The following is MELISSAs PERSPECTIVE. NOTE!!!
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MELISSAs PERSPECTIVE
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Morning
Saturday mornings were supposed to be light. Soft. Lazy.
Not mine.
The second my eyes opened, I felt the irritation sitting in my chest like poison. It wasn't the sunlight sneaking between the curtains, or the birds outside pretending the world was worth waking up for. No. It was her.
The scarf girl.
Even in my dreams, she lingered. Even when I was supposed to rest, she found her way into my mind, her pathetic hunched figure, her stupid scarf pulled up high like it could save her from reality. And worst of all- Jade's eyes on her.
My sheets twisted around my legs as I shoved them away, the silk no longer comforting but suffocating. I sat up straight, hair spilling down my back in waves, already annoyed that I had to start another day with her shadow clinging to me.
"Ugh," I muttered, swinging my legs off the bed. My room was the size of some people's entire houses. Crystal chandelier overhead, gold-trimmed mirrors, walk-in closet big enough to get lost in. But none of it felt enough this morning. Nothing felt enough when I thought about her.
She'd been sitting next to him again yesterday. Sitting there like she belonged, like she was worthy of the chair beside him. His seat. His attention.
I caught my reflection in the mirror across the room. Glossy hair. Skin flawless. Body toned and dressed in silk pajamas. Perfect. And yet the fury in my chest burned hotter.
Because perfection meant nothing when Jade's gaze didn't land on me.
I stormed into my bathroom, brushing my teeth so hard my gums tingled, splashing cold water on my face as if that could wash away the memory of his smirk when he leaned closer to her. I gripped the marble sink so tight my knuckles turned white.
"You think you can take Jade away from me?" I whispered to my reflection, voice sharp, dangerous. "You think you can steal his attention and get away with it?"
The girl in the mirror smirked back.
I knew the answer.
No one stole what was mine. Not her. Not anyone.
I padded downstairs, my slippers tapping lightly against the polished floors. Our mansion was quiet in the mornings- too quiet. But as I stepped into the dining hall, the smell of fresh croissants and rich coffee filled the air, almost enough to soften my mood.
Almost.
My father sat at the head of the table, newspaper folded neatly beside him, a cup of black coffee steaming in his hand. My mother was already halfway through her fruit bowl, elegant in her silk robe, pearls still clinging to her neck even in the morning. We didn't do casual. Not in this family.
"Morning, darling," my mother chimed, her voice lilting.
"Morning, princess," my father added, lowering his paper just enough to smile at me.
I slumped into my chair with an exaggerated sigh, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. The chef appeared instantly, setting down a plate of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. I didn't touch it.
My father frowned, lowering his coffee. "Melissa? Something wrong?"
I stabbed at the eggs with my fork, lips pursed. "People at school are… irritating."
My mother's brows lifted. "More irritating than usual?"
I gave a tight laugh. "Much more."
My father leaned back, folding his arms. "You know you don't need to let anyone get under your skin. You're Melissa Sterling. People only talk because they're jealous. Remember that."
Daddy always said the right things. Always reminded me who I was. The Sterling name carried weight- second richest family in the city, just under Jade's empire-built father. But unlike Jade, I never had to beg for attention in this house. Daddy gave me everything I wanted before I even asked.
But this time, money and power weren't enough.
This wasn't about jealousy. This was about Jade.
I swirled the fork in the eggs, appetite gone. My parents exchanged a glance, clearly noticing the stormy mood written across my face. My mother sighed softly.
"It's that boy, Jade again, isn't it?" she asked.
I didn't answer. I didn't need to.
Daddy's jaw tightened. "Jade Vale?"
At the sound of his name, heat surged through me.
"He's not worth your energy if he's upsetting you," Daddy said firmly. "You're better than that boy. Better than any boy."
I smiled sweetly, leaning my chin into my palm. "I know, Daddy. But some things… are worth the energy."
My father studied me for a long moment before returning to his coffee. He didn't push. He never did. I always got what I wanted, and he knew better than to interfere when I set my mind on something.
And I had set my mind on this.
Jade wasn't just some boy. He wasn't just another name, another face in a crowd desperate to follow me. He was Jade. The untouchable, the dangerous, the one who had never been captured.
And now… he was slipping.
Slipping toward a girl who didn't deserve his shadow, let alone his touch.
I clenched the fork until the metal dug into my fingers.
This scarf girl thought she could walk into my world, hide her freakish face, and steal the only person I wanted. She thought she could humiliate me, make me look weak, make me feel- less.
She was wrong.
Dead wrong.
I would make sure she paid for every second she stole from me.
By noon, I was still restless.
Normally Saturdays meant something effortless- a spa appointment, shopping with Charlotte and Tasha, or lounging poolside while the sun painted my skin gold. Today, though, none of it felt effortless. I couldn't shake the gnawing irritation curled tight in my chest, the feeling that my place had been challenged.
That she had challenged me.
Tasha's text pinged first:
Brunch? The mall?
Charlotte followed a minute later:
Need a distraction? I heard the new boutique opened today 😉
I stared at the screen, my lips curling into a small smirk. Distraction. Maybe that was what I needed. Surround myself with the girls who knew their roles, who worshipped the ground I walked on. My court.
I typed back:
Fine. But you're both buying me coffee.
The chauffeur had the car waiting by the time I finished dressing. I chose a short white dress that clung in all the right places, gold hoops glinting against my hair, and a designer handbag slung over my shoulder. I didn't need comfort today; I needed the world to remember who I was.
As I slid into the backseat, I caught my reflection in the tinted window. Perfect. Always perfect. The kind of perfect that made girls whisper and boys trip over themselves. And still, behind the flawless makeup and high gloss, my eyes burned with something darker.
