Scarred Heart, Twisted Fate

s. Being the smallest child among the rest often meant she was forgotten, overlooked. But sometimes, that worked in her favor. She was only seven months old when she was abandoned at th

followed her friend toward the lecture hall. "You make a point, but damn it still pisses me off." By the time they reached the classroom, the professor was already at the podium, glasses perched low on her nose, going over notes. The lecture hall buzzed with chatter, but quieted slightly when the girls entered. Ann could feel the stares like pins against her back. Whispers followed her, the familiar melody of mocking tones and sneers-an unwelcome soundtrack she'd grown used to over the years. But she didn't react. She walked straight to the back and pulled Judith along with her. They slid into the last row, the furthest point from anyone important. Ann pulled out her worn notebook and a pen with faded blue ink. Around her, tablets and sleek laptops flickered to life like tiny cityscapes. But Ann didn't flinch. She was used to this too. Halfway into the lecture, something shifted. The door creaked open and the professor paused mid-sentence. Principal Deborah entered, her heels tapping authoritatively against the polished tile. "Attention, students," she said, voice too cheerful to be apologetic. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have a new student joining us today." Ann glanced up, already disinterested, but something about the glint in the principal's eyes made her curious. The woman looked excited-as if she were announcing a celebrity, not just a transfer student. "Rex Radford has been enrolled in our school by his father, Alfred Radford." The name dropped like a pebble into still water-and the ripple was immediate. Excitement exploded across the room. Girls gasped, scrambling to fix their hair, smooth their shirts, and swipe on lip gloss. Laughter, whispers, and shrieks of recognition filled the space. The boys looked mildly annoyed, like they already knew this guy would be trouble. Ann tilted her head, blinking. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place it. She turned to Judith. Her friend was fluffing her curls and reapplying tinted lip balm with trembling hands. Ann's eyebrows shot up. "Jud... are you seriously doing what they're doing?" Judith froze, then gasped. "Ann! Don't tell me you don't know who Rex Radford is!" Ann blinked at her, expression blank. "Should I?" Judith groaned and nearly smacked her forehead. "Your TV's older than Moses, so I'm not even surprised, but come on! Rex Radford is the Rex Radford. Son of Alfred Radford-tech mogul, billionaire, owns like half o