Chapter 38

A few days had passed, and by now, everyone in class had grown accustomed to the strange dynamic between Athasia and Zamiel. What had once been a spectacle—Zamiel's casual yet possessive touches, the way he invaded her space without hesitation, and how she never really pushed him away—had become something routine. No one batted an eye when he leaned in to whisper something in her ear or rested his arm over the back of her chair like she belonged to him.But outside of class?A storm was brewing.No one knew how it happened, but word had leaked beyond Cresthill High's walls. At first, it started as small whispers among students who had connections outside of school. But then, the whispers turned into full-blown discussions, and before long, the entire outside world was talking about it.The heir to the Van Zendt Conglomerate, the most powerful and influential business empire in the country, was attending Cresthill High—and he was involved with some nobody.And that was where the backlash started."Who the hell is she?""A nobody. A complete nobody.""She's probably ugly. She's from nowhere. She has nothing to offer. What the fuck does he even see in her?""She's not even some rich socialite or a business heir—she's a damn country bumpkin!"The outsiders couldn't comprehend it. To them, it was absurd. How could someone like Zamiel Van Zendt, someone born into wealth and power, someone who could have any girl he wanted, choose her?It didn't make sense.So, they sneered. They mocked. They gossiped. They talked shit like their words mattered.But inside Cresthill High?No one dared to say a word.Athasia wasn't some random girl here. Everyone knew her. And more importantly—they feared her.Unlike what the outsiders thought, Athasia wasn't some nameless nobody who had miraculously caught Zamiel's attention. Her presence in Cresthill was already legendary.People didn't question her existence in the school because they knew better.She wasn't just an ordinary student. She wasn't some weak little girl who clung to Zamiel for validation. No, she was the silent storm that no one wanted to provoke.There was a reason no one in the school openly gossiped about her.A reason why even the most popular students—those who would usually jump at the opportunity to tear someone down—kept their mouths shut.Because Athasia had power.Not the kind of power that came from wealth or status like Zamiel's. No.Hers was something more terrifying.Something unexplainable.Her presence was enough to make people uneasy, her sharp gaze enough to make them lower their heads. She didn't need to say much—her silence was louder than words. She wasn't just respected; she was feared.And no one dared to cross her.The only person who acted as if he were above it all was Zamiel.If anything, the rumors that spread outside of school only seemed to amuse him.One afternoon, as he leaned lazily against his desk, he smirked as he scrolled through his phone, looking at the messages flooding in. Some were from people he knew—business heirs, old acquaintances, and those who thought they had the right to give their opinion on the matter."Zamiel, you could do better.""Is this some kind of joke? You? With a nobody?""Dude, tell me this is temporary. A fling. A game. There's no way you're actually serious about her."His smirk widened.They really didn't get it.They didn't understand who she was.Did they really think someone like Athasia was just any girl?"Pathetic," he muttered under his breath before shutting off his phone.Meanwhile, Athasia sat at her desk, completely unfazed by everything. She had seen the rumors, heard the whispers. She knew what people outside were saying about her.And she didn't give a damn.She wasn't here to please anyone. She wasn't here to explain herself to the world.Let them talk.At the end of the day, she knew who she was.And more importantly—Zamiel did too.