His expression dimmed as he stood up and silently retreated to his room.

  Later that night, he opened the closet. Inside was a full-length mirror, and he stood before it, bare feet on the cold floor, staring at the reflection he had so far ignored.

  Small frame. Too delicate. Features that looked more like a porcelain doll’s than a boy’s. Skin too fair. Eyelashes too long. Eyes too pretty.

  He looked like something fragile and breakable—soft, almost feminine. Atticus didn’t move. It was the first time he truly looked at himself and felt something close to disgust.

  .............

  That night, June dragged her tired body home after another long shift at her part-time job.

  Since Lyra had stopped showing up to school and dropped all her side jobs, June had been left to juggle everything on her own. The exhaustion was bone-deep.

  Though she’d lost her scholarship, Dorian had handed her a check for a hundred grand in compensation. And Lyra had also promised her something else: once the chaos with the Lancaster and Harrington families was handled, she’d help June win over William.

  Just thinking about William’s cold, handsome face made her heart flutter. A shy smile touched her lips, and her cheeks flushed with sweetness she didn’t even try to hide.

  She slipped the key into the door and opened it. “Mom, I’m home! I got another 300 in tips today, you wouldn’t beli—”

  Her words caught in her throat as a rough hand clamped over her mouth from behind. June’s eyes flew wide in terror. In the next second, the door was shoved open by the man behind her. When her mother, Aria, saw what was happening, the blood drained from her face. “J-Jace... how did you—how did you find us?”

  Jace sneered. “Bitch. You think you can run and hide from me forever? Even if you crawl to the ends of the goddamn earth, I’ll find you.”

  With one brutal motion, he slapped Aria so hard she collapsed against the wall, blood smearing the corner of her mouth.

  “Mom!” June wrenched herself free and rushed to her mother’s side, her voice cracking with panic.

  Aria’s face was swollen and bruised. June's chest tightened with rage and horror. She spun around and shouted at Jace, her voice hoarse and furious. “What the hell are you doing here? Haven’t you done enough?! You bastard! You useless thug! Get the fuck out of our house!”

  Jace’s eyes darkened with fury. “You little bitch. Don’t forget who you’re talking to—I’m your father!”

  And with that, he raised his hand and struck her. June’s cheek snapped sideways from the force of it. Her pale skin bloomed red across one side.

  Aria pulled her into her arms, kneeling on the ground, sobbing, begging Jace not to hurt her daughter.

  But Jace didn’t care. He walked in like he owned the place, threw himself down on the couch, and propped his feet up on the coffee table. “I’ll deal with you later. Right now I’m hungry. Go cook something. Now.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  .....

  A few days later, Lyra finally returned to school—partly because of Dorian and Ophelia’s insistence, partly because she couldn’t hide forever.

  But the stares that followed her felt sharper than before—like knives dressed as curiosity. She forced herself to ignore them, straightened her shoulders, and kept walking.

  “Lyra, it’s okay... You’re okay...” she whispered under her breath. When she entered the classroom and saw June sitting there. “June! I’m back,” she said, trying to sound light.

  June glanced up, her eyes glassy, her whole expression dim and off.

  “June?” Lyra lowered her voice and sat beside her. “What happened?”

  June hesitated. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. “Nothing,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Lyra gave her a small, patient smile. “If something’s wrong, you can tell me. I’m here, okay?”

  June blinked, then seemed to snap out of it. “What about you? Clarissa didn’t do anything to you, did she? That cruel bitch didn’t hurt you again, right?”

  Lyra’s expression froze for half a second. She looked away quickly and forced a smile. “No... no. My sister didn’t do anything.”

  She paused, then added with gentle sincerity,

  “My biggest hope right now is to make peace with her. I want us to be sisters again. I want her back in the Lancaster family.”

  June stared at her. “You’re too kind. After everything she’s done to you... and you still want to give her a share of your family’s fortune?”

  Lyra gave a soft laugh. “It was my parents’ decision. They always wanted to give her what she deserved.”

  June’s eyes darkened, and her tone turned bitter. “She’s lucky, then. To have a family like yours...” Her voice dipped lower, almost like she was speaking to herself. “Some people are just born lucky...”

  Lyra didn’t catch that last part. “What was that?”

  “Nothing.” June looked down, lips pressed into a thin line.

  Lyra didn’t think much of it—because just then, Clarissa walked past the door.

  And the room froze. All eyes shifted. Boys leaned in their chairs to watch her pass.

  Lyra’s smile faltered.“She’s... really popular,” she said, almost to herself. “She’s beautiful. Good at everything...”

  But beside her, June’s fists clenched, and her voice turned razor-sharp. “She’s nothing but a slut who attracts every man she sees. All she’s got is that face. Shame Dorian doesn’t like cheap tricks.”

  Lyra blinked in surprise. “June... what?” She knew June could be blunt, but this was different. Meaner. Harsher.

  June suddenly seemed to realize it too. She drew in a breath, covered it with a fake cough, and muttered, “I’m fine. You should go back to your seat. Class is starting soon.”

  Clarissa was called to the office during the last class of the day.

  As she pushed open the door, her eyes landed on William, standing silently in the center of the room.

  He turned at the sound but barely spared her a glance before looking away again.

  The teacher quickly approached her with a smile, taking her hand warmly. “Clarissa, you’re here—good, good. Come sit. William, you too…”

  Clarissa blinked. “Teacher, what’s going on?”

  “The school’s planning a promotional campaign next semester,” the teacher explained, excitement in his tone. “We’ve decided to feature you and William in the promotional materials—photos, and a short video for the official website.”

  “…What?” Clarissa blinked again. “You’re choosing me?”

  It felt strange. Off, even. In the original storyline, she clearly remembered William had filmed the promo with Lyra—and it had gone viral for all the right reasons.

  “Of course,” the teacher continued, oblivious to her confusion. “You and William tied for first in the exams. You’re both outstanding in both looks and grades—it’s a no-brainer for the school to highlight you two.”

  Clarissa hesitated. “But… I’ve been under a bit of public scrutiny lately…”

  “You mean the Lancaster family issue?” the teacher waved it off. “All the more reason to show that our school values hard work over background. We want to send a message—anyone can shine here, no matter where they come from.”

  He looked between them and smiled approvingly. “Anyway, the decision’s made. This will look great on both your records—university applications, internships. Just give it your best.”

  Clarissa could only nod and smile, the words stuck in her throat. What else could she say after all that?