Kneel.

The next morning arrived beneath a pale blue sky, streaked with lazy clouds. Birds chirped softly in the distance as the Romero's mansion slowly stirred awake.

Outside, Dante stood beside his car, his arms folded, watching the front entrance with a tension that hung around him like heavy smoke. A few seconds later, Amelia stepped out, dressed up for school, her handbag slung over one shoulder, sunglasses covering her tired, unamused expression.

"Let's go," Dante said as he reached to open the passenger door for her.

She stopped in front of him, her arms crossed. "No. My driver will take me."

Dante exhaled.

"I want to take you today." He said.

 "Since when do you take me to school? What, trying to win Dad of the Year all of a sudden?" Amelia asked.

"Amelia, please." His voice lowered with urgency. "Just... get in."

She let out a groan, rolled her eyes, and slid into the passenger seat. She didn't say a word. Just faced the window, her expression stony as the engine started.

The drive was silent at first, until Dante broke it with a sigh. "I'm sorry. For what happened last night… arguing with your mom."

Amelia didn't blink, she was silent forna while before she spoke up. 

"I heard your ex-wife is back," she said flatly. "And your wannabe daughter."

Dante gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "Amelia, I wish you could understand. Just try to see things from my side. I've missed twenty years of my daughter's life. I just want to make it right."

 "And what about me?" She scoffed.

 "What do you mean?" He blinked at her, confused.

"We live under the same roof," she said, her voice rising. "But I don't even know you. You're a stranger. A stranger who shows up late, barely talks to anyone, and when you do, it's to yell at me and mom. You never cared about me or your 'other daughter' for twenty years. Why now? Why because Georgia's back? Are you tired of Mom?"

"Amelia, I love your mom-"

"Do you?" she snapped, cutting him off. "Because ever since I was a kid, all you've ever done is pick fights with her. And she takes it. Every damn time. She loves you more than she loves herself, and you treat her like she's just some replacement for Georgia."

Her eyes were glassy now, it took everything in her to try and stay respectful.

"If you wanted Georgia, you shouldn't have married Mom."

Dante had no words. He stared ahead, jaw tight, but nothing came.

"I don't care about your other daughter or your ex-wife. Georgia is not your wife and Kim is not your daughter." Amelia's voice shook, fury laced with pain. "I will not watch you destroy our family for people who don't even want you."

Dante swallowed hard, shoulders slumped as he pulled up in front of Maxwell International Academy.

Amelia opened the door without another word.

SLAM.

The door echoed in the quiet morning as she stormed off toward the gates, leaving Dante alone with his silence, his regrets, and the impossible mess of the past he couldn't undo.

°°MAXWELL INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY – SCHOOL GYM°°

MIA boasted several state of gyms across its expansive campus, each tailored to different departments and fitness needs. But the one nestled between the east lecture wing and the athletics dome was the crown jewel ; the largest gym in the entire school.

 Spacious, sleek, and sun-drenched from its full glass walls, it was the unofficial headquarters for the elite crowd who liked to mix sweat with reputation.

Inside, the air buzzed faintly with bass heavy music. Students filled the room in scattered groups, some focused on drills, others on casual workouts.

At the far end, Castillo was pounding the treadmill like it owed him something. A black singlet clung to his toned chest, towel hanging lazily around his neck, wireless headphones locked over his ears. His gaze was fixed ahead, jaw tense, each stride he took purposeful, aggressive even like he was trying to outrun something.

Beside the weight racks, Tavi grunted as he lifted a pair of heavy dumbbells, arms flexing with every rep.

A few feet away, Kyle was on the floor, sweat beading along his brow as he powered through sit-ups. Ivy knelt at his feet, her hands pressed firmly over his knees, counting under her breath.

On the other side of the room, Amelia sat quietly on the padded floor, a cold bottle of water gripped between her palms. Her posture was still, her eyes distant, the usual fire in her aura noticeably dim. 

The argument with her dad was taking a toll on her. She should be used to it by now, they always fight about everything, but the fact that his daughter came back is giving her feelings she doesn't know how to describe. 

Why? Why does she feel like she's suddenly getting replaced. She wants to pretend that everything is okay, but it's not. What is this feeling? Fear?

Ivy glanced up mid-count and narrowed her eyes. "You've been quiet all day," she said, pushing her hair behind her ear. "That's like, illegal for you."

 "Yeah and sulking on gym day? What's the occasion?" Kyle popped up mid-sit-up, glancing over.

Amelia sighed, her fingers tightening around the bottle. "It's my dad. Apparently, his ex-wife and daughter are back."

