Chapter 3
2209 Words
The first thing Amelia noticed when she reached home that evening was the silence.
It was a familiar kind of silence.
Not peaceful.
Just quiet enough to make her realize how tired she really was.
She closed the door behind her and slipped her shoes off near the entrance.
"Mom?"
There was no answer.
Her heart tightened.
She hurried toward the bedroom.
"Evelyn?"
Her mother was lying on the bed with a book resting beside her.
The moment she saw Amelia, she smiled.
"There you are."
Amelia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"You scared me."
Evelyn frowned.
"Why?"
"You didn't answer."
"I didn't hear you."
Amelia walked over and sat beside her.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
Amelia gave her a look.
Her mother immediately sighed.
"Fine enough."
"That's better."
Evelyn smiled.
"You look tired."
"University."
"Already?"
"You wouldn't believe how exhausting rich people can be."
Her mother laughed softly.
"Rich people?"
Amelia shook her head.
"Nothing."
She didn't want to tell her mother about Victoria.
There was no reason to worry her.
Evelyn reached for her hand.
"Did you make any friends?"
Amelia smiled.
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Her name is Mia."
"Is she nice?"
"Very."
"Good."
Evelyn's expression softened.
"I was worried you would feel alone there."
Amelia looked down.
For a moment, she thought about the university.
The enormous buildings.
The expensive cars.
The students who wore clothes that probably cost more than everything Amelia owned.
And then she thought about Adrian.
Then Damon.
She didn't understand why both of them had crossed her path within the same day.
"I don't feel completely alone," she finally said.
Evelyn squeezed her hand.
"That's all I wanted to hear."
Amelia smiled.
Then she stood.
"Now lie down properly."
"I'm already lying down."
"Properly."
"Amelia—"
"Mom."
Evelyn laughed.
"You're becoming bossy."
"Someone has to be."
Amelia pulled the blanket over her mother and adjusted the pillow behind her.
Then she walked toward the kitchen.
"Did you eat?"
"Not yet."
Amelia stopped.
"Mom."
"I was waiting for you."
"You shouldn't."
"I know."
"You need to eat on time."
"So do you."
Amelia smiled.
"Fine. I'll make something."
As she entered the tiny kitchen, she glanced toward the small stack of bills sitting near the refrigerator.
She didn't touch them.
She didn't need to.
She already knew what they were.
Medicine.
Electricity.
Groceries.
Everything seemed to cost more every month.
Amelia opened the cupboard.
There wasn't much left.
She quietly closed it again.
Tomorrow she would work another shift at the café.
She would figure it out.
She always did.
---
The next morning, Blackwood University was already crowded when Amelia arrived.
Students filled the entrance, laughing and talking.
Cars stopped near the main building one after another.
Amelia walked through the gate with her bag over her shoulder.
She spotted Mia near the stairs.
"Amelia!"
Amelia smiled.
"Morning."
Mia fell into step beside her.
"You're late."
"By three minutes."
"Three minutes is late."
"You sound like our professor."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
They laughed.
For a few moments, Amelia forgot about everything else.
Then Mia lowered her voice.
"By the way..."
Amelia looked at her.
"What?"
"Did you hear what Victoria has been telling everyone?"
Amelia immediately sighed.
"No."
"Apparently, she and Damon are dating."
Amelia stopped walking.
"What?"
Mia nodded.
"That's what she's saying."
Amelia stared at her.
"Dating?"
"Apparently."
Amelia remembered yesterday.
Victoria standing beside Damon.
Claiming he was going to give her a ride.
Then Damon leaving without her.
Amelia shook her head.
"Maybe they had some argument."
Mia shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then she smiled.
"But honestly, I don't believe it."
"Why?"
"Because Damon barely talks to anyone."
"Maybe he talks to her."
Mia gave her a doubtful look.
"Do you really believe that?"
Amelia shrugged.
"I don't know."
They continued toward the classroom.
Neither of them noticed Victoria standing near the entrance with her friends.
But Victoria noticed them.
And from the expression on her face, she had definitely heard enough.
---
At lunch, the story had already spread.
Amelia didn't know how rumors moved so quickly at university.
Apparently, Victoria had told several groups of students that she and Damon had been seeing each other for weeks.
Some people believed her.
Some didn't.
