His fists clenched.
“Elena, don’t regret this.”
She didn’t respond.
Only after Zayden left the room did she finally put her fork down.
“I’ve had enough of that Zayden guy. Next chance I get, I’m knocking him flat.”
“You can’t beat him.”
Elena was just being honest.
Zayden wasn’t school heartthrob material just because of his looks.
Grace had been grooming him since he was little-his schedule had always been packed with extracurriculars.
He’d even taken professional combat classes for two years.
When it came to fighting, Zayden had never lost to anyone his age.
Henry leaned in, curious. “But seriously-was he telling the truth? You two are really engaged? How old were you when your parents arranged that?”
“People like us… how many of us really get to choose who we marry?”
Colton’s voice was calm.
Everyone in their class was born into privilege, second-generation heirs of wealth and power. But with that privilege came sacrifices.
Like their future marriages.
Still, it wasn’t something they had to worry about just yet.
“It’s fine. Now that you’re in Class Six, if Zayden ever messes with you again, we’ll make sure he regrets it.”
Henry’s firm stance made Elena’s thanks heartfelt. “Thank you.”
In her previous life, she’d been timid and full of self-doubt, always orbiting around Zayden like he was the center of her world. She hadn’t had a single friend.
Now, for the first time, she understood what it felt like to be chosen and defended by someone who truly cared.
Back in Class One, Sarah was in tears, sobbing like a pitiful flower in the rain.
A few classmates gathered around to comfort her, while the two girls who had been arguing with Sarah earlier were waiting for Zayden to return and take their side.
It wasn’t long before Zayden came back.
Pamela rushed to him first, crying, “Class rep, Elena was bullying our classmates from Class One! You have to stand up for us!”
“Yeah! She’s totally abusing her power-she needs to be punished! They should just expel her!”
Zayden shot them a cold look.
Both girls froze.
“What did you two put in Elena’s lunchbox?”
“I-I…”
Pamela’s face went pale. She couldn’t meet
Zayden’s eyes.
“Zayden, it’s my fault,” Sarah chimed in quickly. “I saw you and Elena getting close to Class Six and got upset, so I complained a little, and…”
“So you knew?”
Zayden frowned, eyes turning frosty as he looked at Sarah.
That one look made her shiver.
“Elena may have left Class One, but she was still one of us. How could you treat her like that?”
Sarah’s face fell as Zayden came to Elena’s defense.
Everyone in class looked around in confusion.
Zayden had never cared for Elena before. In fact, they barely exchanged a single word.
So why was he standing up for her now?
“From now on, no one is allowed to mess with Elena. If anyone does… don’t blame me for turning my back on you.”
His cold gaze swept over everyone in the room.
Finally, his eyes landed on Sarah.
She felt uneasy and bit her lip.
Zayden didn’t say anything else, but the warning was clear.
If Sarah hadn’t been crying earlier, he never would’ve gone after Elena without hearing both sides.
That afternoon.
PE class was about to start.
The rest of Class Six had already gone downstairs.
Only Elena had stayed behind to use the restroom.
Outside the bathroom, Sarah had clearly been waiting for a while.
As soon as Elena came out, Sarah stepped in front of her.
“Elena!”
Elena frowned. “Class is about to start. What do you want?”
“Elena, I’m really sorry about what happened at lunch. I didn’t mean it… You’re not really mad at me, are you?”
Sarah looked up at her nervously, trying to look fragile and remorseful.
“Come on, you’re my sister. How could I ever be mad at you?”
Elena didn’t want to waste time with Sarah. They had a physical fitness exam this afternoon, and she just wanted to get it over with.
“Elena!”
Sarah blocked her again, hesitating. “Sis, I have one more favor…”
“What is it now?”
Sarah bit her lip, looking embarrassed. “I…
I’m on my period. My stomach really hurts… The teacher asked me to carry some equipment, and I…”
“You want me to do it for you?”
Sarah nodded quickly.
Elena’s face remained unreadable.
Even though Class One and Class Six didn’t have PE together, their schedules lined up. And today, because of the test, both classes would be taking the exam at the same time.
“I won’t make you late for your exam, I promise. Please, Elena…”
Sarah’s eyes were full of pleading.
Elena hesitated for a second, then reluctantly said, “Fine. But class starts in five minutes. You’ll have to come with me and help.”
Sarah’s face instantly lit up. “Elena! I knew you’d say yes! Thank you!”
Out on the field.
Class Six was already assembled.
Henry glanced toward the main building, confused. “Anyone seen Elena?”
Class was about to start, and she still wasn’t there.
This was no ordinary class-it was a physical exam.
If she was late, their strict PE teacher wouldn’t hesitate to disqualify her score.
Nolan’s eyes darkened.
And then, the bell rang.
The PE teacher started walking toward them.
“Line up. Roll call.”
The PE teacher, a man in his thirties, didn’t even lift his head as he called names off the list.
“Sir, Elena’s not here yet,” Henry said.
The teacher frowned.
He had no patience for students who showed up late.
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