Ivy's eyes widened. "Wait, your sister is in New York?"

Amelia turned sharply. "She's not my sister, Ivy."

The room shifted. Tavi paused mid-lift, eyeing her with a furrowed brow. Castillo didn't stop running but his eyes flickered in her direction for a brief second.

 "Damn. That sucks."Ivy chewed her bottom lip.

"I thought it wouldn't bother me," Amelia said softly. "But… now he's acting like he wants to be some hero dad. Talking about regrets. Saying he wants to make things right."

Tavi lowered his dumbbells and walked closer. "Maybe it's just a phase. A guilt trip. Doesn't mean they'll actually be part of your life."

Kyle nodded, wiping his face with a towel. "Exactly. Those people? They're in the past. You're the one here now. Don't let them mess with your head."

"I know, but I just want him to be a father to me, is that too difficult to ask for?"Amelia bit her lips.

Ivy sat beside her and looped an arm around Amelia's shoulder. "Forget them. You're parents love you and you know that. That's not changing."

Amelia blinked slowly, staring at her reflection in the gym mirror. She didn't say a word… but the tight grip on her water bottle eased just a little.

°°°

The doors of the school gym creaked open as Lorenzo stepped inside, followed closely by Kim. She was dressed in a black racerback cropped tank and matching gym shorts that clung perfectly to her toned legs. 

Her sneakers were spotless white, and a grey hoodie was tied around her waist. Her dark hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, a few strands sticking to her skin from the humidity. She looked confident, comfortable and ridiculously hot.

Kyle glanced towards the door and nearly choked on air. "Oh my fuck. Who's that sexy Aphrodite?"

Amelia narrowed her eyes at the sight. "That bitch is still here?"

Kyle turned to the others. "Who is she? The newbie?"

Ivy, now holding Kyle's legs in place, nodded with a dry look. "Yeah."

Tavi grinned, raising an eyebrow. "Really? She's hot."

Ivy snapped her eyes at him. "I can hear you, Tavi."

He smirked and leaned into her with a wink. "C'mon, babe. You're way hotter and sexier than her. Like, objectively. My eyes are yours."

On the treadmill, Castillo's phone buzzed. He slowed to a stop, using the towel to clean the sweat glistening on his arms. But his attention wasn't on the screen anymore. His eyes had caught her.

Kim.

Smiling.

Laughing.

Joking around with Lorenzo like she belonged here.

His jaw twitched.

"I'm leaving now, guys. See you later," Castillo muttered as he stepped off the treadmill and grabbed his bag.

"So soon?" Tavi looked surprised.

"I'll eat breakfast first," Castillo replied coolly.

Kyle gave a low whistle. "Cas, you forgot to mention that your sworn enemy is this hot and pretty…"

Castillo ignored him at first, but then his eyes snapped back to Kim. She had just bent slightly, adjusting the dumbbell bar, her form practically perfect. She tossed a casual smile at Lorenzo and said something that made him laugh.

 "Second day in school and she's already flirting? Shameless." Castillo scoffed.

He turned to Ivy.

"I'll send you a message later. You know what to do. That girl won't last here. Not while I'm around."

He slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way toward the exit, but of course, the path led him right past her.

He stopped and looked down.

"Seems like you don't know how to take a warning seriously," he said, his voice low but sharp.

Kim looked up from her stretch, completely unbothered. "Are you that bored that you're always looking for ways to talk to me?"

"Not really," Castillo sneered. "Let's just say the sight of you makes me wanna puke."

Lorenzo stood up beside her.

 "Castillo, stop-"

"Lorenzo Donatello, I wasn't talking to you." Castillo growled without sparing him a glance.

His glare returned to Kim.

"You're gonna regret being here. By the time I'm done with you Kim, you're going to beg! You'll beg me to stop and you'll leave on your own."

"What exactly is your problem with me? She stood up and faced him. "What are you so pissed off about? Is it because of the incident when we first met? Did I hurt your pride, huh?"Kim almost yelled at him.

Castillo took a step closer to her, leaving no space between them. His height towered over hers, so she had to look up to look into his eyes.

"Yes. But not just that, you're arrogant, you're loud, you're a wannabe and you're a fucking cunt." Castillo said. "I hate you, and it'll make me really happy seeing you miserable."

"So what should I do? For you to leave me alone? Huh?"Kim asked, her voice low.

Castillo raised his palm and she flinched, shutting her eyes tightly expecting a slap. Her eyes flung open when she felt his masculine palm on her cheek. He leaned closer towards her ear and Kim felt all the hairs on her body stand still.

"Kneel- and apologize, Kimberly."