And Victoria seemed determined to make sure everyone heard about it.
She sat at a table surrounded by her friends.
"So he picked me up yesterday," Victoria announced.
One of her friends looked confused.
"But I thought Damon left alone."
Victoria's expression changed.
"He had to leave early."
"Oh."
"Obviously."
Another girl leaned closer.
"So you two are actually together?"
Victoria smiled proudly.
"Of course."
"Since when?"
"A while."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Victoria laughed.
"I didn't want everyone talking about us."
Her friend looked at her.
"Everyone is talking about you now."
Victoria smiled.
"Because people are jealous."
A few girls laughed.
Victoria leaned back in her chair.
"Damon doesn't like unnecessary attention."
One of her friends raised an eyebrow.
"Then why would he date you?"
The table became quiet.
Victoria's smile disappeared.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"Say it."
"I just asked."
Victoria crossed her arms.
"Maybe because I'm different."
Her friend looked unconvinced.
Victoria continued.
"He likes me."
"Did he say that?"
"Obviously."
"When?"
Victoria hesitated for half a second.
"Yesterday."
Another girl spoke.
"But didn't he refuse to take you home?"
Victoria's face tightened.
"We had a little disagreement."
"So you weren't together in the car?"
"No."
"But you told everyone he was."
Victoria looked irritated.
"Because he was supposed to."
Her friends exchanged glances.
Victoria noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No. Say it."
One of them finally sighed.
"Victoria, if you two are dating, why does Damon barely even look at you?"
Victoria's eyes hardened.
"He doesn't have to."
"Then why were you telling everyone he was giving you a ride?"
"Because he was going to."
"But he didn't."
Victoria pushed her chair back.
"I said we had a fight!"
The table fell silent.
Victoria looked around.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Are you all seriously questioning me?"
Nobody answered.
She sat down again.
"Whatever happened yesterday is between me and Damon."
Her friends nodded.
Victoria smiled again.
"Anyway, he still likes me."
She picked up her phone.
"And tonight, he's going to message me."
One of her friends asked quietly,
"What if he doesn't?"
Victoria looked at her.
"He will."
She said it with such confidence that even she seemed to believe it.
Across the canteen, Amelia had heard enough.
She didn't mean to listen.
She had simply been sitting with Mia.
But Victoria's voice carried across the room.
Mia leaned closer.
"She really believes her own lies."
Amelia sighed.
"Maybe they really are dating."
Mia shook her head.
"I don't think so."
"Why?"
"Because of the way Damon looked at her yesterday."
Amelia looked down at her food.
She remembered it too.
There had been no warmth in his expression.
No interest.
Nothing.
Just patience.
Or perhaps annoyance.
She didn't know.
And she didn't care.
At least, she shouldn't.
Mia nudged her.
"You're thinking about it."
"No."
"You are."
"I'm thinking about lunch."
Mia laughed.
"Sure."
Amelia rolled her eyes.
"I'm serious."
She looked toward Victoria's table.
Victoria was still talking about Damon.
She had apparently moved on to describing his car.
Then his clothes.
Then his family.
Then how many people knew him.
Amelia shook her head.
It was strange.
Victoria seemed more interested in telling people that Damon was hers than actually talking to him.
Amelia couldn't understand it.
She had grown up watching her mother worry about medicine, rent, food, and survival.
Love had never meant showing someone off.
At least, not to Amelia.
---
Later that afternoon, Amelia was walking through the main courtyard when she saw Adrian.
He was standing near the steps, talking to someone.
The moment he noticed Amelia, his attention shifted.
He ended his conversation quickly.
"Amelia."
She stopped.
"Hi."
He walked toward her.
"How's your arm?"
"My arm?"
"Yesterday."
She looked down.
"Oh. Fine."
"Good."
There was an awkward silence.
Amelia adjusted her bag.
"About yesterday..."
Adrian waited.
"You didn't have to say that thing."
"What thing?"
She stared at him.
"My girl."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I already explained that."
"I know."
"Then?"
"Then don't do it again."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because people will misunderstand."
"And?"
"I don't want rumors."
Adrian looked at her for a moment.
"You're worried about rumors?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because unlike you, I don't enjoy people talking about me."
He smiled.
"Fair enough."
Amelia was about to leave when another voice came from behind them.
"Interesting."
