Chapter 74
Mr. Thorne closed his office door quietly before bringing the phone back to his ear.
The sound on the other end was not quiet.
Something crashed.
Glass, maybe. Or metal. It shattered hard enough that Thorne instinctively pulled the phone slightly away from his ear before placing it back.
Zane didn't speak immediately.
Heavy breathing filled the line. Controlled. Dangerous.
"I sent the video," Thorne said calmly.
Another loud bang.
"I saw it," Zane replied.
His voice was low. Way too old.
Thorne leaned back slightly in his chair, eyes forward. "It happened less than ten minutes ago. Faculty corridor. She collapsed. He carried her out."
Silence.
Then something else hit the floor.
"She was in his arms," Zane said.
Not a question.
A statement.
"Yes."
"How long."
"Less than a minute inside. He took her outside immediately. No hesitation."
Zane exhaled sharply. "His hands were on
her."
Thorne didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
"I don't like that," Zane continued. "I don't like how comfortable he looks holding her."
Another object slammed.
"Students were recording," Thorne added.
"The video spread fast. The school blogs are already flooded. They're assuming they're involved."
"That's because they are," Zane snapped.
A pause.
Then his tone changed. Colder. Decisive.
"We're moving the timeline."
Thorne straightened slightly. "You want it sooner."
"I want her now."
Silence settled between them for a second.
"The longer she stays around him, the more complicated this becomes," Zane continued.
"He's already too close. He's watching her. He's touching her. Carrying her like she belongs to him."
His voice sharpened.
"She doesn't belong to him."
"No," Thorne said.
"I told you to monitor her movements."
"I am."
"Not enough." Another sharp breath. "I want everything. Every class. Every break. Every route she takes. Who she sits with. When she's alone."
"You'll have it."
"I don't want delays, Thorne." Zane's voice dropped further. "The next time she's alone... I want to know before she even realizes it."
Understood."
A pause.
Then, quieter but more dangerous:
"I'm done watching him touch her."
Thorne remained still.
"I don't care how you do it," Zane continued. "Just make sure she's ready to disappear. No mistakes this time. No hesitation."
"I'll prepare the ground," Thorne said.
"Good."
Another crash sounded faintly in the background, like something being shoved aside.
"When it happens," Zane added, "he won't even know she's gone until it's already done."
The line went quiet for a moment.
Then, "Watch her closely."
The call ended.
Thorne lowered the phone slowly.
He stared at the screen for a second.
Then opened his contacts. More people are needed.
His thumb hovered.
He began selecting more names.
★
Kimberly sat on the closed toilet seat, phone clutched tightly in her hand.
The bathroom was empty. Quiet. Only the faint hum of the overhead light and the soft echo of footsteps outside.
The video played again.
Leonard walking down the corridor.
Aurora in his arms.
Her head against his chest.
His grip firm. Protective. Effortless.
Kimberly's jaw tightened.
She replayed it.
Again.
Her knees pressed together, heels digging into the tiled floor as she leaned forward slightly, eyes glued to the screen.
That should be her.
Not Aurora.
Her thumb hovered, then replayed it again.
Aurora looked small in his arms. Weak. Completely dependent. And Leonard... he didn't even look bothered. Like carrying her meant nothing. Like he'd done it a hundred times.
Kimberly's throat tightened.
The comments kept flooding in beneath the video.
Kimberly scoffed quietly, but the sound came out thin.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
She watched the part where Leonard adjusted Aurora slightly, making sure her head rested properly against him. The small movement. Careful. Controlled.
Her stomach twisted.
That should be her.
She should be the one in his arms. The one everyone was talking about. The one he carried without thinking.
Instead she was over here being used by her own brother for pleasure like a tool.
She swallowed hard.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Aurora was getting everything.
The attention.
The protection.
The whispers.
Leonard.
And Kimberly...
She looked down at her own reflection faintly visible in the black screen between replays.
She looked tired.
Her makeup was still perfect, but her eyes looked wrong. Dull. Frustrated.
"It's not fair," she muttered under her breath.
She replayed the video again.
Leonard stepped outside with Aurora still in his arms.
Students parted for him.
No hesitation.
