Mia’s POV
The whispers followed me as I walked through the hallways, but something was different this time. There were no sneers, no insults spat in my direction. The usual taunts that had become a part of my daily routine were oddly absent.
The silence wasn’t comforting, though. It felt strange, unsettling even, but I couldn’t deny the small bubble of relief that formed in my chest.
By the time I reached my locker, I let out a soft murmur to myself. “At least one thing they did right.”
I was sure this was my stepbrothers’ doing. Maybe their overbearing nature had finally worked in my favor. The bullies who had tormented me every day for months now avoided my gaze, whispering only among themselves. It didn’t matter how it happened; it was one less thing to worry about.
As the day wore