She turned.
Damon.
He walked toward them with the same calm expression Amelia had seen yesterday.
Adrian's expression changed almost immediately.
The atmosphere between the two men became noticeably colder.
Damon looked at Amelia.
Then at Adrian.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me what?"
"Nothing."
Damon smiled slightly.
Amelia looked between them.
"What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing," Adrian repeated.
Damon gave him a sideways glance.
"He's right."
Amelia frowned.
"You're both strange."
She walked away before either of them could respond.
Behind her, Adrian and Damon remained silent.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Damon finally said,
"You're making it obvious."
Adrian looked at him.
"So are you."
Damon's expression became serious.
"Stay away from her."
Adrian gave a cold smile.
"You first."
Neither man explained why.
Neither needed to.
Their rivalry had existed long before Amelia knew either of their names.
And neither intended to let the other win.
---
That evening, Amelia returned home later than usual.
She found her mother sitting in the living room.
"You came late."
"I had extra work."
Evelyn looked concerned.
"You shouldn't work too much."
"I need the money."
"We'll manage."
"We always say that."
Evelyn became quiet.
Amelia immediately regretted her words.
She sat beside her.
"I'm sorry."
Her mother smiled.
"I know."
Amelia rested her head against her mother's shoulder.
For a few minutes, neither spoke.
Then Evelyn asked,
"How is university?"
Amelia smiled.
"Complicated."
"Already?"
"You wouldn't believe the people there."
Evelyn laughed.
"Tell me."
Amelia thought about Victoria.
Then Adrian.
Then Damon.
She shook her head.
"Nothing important."
She didn't want to bring their names into the house.
Her mother had enough worries.
Evelyn looked at her.
"Are you happy?"
Amelia thought about the question.
Was she?
She didn't know.
But she was trying.
"Yes."
Her mother smiled.
"That's enough for me."
Amelia looked at her.
"I'll make everything better one day."
Evelyn's expression softened.
"You don't have to fix everything."
"I want to."
"You are my daughter, not my caretaker."
Amelia smiled sadly.
"Too late."
Evelyn pulled her into a hug.
For Amelia, moments like this mattered more than anything at the university.
Money couldn't buy them.
Status couldn't replace them.
And no amount of attention from some rich boy could ever make her trade them.
---
The following morning, the university was louder than usual.
Victoria had apparently received a message.
And she had made sure everyone knew about it.
"I told you!"
She held her phone up in front of her friends.
"Damon messaged me."
Her friends gathered around.
"What did he say?"
Victoria smiled.
"He asked where I was."
"That's it?"
"He was busy."
"That doesn't sound romantic."
Victoria glared at her.
"Why are you always ruining everything?"
"I'm just saying."
Victoria rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, we're meeting later."
Her friend looked at her.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
Victoria smiled proudly.
"Somewhere private."
Her friends started whispering excitedly.
Victoria enjoyed every second of it.
But then one of them asked,
"Does Amelia know?"
Victoria's expression immediately changed.
"Why would I care whether she knows?"
"Because Damon seems to notice her."
Silence.
Victoria slowly turned toward her.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"No."
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"Say it again."
Her friend hesitated.
"I just said Damon seems to notice Amelia."
Victoria's jaw tightened.
She looked across the courtyard.
Amelia was walking toward the academic building with Mia.
Victoria watched her.
Then she looked down at her phone.
Something about her expression changed.
"This isn't over."
---
Amelia had no idea she was being watched.
She was too busy thinking about her assignment.
Her life felt simple compared to the strange world around her.
Study.
Work.
Take care of her mother.
Repeat.
That was all she wanted.
She didn't want Victoria's attention.
She didn't want Adrian's protection.
She didn't want Damon watching her.
And she certainly didn't want to become part of whatever rivalry existed between them.
Yet somehow, every day since she had entered Blackwood University, the distance between herself and those two men seemed to become smaller.
Amelia didn't understand why.
And she had no idea that Adrian and Damon were hiding something far bigger than money, family names, or university status.
To everyone else, they were simply two powerful young men from wealthy families.
Their true identities were secrets that had remained hidden from the human world for generations.
And neither intended to reveal them.
Not yet.
But there was one problem.
Both of them had begun paying attention to the same girl.
And Amelia Rose had absolutely no idea why.
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