on by accepting that Harlan had a girl already?

"It's Slyvia. Tell me if it's Slyvia," Emily questioned, her eyes burning with tears. She was sniffling so badly. Rejection was the last thing she wanted. After Hadrain's encounter, she decided never to pursue love, but it seemed her heart had another plan for her again.

Harlan moved close to Emily and brushed her teary face. Then he smiled.

"Slyvia isn't my love interest, but she's intriguing and fun to chat with. I don't associate with boring sticks, so, dear, stick to your size because this relationship you're trying to form is impossible."

Harlan's words cut so deep that Nadine herself felt the sting, but Emily wasn't going down without a fight.

"And who told you she would accept you, Harlan? She despises you, moron. Know why? It seems you didn't realize she hates bullies, and you bullying Jimmy fueled her hatred even more. So, darling, your case is hopeless."

Emily let out a satisfying laugh. Gosh, how she loved the look on Harlan's face. But he turned the scowl into a mocking smile.

"I love a challenge, Emily, and I will make Slyvia Emerson fall hopelessly in love with me within this term. So carry your boring self and leave my side."

Brushing Emily aside, Harlan walked away from the corridor, and Nadine, who had heard enough, sneaked away and began shaking her head. But a scream from outside the school, beside the field, made her neck snap, and what she saw made her blood run dry. A group of students gathered around a particular spot on the field, and there was loud wailing and crying.

Nadine wanted whatever it was not to be an accident because she hated such things, but an announcement made her eyes bulge insanely.

"Everyone, there was an accident in the school stadium opposite the national field, and Ezekiel Sawyer has been badly injured, close to death. Report to your dormitories this instant until further notice."

Nadine felt her blood run dry. What about Zeke? How could that be possible? Was it a wild animal, or did someone attack him? No!

Walking alone, she looked at the lines of students rushing to their various dormitories. Nina and Ava were among them, both whispering strangely and pointing at the opposite dorm, which housed Rose, Slyvia, and Emily's compartment.

Nadine ignored them. What could they do? She couldn't believe the birthday boy was almost killed. She felt terrified and terrible. Why was she feeling this way? And worse still for Ezekiel, who was such a red flag. Didn't he tell her to come and see him? Wait a minute—Ares called him to his office. So what happened? Things were getting so suspicious. This was the second time he called him to his office. Goodness, was he just jealous? No, she must get to the root of this.

---

Rose was on her phone, chatting with a random guy she met on Instagram. She was constantly laughing and murmuring things so loudly until she heard Slyvia's frustrated sigh.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Slyvia..."

Slyvia nodded negatively, her mind on the vision she had just now. What she saw terrified her beyond measure, and the next thing was even more terrible—she saw Paradise in flames, the school burning down with several students in it.

"Rose, I just had a terrifying dream, and it's so vivid and clear, like a memory. I am beyond afraid. It's like something terrible is about to happen."

"No!" Rose screamed, to Slyvia's dismay.

"What happened, Rose? Talk to me."

Slyvia was beginning to worry. She had dismissed Harlan earlier, who was hellbent on talking to her. Now she wasn't ready for any boys' drama. Her top priority now was her horrible nightmare.

"Slyvia, I just read news on the school vlog. Zeke—the famous guy now in our class—was attacked and brutally mutilated, almost drained of blood. Now, guess what? A rumor is flying around that an animal attacked him. And that's not the worst part. Ezekiel Sawyer has now been confirmed dead..."

Rose spoke with a sorrowful voice, trying not to cry so badly. The news was terrible.

"What?"

This was like a bomb to Slyvia. She had adored Zeke once before. She thought he was an annoying scholarship student until he revealed his rich background. Her favorite memory was the day he helped her carry a stack of heavy books to the library. It was obvious she had a crush on him. Like, who wouldn't? The guy was so gorgeous with his grey eyes.

"Rose, I have a bad feeling about this. Please, whatever you do, don't go outside."

Slyvia warned, obviously not smiling. Rose nodded, still unable to believe the news.