No shame.
Kimberly's nails dug lightly into the back of the phone.
She imagined it differently.
Her in his arms.
Her head against his chest.
Her name in everyone's mouth.
Not Aurora.
Never Aurora.
Her jaw tightened harder.
Outside the bathroom, voices passed by, laughing, talking about the same thing.
"Did you see the video?"
"Yeah, he carried her again."
Kimberly locked her screen immediately.
The silence pressed in.
She sat there for a moment, unmoving, phone still in her hand.
.
Then she inhaled slowly, straightened her posture, and stood up.
Her heels clicked softly against the tile.
.
By the time she opened the bathroom door, her face was calm again.
Like nothing bothered her and she didn't care at all.
But her grip on her phone stayed tight.
★
Oma walked slowly back toward the faculty building, her mind far from where her feet were taking her.
She was still replaying the call with
Gemma.
Aurora fainted.
Leonard carried her.
He took her with him.
And Gemma had been... calm. Too calm.
Oma frowned slightly, her steps slowing without her realizing. When did this start?
When did Leonard become someone Aurora's mother was comfortable letting her leave with?
What was she missing?
Yeah, they might be childhood friends or whatever but still. . .
She had expected panic. Questions. Concern. Not... acceptance.
Her thoughts tangled together, one over the other. The video. Aurora fainting.
Leonard carrying her like it was normal.
Gemma not sounding surprised.
It didn't sit right.
She was so deep in thought she didn't see the figure walking toward her.
She bumped straight into him.
"Whoa- baby."
Mason's hands immediately came up to steady her. He held her shoulders gently, leaning down slightly to look at her face.
"What's wrong? I saw you running out. I followed you. What happened?"
Oma exhaled slowly, still a little shaken.
"Aurora fainted. The video is everywhere. Leonard carried her out."
Mason nodded once. "Yeah, I saw it."
"That's why I came out," she continued, her voice softer now. "I just... I was wondering where he took her. I wanted to see."
Mason sighed quietly.
His hand moved to her cheek, thumb brushing lightly against her skin. He tilted her face up gently. "You need to calm down when it comes to Aurora."
Oma blinked.
"Sometimes the way you act," he continued calmly, "it's like she's a toddler that can't take care of herself. Like something bad is going to happen if you're not watching her every second."
Oma didn't reply.
"I'm pretty sure Leo is going to take care of her," Mason added. "And besides... it's not really news anymore that something is going on between them."
Oma's brows pulled slightly.
"I know he doesn't do relationships," Mason said, shrugging lightly. "But maybe something's changing. With her. With him. It happens."
He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Just relax, okay? She's fine. He's with her."
Oma exhaled tiredly, the tension in her shoulders loosening a little. "Yeah... you're right."
She nodded slowly. "You're right."
Mason smiled faintly. His fingers slid down to take her hand. "Do you have anything to do right now?"
She shook her head.
"Then come with me," he said gently. "Let me take you somewhere. We'll get food. Or anything you want."
A small smile finally appeared on Oma's face. "Okay."
He leaned in and pecked her lips lightly.
"That's better."
Then he intertwined their fingers and started leading her away from the faculty building, guiding her toward the exit.
Oma walked beside him quietly, her mind still lingering on Aurora, but calmer now, letting Mason pull her out of it as they headed off together.
★
[LEONARD'S DARK VILLA]
The room was dark.
Not dim. Not shadowed. Just... empty.
Aurora stood alone in the middle of it, her bare feet touching nothing she could truly feel. No walls. No floor. Just endless black stretching in every direction. Her breathing sounded too loud in the silence.
"Hello...?" she whispered.
No answer.
Her chest tightened. She turned slowly, scanning the darkness. Something about the place made her stomach twist. Like she wasn't supposed to be here. Like she already knew what this place meant.
Then she heard it.
"Auri..."
The whisper slid through the darkness, thin and trembling.
Aurora froze.
Her heart slammed.
"G... Ginny...?" she turned sharply, eyes wide.
Ginny stood a few steps away. Pale. Still. Her eyes looked wrong, filled with pain, accusation, something broken.
Aurora's lips parted. "Ginny...?"
