Epilogue: Back In High School

Since young, Sophie Lin had always blended into the background. She wasn't popular, wasn't from a powerful family like her stepsister Amelia, and never tried to stand out. She was the kind of girl who sat quietly in class, always polite, always prepared—but always overlooked. And in a school full of wealthy teens who thrived on drama and dominance, that quietness made her an easy mark.

Sophie had entered the Lin family when she was ten, after her mother passed away from illness. With nowhere else to go, she was brought to the grand Lin residence—a place that looked more like a mansion than a home. From the beginning, she knew she didn't quite belong. The whispers started early. The glances. The subtle reminders that she wasn't really one of them. She was the illegitimate daughter of George Lin, taken in not out of love, but obligation.

And though she had food, shelter, and an education, what she lacked was warmth. Every smile felt strained. Every kindness came with conditions. Sophie learned early on to stay quiet, to not cause trouble, and to never expect anything more than the bare minimum. It was survival, not love.

And Amelia, the perfect daughter in the eyes of society, made sure Sophie never forgot her place.

Amelia never missed a chance to humiliate her—especially at school. What started as whispers behind her back and giggles that stopped the moment Sophie walked in, quickly escalated. Her textbooks vanished from her locker. Her shoes mysteriously ended up in the trash. Her lunch tray was "accidentally" spilled on her uniform so often she stopped reacting. Every time Sophie thought maybe it would get better, it only got worse.

Through it all, Sophie stayed silent. She told herself if she ignored them, if she didn't react, they'd eventually stop.

But they didn't.

One afternoon after school, Sophie was gathering her things when a group of girls cornered her in an empty classroom. Leading them, as always, was Amelia—arms crossed, eyes cold, her mouth curled in that same mocking smile.

"You really think you belong here, Sophie?" Amelia said, her voice smooth and sharp all at once.

Sophie said nothing. She kept her face neutral, even as her heart pounded in her chest.

Another girl chimed in with a sneer, "Why don't you ever talk back? Or are you just that pathetic?"

Sophie's fists clenched at her sides. She stayed quiet, trying to hold it together.

But this time, it wasn't just taunts.

Amelia yanked Sophie's bag from her shoulder and dumped everything onto the floor. Notebooks, pens, even her pencil case clattered across the tile. The girls laughed, kicking her things aside like they were garbage.

Sophie stood frozen, her chest tight, her eyes stinging—but she refused to cry. No one was coming to help. No one ever did.

But then—

A calm but sharp voice cut through the room like a knife. "That's enough."

The laughter stopped immediately. Silence fell. Sophie turned toward the door—and froze.

Leonard Yan stood there.

Everyone in school knew who he was. Top student. Heir to the Yan family. Untouchable. Unshakable. And right now, his eyes were locked on them, cold and unreadable.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked, his voice low and controlled, but the weight behind it made everyone flinch.

Amelia's smile faltered. "L-Leonard… we were just—"

His gaze flicked to Sophie—her back pressed against the wall, her belongings scattered across the floor. Then back to them.

Leonard stepped into the room slowly, deliberately. Each step echoed in the silence like a countdown. The air turned heavier with every inch he closed.

"Pick. It. Up."

The three words were barely more than a whisper. But no one moved.

"Leonard, seriously," Amelia said, forcing a breathy laugh. "It's not that deep—just a joke."

His eyes cut to her, sharp as glass. "I don't care," he said coldly. "Pick it up. Or I'll make sure none of you set foot in this school again."

Everyone believed him. They had to. When Leonard spoke like that, it wasn't a threat. It was fact.

The girls moved at once, fumbling to gather Sophie's books, pens, and phone, hands trembling as they tried to place everything neatly back into her bag. The room was filled with the rustle of papers and the click of pens—an awkward, panicked silence.

When they were done, no one dared look Leonard in the eye.

He nodded once. "Leave."

They obeyed without a word, shuffling out quickly like the room was on fire. In moments, they were gone.

Now it was just Sophie and Leonard.

She stood there frozen, her back still close to the wall, unsure whether to say thank you or burst into tears.

Leonard bent down, quietly picking up the last item—a crushed notebook she hadn't noticed—then walked over and gently placed it in her arms.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice much softer now.

She stood there frozen, still processing what just happened.

The room was silent now, just the two of them. Leonard then turned to leave, as if this entire thing meant nothing to him. 

"Wait," Sophie blurted, her voice trembling as she stepped forward, gripping her bag tightly. 

"…Thank you." Leonard paused, glancing at her over his shoulder. But his expression was the same as always—distant and unbothered.. 

"…Don't let them treat you like that again," he said simply, his tone firm but not unkind. Then, without another word, he walked away, leaving Sophie standing there, her heart pounding in her chest.

Sophie had always known Leonard Yan didn't pay attention to anyone. Not the girls who tried too hard to impress him. Not the classmates who kept their distance out of fear or admiration. And certainly not someone like her. Even now—after she'd thanked him—she was sure he'd forget her face by tomorrow.

But for her… that moment changed everything.

She had noticed him long before this. The way he walked with quiet confidence. The way he never got involved in the petty gossip that ruled their school. While others chased attention, Leonard stood apart—calm, composed, untouchable.

And that day, as he stood up for her without hesitation, something inside Sophie shifted.

She knew it then: her heart had already chosen him.

Even if he never saw her. Even if he never remembered her name. Even if, to him, she was just another quiet girl in the background…

But to her, Leonard Yan had become unforgettable.