<b>Chapter </b><b>165 </b><b>Always </b>Misunderstood
Chapter 165 Always Misunderstood
<b>TESSA </b>
Fortunately, I had already calmed down with the help of Owen and Arden. They didn’t know why <b>I </b>was acting as such, and I was thankful they didn’t ask.
Honestly, I didn’t know if I was really alright or if I had convinced myself that. For a while, <b>at </b>least. I <b>kept </b>telling myself I’d push it all to the back of my mind and bury it with me.
Arden and my schedules didn’t line up as neatly as they used to, which sucked. It meant less time with <b>her</b><b>, </b>my best friend. She had her set of sses, I had mine, and sometimes we only brushed shoulders in the dining hall before going our separate ways. I missed thefort of walking beside her after ss. Now, though, after myst lecture of the day, I was by myself.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and let out a long breath. At least I didn’t have Lunar Instincts today<b>. </b>
Fate was cruel, so Zaria ended up as my teacher.
If I had to sit there, surrounded by ssmates, while she stood at the front of the room breathing down my neck with her poisonous gaze, I didn’t know if I’dst five minutes.
I just wanted to go back to my dorm room, which Arden/has also moved out of. She decided to move to Cade’s ce, and rightfully so. However, since the fees in Elite had significantly gone down except for the living expenses, I could manage well on my own at the Hades‘ dorm.
The thought of my bed sounded perfect. So with that thought guiding me, I headed for the exit.
“Tessa.”
I stopped in my tracks when a voice cut through the hallway–a voice I was trying to avoid all day. I froze mid–stride before slowly turning around.
As expected, Zaria stood there with her perfect everything. Nothing has changed–not even the way looked at me like I was nothing more than dirt under her heel.
“You’re still here, huh?” Her tone dripped with disdain. “I’m surprised.” She tilted her head. “You’ve survived.”
I let out a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment.
“Well,” she continued, the cruel smile spreading, “not for long.”
she
“Mr. Winters might be gone,” Zaria said with azy shrug, “and you might be running around with your little friend squad, who somehow don’t know what you’ve done. But we all know, Tessa.”
“You’re nothing but a murderer.”
I straightened my spine, determined not to be swayed by her words. “I don’t need you anymore,<b>” </b>I said. “I can stand on my own.”
I saw the flicker of annoyance in her expression, like she hadn’t expected me to talk back. Well, I didn’t expect it, too, actually. Then, sheughed.
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<b>Chapter </b><b>165 </b>Always Misunderstood
<b>“</b>Really?” she drawled.
She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the floors of the halls, echoing between us. “Do <b>you </b><b>think </b>standing on your own changes anything? You’re still nothing. Tessa.”
I clenched my jaw.
“You can graduate from Elite Order Academy,” Zaria pressed on, circling me like a predator, “but <b>you’ll </b>still be hated by the South. You can scrape and w for approval, but Rowan still won’t love you. His parents will never ept you. And your so–called friends here will leave the moment they know the <b>truth</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>she leaned closer, her whisper burning against my car.
Her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit.
But still–I held my ground.
“It’s different now,” I said firmly, raising my chin. “I actually have people who care for me.”
Zaria’s smile twisted. Her hand sh
She yanked my hair.
out so fast I barely had time to react.
I gasped, my body jerking as pain shot through my scalp. My hands flew up to grab <b>hers</b>, trying to pull her away, but her grip tightened cruelly, forcing my head back.
“Pathetic,” she hissed, her eyes gleaming.
I struggled, <i>my </i>heart pounding against my ribs. A rush of anger rose in me, drowning out the <i>fear</i>. I wasn’t that same weak girl anymore. I wasn’t going to let her break me again.
I didn’t know what came over me, but my body moved before I even thought. I shoved her away with all my force.
Zaria stumbled back harder than I expected, her heels slipping on the uneven pavement. She fell with a gasp, hitting the ground. The sound of skin scraping against the floor rang out louder than it should have.
After that, the scent of blood filled the space between
Blood.<ol><li><b>us</b><b>. </b></li></ol>
A thin trail of it bloomed along her elbow where she’d scraped it, scarlet against her tan skin. My heart lurched in my throat.
“I-” My breath caught. “I was just-
But my words tangled because that was when Rowan appeared.
Perfect timing.
His tall frame filled the corner of my vision, and from the slight frown on his forehead and the way he looked at me, I knew that he didn’t see the whole thing. Again, everything was taken out of context.
My eyes widened. “It’s not what it looks like,” I muttered.
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Chapter <b>165 </b>Always Misunderstood
<b>However</b>, Rowan didn’t answer. His jaw tightened, and <b>I </b>saw the faint shake of his head, <b>slow </b><b>and </b>disappointed, as though I’d confirmed something he’d already suspected about me.
Zaría seized the moment like it had been gift–wrapped for her.
She let out <b>a </b>soft, pitiful sound. Then she looked up at him, big eyes glistening like she’d been the helpless victim all along. “It… it hurts, Rowan,” she said, her voice so fragile it made my skin crawl. She lifted her arm, the scrape already welling with blood, and leaned into him.
Rowan’s gaze flicked back to me for a moment. However, he quickly looked away, his hand steadying Zaria. Then, he shook his head again. It was a silent dismissal that cut deeper than anything he could have said out loud.
And then, still holding onto her arm, he walked away, leaving me standing there with the sting of her pull still at my scalp.
Why?
Why was it that Zaria always got what she wanted? Why was she always the one cushioned by sympathy, while I was left the viin in everyone’s eyes?