"Why didn't you help me?" Ginny's voice came out soft, shaking. "You watched what they did to me... because of you... Why didn't you do something?"
Aurora shook her head immediately, tears already forming. "N-no... no. I couldn't... I promise. I tried. I was tied. I really wanted to help you. I tried... I would never willingly watch you suffer like that... Ginny..."
"You should've tried harder," Ginny said quietly. "You should've begged Zane. He wanted you anyway... I just wanted to save you... and what happened in return..."
Aurora cried harder, shaking her head violently. "I was helpless... Ginny... I'm sorry... please... please don't hate me..."
Ginny shook her head slowly.
Disappointed.
"You failed me... Aurora."
Aurora stepped forward. "N-no... Ginny-"
Ginny stepped back.
"You failed me."
"No..."
"You failed me."
"I tried..."
"You failed me, Auri."
"I was helpless-"
"YOU FAILED ME!"
Ginny vanished.
Aurora spun around wildly. "Ginny? Ginny!"
Her voice echoed.
Then the scream came from everywhere at once.
"YOU FAILED ME!!!"
Aurora jerked awake with a sharp gasp.
Her eyes flew open. Her chest heaved as she sat upright instantly.
"No..." she whispered.
Her hands trembled. "I tried to help her... I couldn't..."
Her breathing stayed uneven as she finally noticed her surroundings.
The room.
The bed.
The scent.
Leonard.
This was his room. She knew immediately. The sheets smelled like him. The pillow.
The air. Everything.
Memory rushed back. The corridor. The dizziness. Saying his name.
"Ren...?" she whispered.
The door opened.
He walked in slowly.
Shirtless.
Aurora blinked, her mind short-circuiting for a second. Tattoos. Abs. Calm expression like nothing in the world bothered him.
"The sleeping trouble is awake," he said flatly.
He came closer and snapped his fingers in front of her face.
She blinked again.
He smirked slightly.
"You brought me here..." she murmured.
"Is there another Leonard Grande?" he tilted his head.
She tried to stand.
His hand pushed her back down.
She frowned and tried again.
He pushed her back again.
She tried a third time.
Same result.
Her frustration snapped. "What do you want?!"
"You're not going anywhere until you calm yourself down." He moved away, dropping into the sofa opposite the bed. "You had almost three bad dreams while I was watching you. Who knows how many before that."
She stared at him.
Then she stood anyway.
"Why do you care?" she demanded. Her voice rose quickly, words spilling.
"Why are you always there? Why do you make me call you Ren?
Why do you call me Noelle? Why did you save me from the pool?
Why did you kiss me? Why do you keep doing things to me?
Why do you look at me like that? Why do you treat me differently? Why do you keep confusing me?!"
He stood up slowly.
"What brought this on?" he asked calmly, stepping closer.
"I'm asking the questions, Leo." She stepped closer too.
"Noelle."
"Why?!" she snapped. "Stop confusing me! What did you mean by I'm bound to you? Say something!"
"Noelle."
"Ren, stop... stop this..." Her voice weakened.
Her shoulders dropped. The anger drained suddenly, leaving only exhaustion.
She stepped closer.
Closer.
"Ren..." she whispered.
Her eyes flicked over his bare chest for a second before she leaned forward and hugged him.
He froze.
She pressed her face into his chest, holding him tightly.
"I keep trying to stay away from you... I keep trying to push you away..." her voice trembled. "But after that night... when you saved me from the pool... I just..."
He remained completely still.
Her arms tightened.
"Ren..." she whispered against him. "I..."
She inhaled shakily.
"I love you."
Silence.
"I love you, Ren."
Nothing.
He didn't move. Didn't hug her back. Didn't react.
Aurora slowly opened her eyes, still leaning against him.
"Ren...?"
His voice came out flat.
"What exactly brought you to this conclusion?"
She blinked. "Huh...?"
"What made you think you love me?" he asked again.
Her brows furrowed slowly. "What... what's that supposed to mean?"
He finally looked down at her. His eyes were cold. Empty.
"And what makes you think," he said quietly, "that I feel the same way?"
Aurora's grip loosened.
Her heart dropped.
"Wh... what...?"
TBC....