Chapter 448
Chapter 448:
Around them, students felt the shift in the air — like the stillness before a storm — and quickly turned their attention elsewhere, unwilling to become collateral damage.
In these three classes of the elite preparatory program, no one dared cross Marisa. Not because of her impressive family background. In fact, none of them knew she was from the wealthy and influential Payne family in Drakmire. They feared her simply because she fought — and she fought like a thunderstorm: sudden, loud, and devastating.
None of the students across the three classes could hold a candle to her.
At the start of the school year, Marisa had made a move that still echoed in whispered stories and wide-eyed recollections. When a bold student tried to harass her, she not only stopped him cold, she dismantled his defense entirely. When his parents and a teacher stepped in, thinking her the villain, she left them humbled and silenced.
Those who were present hadn’t just watched the spectacle unfold — they were marked by it. The memory clung to them like smoke after a fire.
Though the school had initially planned to discipline her, the entire incident was swept under the rug behind closed doors — as if it had never happened.
And so, Marisa’s name spread from mouth to mouth in low tones, like folklore whispered after dark. Her rise was like wildfire — fast, fierce, and consuming. Soon, she was flanked by loyal followers, the kind who came from wealthy and powerful families too, making her even more formidable.
When Marisa decided she didn’t like someone, there were no polite warnings. Parents didn’t get the chance to complain. The verdict came first — swift and painful.
It didn’t take long for students in the three classes of the elite preparatory program to adopt a silent rule: steer clear of Marisa at all costs.
Yet, behind all that power stood a mystery that sparked more curiosity than even her fights — why had she suddenly grown so attached to Ethan?
𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼 gⲁ𝗅⁚𝗇𝗈⁚ν𝖊⁚𝗅𝘀⁚ⅽ⁚𝗈⁚𝗆
After witnessing Ethan’s formidable sister, no one in the class dared bully him anymore. With Marisa constantly at his side during breaks, the unspoken message was clear: cross Ethan, and you might answer to her. And no one wanted that kind of trouble knocking on their door.
Marisa now turned to Ethan, her voice shifting like the wind breaking through storm clouds. “Hey, don’t lose your cool. I never said that,” she teased, steering the moment toward lighter waters. “Forget it. Just open the game — I’ll show you how a real pro does it p>
Ethan realized his earlier reaction had been a bit over the top, especially after Marisa clarified that she hadn’t said those words. But then who had? Who kept tossing whispers like pebbles into his calm? A new fire caught in his chest, anger blooming quietly, like smoke rising from a spark.
Was it because Maia, due to her influential status, had made Hurst, Melanie’s father, back down, that people started spreading such rumors?
“Come on, hurry!” Marisa’s voice sliced through his thoughts. “Class starts soon p>
Ethan inhaled deeply, steadying his racing thoughts. Maia’s advice echoed in his mind like a riddle. “Don’t just listen to what they say — watch what they do p>
Clearly, Marisa’s sudden detour in the conversation wasn’t just a whim. She was redirecting the moment, shielding him from lurking ears and wandering eyes.
Though no one dared meet their gaze, every ear in the room stood like antennae, tuned to the slightest drop of gossip.
With hindsight tugging at him, Ethan regretted his earlier outburst. He had let emotion carry him into open waters without checking for sharks.
He stole a glance at Marisa, a quiet wave of gratitude rising within him. Turning back to his phone, he tapped open the game.
The soft, inviting hum of the loading screen filled the space around them, a gentle veil over the tension still hanging in the air.