Chapter 1: Welcome to the War Zone

After I crossed the group favorite, every hallway felt like a war zone and every day was a new test of survival.

The king of the school, Luke Sterling, mobilized everyone to freeze me out—turning halls into minefields and classrooms into battlegrounds.

The infatuated second-in-command, Grant Cooper, cost me my part-time job and financial aid, cutting off every single lifeline I had left.

And the sinister villain, Seth Hayes, cozied up just to play his own cruel game—pretending to be close, only to plan my downfall and toss me aside for Madison’s satisfaction. To them, my heart was a toy to be broken.

Madison Taylor smiled, sweet and venomous, her perfect teeth gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights in the girls’ bathroom.

"Get on your knees and beg, then crawl around the track like a dog. Three laps. On camera. Or else tomorrow’s going to be way worse."

She paused, her eyes glinting. "Or maybe you’d prefer what they have planned for you tomorrow."

My phone buzzed in my pocket, screen lighting up with a stream of messages I tried to ignore.

【Be good, promise to be with me.】

【No one will be able to bully you anymore.】

【Baby, don’t go to work anymore.】

【Just let me take care of you, isn’t that good?】

【Does the little dog's new collar look good... Master.】