Lost Heiress of the Belfort Brothers

ne's

econd I saw her, and then saw Adrian wrap his arms around her like she was the only person in the world. For a heartbeat I

ok at her. She actually thought the principal's son would take the cleaning lady's adopted child to homecoming." T

f courage. Maybe it was the dress still tucked in my arms. Maybe it was my mom's voice in my head telling me not to give them the sat

t about you," she teased, touching my cheek with a finger that left the faintest trace of perfume. It was meant to humiliate as the gentle touch

se the very job that paid for our tiny apartment and for dress

the middle of the school hall. And in turn, Adrian melted into it like he'd been waiting all his

to make him remember what he'd said to me. "Adrian, you told me yo

serious?" he spat. His voice was sharp, the kind that got more of th

nnounced, loud enough so everyone could hear, "Tricia is

shoot. Around us, phones were already being raised and lenses turning toward me. The hallway

n some DEI scholarship because your mum is a pathetic cleaner. You don't even have a proper uniform-always in that cardi

something that had already been raw. If he didn't love me-if it had all been a lie-w

cleaner's adopted girl is getting served." Laughter

to try once more. "Adrian, you told me you

g mean and loud. "Oh my God! You actually believed that?" someone cried out. The worst pa

only needed you to pass his classes. Now you can't even

the next humiliation came from Tricia as she held out a cup she had, turning the content from it right on m

t were confetti. It landed and stuck and just the

" Another added, "Finally, a look that suits her." Someone else mimed

I grabbed that same cup that was beside me with

istance. Maybe they expected

and before I could move, he kneeled and poured the contents down my dress. The food s

own, warm paste sticking to my skin. I wanted to scream; instead

y that to me, ass

't expected me to fight back. F

n, like a queen bestowing mercy, she reached into her pocket and flashed a few dollars. "For your shit dress. At

someone laughed, feeding the chao

tch is the stupidest nerd I've seen. How could she think Adrian w

then at Tricia, and something hot and raw rose in my chest. It wasn't just shame. It was fury. But wh

st, pinning me further to the ground so everyone c

ice. It cut through like a bell. "Tha

nds gripping the arms as if she'd pushed harder than seemed possible

h. Some students shifted uneasily, phones half-lowered. I felt tears build up, but they

vy but controlled. She didn't shout and couldn't say anything at that point with pity all over her face

," she said, with her voice steady and low.

eering way-more like a reflex, lik

ace flickered. "Oh, look. The cleaner's here," she

htened, but she d