Login to ManoBook
icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Log out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon
Underneath It All

Underneath It All

Vickiwrites

5.0
Comment(s)
View
18
Chapters

Ava Sinclair is a scholarship student at Westbridge Academy, a prestigious school where the children of the wealthy elite dominate the halls. Haunted by a devastating event from her past, Ava has spent the last three years staying out of the spotlight. All she wants is to graduate and leave the toxic social scene at Westbridge behind for good. Enter Caleb Hayes, the school's golden boy. As the son of a billionaire real estate mogul, Caleb seems to have it all-good looks, charm, and unimaginable wealth. But beneath his polished exterior lies a young man struggling to meet his family's high expectations. When Ava is assigned to tutor him to improve his grades, their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. As secrets are revealed and chemistry ignites between them, Ava and Caleb face a choice: is their love strong enough to defy the expectations of their world? And can Ava find the strength to move on from her troubled past?

Chapter 1 AVA'S INVISIBLE LIFE

Ava Sinclair had one rule for her senior year "stay invisible".

At Westbridge Academy, disappearing wasn't as hard as people thought. It was easy when you didn't belong or when you weren't rich or famous or one of the people who ruled the school. And after what happened last year, she had no intention of standing out again.

She adjusted the strap of her backpack, keeping her head low as she weaved through the marble hallways. Around her, clusters of students laughed and whispered, perfectly polished and untouchable. Girls in designer heels compared summer vacations in Monaco, while boys in pressed blazers talked about the cars their parents had gifted them.

None of it had anything to do with her. And that's how she wanted it.

As she slipped into her AP English class, the hum of conversation faded. She scanned the room, spotting the only person she trusted in this school.

Grace Taylor.

Ava slid into the seat beside her, exhaling in relief. Grace had been her anchor ever since... everything. Unlike the other girls, Grace didn't care about social hierarchies. Her focus was music, not gossip, and she was the only person who hadn't turned on Ava after Madison's betrayal.

"You barely made it," Grace whispered, flipping one of her sleek braids over her shoulder.

"The bus was late again," Ava murmured, pulling out her notebook.

Grace gave her a sympathetic smile. "Still no word on the car?"

Ava shook her head. With her father still recovering from the accident, money was tight. Too tight for things like car repairs new clothes or anything that the students at Westbridge took for granted.

At least she had her scholarship for now.

Grace leaned closer. "I heard Mr. Reynolds is assigning partners for the senior project today."

Ava stiffened. Group work. She hated it. Too many people in this school saw "partners" as an excuse to let her do all the work while they coasted by.

As if summoned by her thoughts, the classroom door swung open and in strolled Caleb Hayes.

The room shifted when he entered, like the air itself bent around him. West bridge's golden boy. Tall, effortlessly handsome, and draped in casual arrogance. With dark hair that always seemed perfectly messy and sharp blue eyes that missed nothing, he carried himself as if the world owed him something.

And in a way, it did.

His father owned half the city. People moved out of his way without question, and the rules rarely applied to someone like him. Ava had never spoken to him directly-people like him didn't notice people like her-and she planned to keep it that way.

"Still the king of the castle," Grace muttered, rolling her eyes.

Ava smothered a smile as Caleb dropped into the seat near the back, flanked by his closest friends. His voice, low and careless, filtered across the room as he laughed at something one of them said. His world was easy, and it would always stay that way.

A world completely separate from hers.

---

"Alright, settle down," Mr. Reynolds said, stepping to the front of the room. He adjusted his glasses and held up a stack of folders. "Your senior project will account for fifty percent of your grade. You'll work in pairs-partners I've chosen for you."

Ava tensed, her stomach twisting into knots.

Please, anyone but-

"Caleb Hayes and Ava Sinclair," Mr. Reynolds announced.

Her heart dropped. Of course.

A quiet ripple of amusement swept through the room. Caleb's friends snickered softly, and Ava's pulse pounded in her ears. This was exactly the kind of attention she'd spent months avoiding.

Grace shot her a sympathetic glance. "Ouch. Good luck surviving that."

---

Ava bolted out of the classroom the moment the bell rang. She just wanted to escape. She could already hear the whispers.

"Why would he be stuck with her?"

"What does she even have to offer?"

She pressed her books against her chest and hurried down the hallway. She didn't care what anyone thought-Caleb Hayes wasn't her problem. She would do the project, stay quiet, and finish the year unnoticed.

At least, that was the plan.

"You're quick, Tutor Girl."

Ava froze mid-step. She knew that voice.

Slowly, she turned around to find Caleb leaning against the lockers, hands shoved in his pockets. Up close, he was even more frustrating-he had the kind of face people noticed, and he knew it. But there was an edge to his smile-like he was waiting for the world to amuse him.

"I'm not your tutor," she said quietly, gripping her books tighter.

His smile widened. "Technically, you kind of are. And since you care about grades..." He gestured vaguely. "You'll want to keep up."

Ava swallowed her irritation. "We'll meet after school. The library."

"You're serious?" Caleb tilted his head like he couldn't believe she was giving him rules. "And what if I'm busy?"

"Then you fail," Ava said flatly. "And I'm not doing your work for you."

For a moment, Caleb just looked at her-like she was some puzzle he couldn't quite figure out. Most girls at Westbridge fell over themselves to get his attention. Ava wasn't one of them.

Finally, he shrugged. "Fine, Tutor Girl. Library at four."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away-leaving Ava standing there, her heart thudding in her chest.

---

"You told him off?" Grace asked, eyes wide, as they walked toward the library after lunch.

Ava sighed. "Not exactly. I just want to get this over with."

Grace nudged her playfully. "Still. I'm impressed. Most people wouldn't dare stand up to Caleb Hayes."

Ava shook her head. She wasn't brave-she was just tired. Tired of people like him thinking they could do whatever they wanted.

When they reached the library doors, Grace hesitated. "Want me to stay?"

Ava forced a small smile. "I've got this. But thanks."

Grace squeezed her arm before heading toward the music wing, leaving Ava to face the storm alone.

---

When Caleb showed up-ten minutes late-he didn't bother apologizing.

"Hope you didn't miss me," he drawled, dropping into the seat across from her.

Ava ignored the warmth crawling up her neck. "Let's get started."

As she opened her notebook, she made a silent promise.

No matter what Caleb Hayes thought-she wasn't going to be another girl caught in his world.

Continue Reading

Other books by Vickiwrites

More

You'll also like

MY MASTERS

MY MASTERS

Mercy Kay
5.0

For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.

Mysterious Husband Is a Billionaire

Mysterious Husband Is a Billionaire

POWER READING
5.0

"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book