Chapter Eight: Back to school
1239 Words
Sofia had eventually agreed to Matteo's rules.
Not because she wanted to.
Because she had no choice.
If following a driver and a few guards was the price she had to pay to finish her education, then so be it.
She wasn't going to let Matteo De Santis ruin the last year of her college education.
Monday morning came faster than she expected.
Sofia stood in front of her mirror, adjusting her clothes.
She had chosen a casual outfit—simple, comfortable, but still pretty. She wasn't trying too hard. She didn't want to give anyone a reason to think she was dressing up because she was now married to a billionaire.
She picked up her small tote bag and checked it for the third time.
Notes.
Laptop.
Water bottle.
A few snacks.
Pens.
Lip gloss.
Everything she needed.
She took a deep breath.
Today was the first day she would return to school since her life had completely changed.
And that was exactly what made her nervous.
Everyone knew.
The whole world practically knew.
Sofia Moretti, the mystery woman who married Matteo De Santis.
She could already imagine the whispers.
That's her.
Isn't that Matteo De Santis's wife?
Why did she marry him?
How did she even meet him?
Sofia shook her head.
“Stop thinking about it.”
She picked up her bag.
“I've survived worse.”
She left her room.
When she got outside, the guards were already waiting beside the car.
Matteo wasn't around.
As usual, he had already left for work.
One of the guards opened the car door.
Sofia got inside.
The journey to school was quiet.
She spent most of it looking through the window, watching the city pass by.
She hadn't realized how much she missed this.
Her normal life.
Her school.
Her routine.
For a few minutes, she almost forgot that she was married to one of the most powerful men in the city.
Almost.
The car finally pulled up in front of Devan Senari College in New York City.
The name had always sounded funny to Sofia.
She'd once asked what Senari meant.
Apparently, she had been told it meant goodness.
Funny.
Because nothing about her life currently felt good.
Still, Devan Senari was one of the most prestigious colleges in the city.
The moment the car stopped, Sofia noticed people looking.
Then more people started looking.
Then practically everyone nearby was staring.
“Oh, not this.”
Sofia covered part of her face with her hand.
The guards stepped forward to open the door.
Before they could, Sofia opened it herself and stepped out.
She adjusted her bag.
“I'm fine.”
One of the guards followed.
Sofia stopped.
“Wait.”
He looked at her.
“You don't have to follow me.”
“Mr. De Santis instructed us to stay with you.”
“I know, but I'm already inside the school.”
He remained silent.
Sofia sighed.
“Do you want to follow me into my lecture hall too?”
The guard didn't answer.
She gave him a look.
“Exactly.”
She turned around and walked away.
Behind her, she could still feel their eyes following her.
Sofia lowered her head slightly as she walked toward the lecture hall.
People whispered as she passed.
Some stared.
Some pretended not to.
Then she heard two girls talking.
“That's her.”
“The one who married Matteo De Santis?”
“Yes.”
The other girl scoffed.
“She has no shame.”
Sofia's steps slowed.
“She married someone old enough to be her uncle.”
The girls laughed quietly.
Sofia kept walking.
She pretended she hadn't heard.
But she had.
And it hurt.
She tightened her grip on her bag.
Don't cry.
Not here.
She continued walking.
When Sofia reached her lecture hall, the class had already started.
Great.
She pushed the door open quietly.
Every head turned.
Exactly what she didn't need.
The professor paused.
Then smiled.
“Welcome back, Miss Moretti.”
Sofia swallowed.
“Thank you, ma'am.”
She walked toward the back of the hall.
She found an empty seat and quietly sat down.
After a few seconds, everyone returned to what they were doing.
Sofia pulled out her notebook.
She focused on the lecture.
For the first time in weeks, she felt like herself again.
No Matteo.
No mansion.
No guards standing behind her.
Just school.
Just her notes.
Just Sofia.
She listened carefully, writing down important points.
She had always been serious about school.
She didn't have many friends.
Actually, she barely had any.
Isabella had been her closest friend growing up.
But after Isabella finished school, Sofia had been left mostly alone.
She had learned to keep to herself.
And she was okay with that.
After about an hour, the lecture finally ended.
Students began packing their bags.
Sofia closed her notebook and checked the time.
She still had another class.
But it wouldn't start for another two hours.
She decided to spend the break somewhere quiet.
She walked toward the basketball court.
Across from the court was a shaded seating area where students could sit and relax.
Sofia liked that spot.
It was usually quiet.
Not many people came there.
She sat down and dropped her bag beside her.
From where she was sitting, she could still see the basketball court.
A group of guys were playing.
Sofia pulled out her earbuds.
She put them in, opened her phone, and played some music.
Music had always been one of the few things that could calm her down.
She leaned back.
For the first time that morning, she relaxed.
Her eyes closed.
She didn't hear the shouting from the court.
She didn't hear someone yell.
“Watch out!”
She opened her eyes just in time to see something flying toward her.
THUD!
A basketball slammed into the side of her face.
“Ouch!”
Sofia fell sideways from the seat.
The world spun for a moment.
Then she heard a masculine voice.
“I'm so sorry! Are you okay?”
A hand reached toward her.
Sofia looked up.
A guy stood in front of her.
He was tall, athletic, and clearly had just come from playing basketball.
His black curly hair was damp with sweat, and a few curls rested against his forehead.
His eyes caught her attention immediately.
They were striking.
Sofia blinked.
Oh.
She quickly looked away.
The guy helped her to her feet.
“Are you hurt?”
Sofia touched the side of her forehead.
There was a small injury there.
Before she could respond, someone shouted from the court.
“Noah!”
Noah turned.
“Bring the ball!”
He glanced back at Sofia.
“I'm really sorry.”
He looked at the small injury on her forehead.
“Oh my God. You're hurt. Let's get you to the nurse.”
“I said I'm fine.”
Sofia picked up her bag.
She was already irritated.
Her morning had been terrible.
She didn't need this too.
Noah stepped closer.
“Seriously, you should let someone check—”
“I said I'm fine.”
She grabbed her things and hurried away.
She didn't look back.
She didn't notice the small earbuds lying beneath the bench.
Noah did.
He bent down and picked them up.
He looked in the direction Sofia had disappeared.
“Wait…”
But she was already gone.
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