Not that anyone would see it.
By the time we reached the mall, the irritation had sharpened into focus. The paparazzi always lingered near the entrance of places like this, eager to snap photos of the city's elite. I stepped out of the car, ignoring the flashes, striding past the cameras like they were air. Charlotte and Tasha were already waiting, their wide smiles tinged with nervousness- because they could tell I wasn't in the mood for games today.
"Melissa, you look amazing," Tasha said quickly, tugging at her short pink skirt as if regretting her outfit the second I arrived.
"Always do," I replied smoothly, brushing past them into the boutique.
Inside, racks of new arrivals gleamed under soft lighting. My fingers grazed fabrics- silk, satin, leather- yet none of it caught my attention. Clothes were easy. Power was easy. But today wasn't about easy.
As we browsed, Charlotte and Tasha kept sneaking glances at me, whispering to each other when they thought I wasn't listening. Of course I was. I always listened.
"Are you still thinking about… yesterday?" Tasha finally asked, her voice tentative.
My hand stilled on a hanger. Slowly, I turned to face her.
"Yesterday?" I repeated, my tone dripping with warning.
She swallowed. "You know. Jade. The scarf girl. The… uh, pictures."
My smile was sharp. "Don't say her name around me."
Tasha's eyes widened, and Charlotte quickly stepped in. "We just mean- we're on your side. Always. Everyone saw how stupid she looked. She doesn't stand a chance. Not against you."
I tilted my head, considering their words. Not a chance. That's what they thought. But they didn't see what I saw.
Jade sitting next to her.
Jade touching her.
Jade choosing her.
No, she wasn't stupid. She was dangerous. Not because she was better than me- she wasn't. But because she didn't know her place. Because she thought she could climb into my world and not get crushed for it.
I ran my fingers down a sequined dress and smiled faintly.
"She'll regret it," I said softly, more to myself than to them. "She'll regret ever thinking she could take what's mine."
Charlotte and Tasha exchanged a glance, both shivering a little under the weight of my tone. I didn't care. They'd fall in line like always. They always did.
We moved on to the café afterward, iced lattes and macarons filling the table. The girls chatted about school gossip, outfits, vacations. I nodded here and there, sipping my coffee, but my mind wasn't in it.
My mind was on her.
I pictured her hunched posture on that stupid bus, scarf pulled high like a coward, pretending she didn't hear the laughter. Pretending she could just melt into the background. And then, I pictured Jade's car- sleek, red, powerful- waiting for her. Picking her up. Like she mattered.
My nails dug into my palm under the table.
"You think you can sit there," I whispered in my head, eyes narrowing at nothing. "You think you can let him look at you like that and get away with it?"
The thought made my blood hum. Not with fear. Not with insecurity. With fire.
Because if she wanted war- then war was exactly what she'd get.
"We need to find out where she lives...oh.. I got a better plan."
By the time I returned home, shopping bags stacked in the foyer and the scent of roses from the fresh arrangements lining the hallway, I should have felt satisfied. Retail therapy usually worked. Not today.
My heels clicked against the marble as I made my way into the dining hall. The long table gleamed beneath the chandelier, crystal glasses catching the light like diamonds. Dinner was already set- steak for Daddy, salmon for Mother, something lighter for me. Our chefs never failed.
Daddy looked up the second I walked in, his face softening instantly. "There's my princess," he said warmly, standing just enough to kiss the top of my head before I sat beside him. "Did you have a good afternoon?"
"Fine," I answered smoothly, though my tone carried a hint of ice.
He didn't miss it. Daddy never did. He poured me sparkling water himself, even though staff lingered nearby to do it. "What's bothering you, sweetheart?"
Mother's fork paused midair, her eyes flicking from me to him, sensing the tension.
Isighed dramatically, swirling the bubbles in my glass. "Just school things. People who don't know their place."
Daddy's jaw clenched. "Say the word and I'll make a call. No one disrespects you."
I smiled faintly, that sweet little-girl smile I always gave him when I wanted something. "No, Daddy. I don't need your help this time. I've got it under control."
His brows knit together, concern flickering. "Melissa- "
I leaned closer, brushing my hand over his sleeve. "Trust me. Okay?"
He hesitated, then nodded, his protectiveness simmering but contained. He always gave in to me eventually. Always trusted me to get what I wanted. Because I always did.
Dinner passed with polite chatter, my parents discussing business deals and charity galas, but their words washed over me. I chewed, swallowed, smiled at the right moments- yet all the while, my thoughts twisted darker.
Every bite, every sip, every breath was laced with her.
That scarf girl. That parasite.
She was probably at home right now, curled up with her pathetic little scarf, convincing herself Jade cared. Convincing herself she mattered.
My lips curled.
She didn't know what was coming.
After dinner, I retreated to my room. The sky outside was painted in deep purples and golds, the city lights flickering awake. I sat at my vanity, brushing my hair until it gleamed like molten silk, my reflection staring back at me with eyes too sharp, too alive to belong to the pampered princess everyone else saw.
"Do you really think you can take him from me?" imurmured, lips barely moving. "Do you really think you can walk into my world and survive?"
The girl in the mirror smiled back, slow and dangerous.
Ileaned closer, lowering my voice into a whisper only I could hear.
"You'll regret it, scarf girl. I'll make sure you regret it so much you'll wish you never set foot in that school. You'll wish you never looked at him. You'll wish you never breathed near me."
The brush stilled in my hand.
And then I laughed. Soft, sweet, terrifying.
Because I already knew-
Her end had begun.