Chapter 3
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Morning – The Vale-Hartley Estate
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Like the walls were holding their breath, waiting for something to snap.
Sunlight spilled through the tall windows, landing on the polished floors and expensive furniture. Everything was perfect on the outside. But the silence felt heavy. Like something rotten was buried beneath all the gold.
Ryn stood at the top of the stairs, watching them.
Her stepmother and Alina were already sitting at the long table, eating their perfect breakfast. Berries. Toast. Fresh juice. The kind of meal made to look beautiful, not to be enjoyed.
Ryn slowly walked down the stairs, her black blouse neat and tucked in, her long braid tight, her face unreadable.
Alina spotted her first.
She smiled like sunshine. The kind that hides thunder.
"Morning, sister," Alina said sweetly. "I wasn't sure you'd come down today."
Ryn stared at her for a second, then replied, "Morning Alina".
She sat at the far end of the table and quietly picked up her fork.
Clarissa,her stepmother,watched her with a polite smile that never reached her eyes,and a sneer on her lips that she tried so much to hide.
"You should eat more, Ryn," Clarissa said softly. "You're looking pale again."
Ryn kept her gaze on her plate. "Maybe I like it that way."
Alina let out a small laugh. "She's always had a flair for the dramatic."
"Is that so," Ryn said calmly.
Clarissa sighed. "Ryn, please. Alina's only trying to help. You've been… distant and all quiet since you returned from God knows where two week ago."
Alina turned to Clarissa with a fake frown. "It's okay, Mother. I understand. Ryn's been through a lot. I'm just trying to be there for her."
Ryn looked up then.
Straight at Alina.
And smiled. But it wasn't warm.
"I really appreciate you dear sister, really, but I also think you should focus more in class,cause I didn't like the way Miss Rhea spoke to you in class the other day."
I can help you study if you want? Ryn said with a" warm" smile still on her face.
Alina blinked, shock written on her face cause she didn't expect ryn to say suddenly in front of her mom. Hatred flashed in her eyes but she covered too quick.
Clarissa set her cup down a little too hard. "Is that so Alina."
"Yes" Ryn said quietly.
The room grew colder.
That's when her father walked in.
Mr. Hartley. Suit and tie. Phone in one hand, coffee in the other. Always halfway out the door.
"Morning, girls," he said.
Alina got up immediately and walked over, slipping her arm through his.
"Daddy," she said, her voice soft and sweet. "I left your meeting folder in the car. You always forget it on Wednesdays." She said trying to change the whole subject cause she knew her mother didn't play about her education.
He smiled down at her. "What would I do without you?"
Ryn stayed silent, and went back to sippin her coffee.
But he noticed her.
His smile faded for just a second.
She saw it. That flicker of guilt. Then it was gone.
Alina turned, her expression soft and sad. "Dad uhh Ryn told mum about the teacher yelling at me in class and she's angry with me"
"I was just looking out for you since we're sisters right," Ryn said sweetly.
Clarissa stared at Ryn for awhile and thought she had changed cause the Ryn she knew didn't act like this , she was timid and easy to control, but Ryn right now looks , sounds and acts different.
Her father looked between them, clearly uncomfortable. And decided to end everything.
"Can't we just have one quiet morning?" he muttered.
"Alina quickly agreed with him to change the subject about her school activities quickly.
Clarissa stared hard at her but let it go
As for Ryn she continued to eat her breakfast quietly without paying attention to what was happening around her , but thought," we can all be and act like white lotuses Alina trust ,and just know that I don't lose ,not anymore ".
There was silence at the table again.
All eyes on Ryn. But each with different thoughts on her.
After eating,she stood slowly. Walked around the table, and left for her room without saying a word anymore to prepare for school.
Wren Academy
The car pulled up to the back entrance of the school.
No cameras. No crowd.
That was for Alina.
Let her walk through the front gates like a golden girl. Ryn didn't need spotlights.
She walked past the lockers. People stopped talking when they saw her. Some stared. Others looked. People that used to trip her and made her life miserable,but gave way when she passed now.
Did I really change, is it my appearance or what she thought, but didn't dwell and think much about it. She has better things to do.
They can stare,let them.
She wasn't here to make friends.
She was here to finish what they started. And that was all that mattered.
Courtyard – Break
Alina's group was already gathered.
Mori. Kai. Noah. Vivienne. All of them laughing, sipping overpriced coffee, and pretending they didn't run the school.
Alina smiled, but her eyes were distant.
"Still sore?" Kai teased gently, and held Alina's wrist checking for something with the most softest smile.
He likes Alina, Ryn made a mental note about it. And almost gagged with all the vulnerable act Alina was putting on.
"Still a drama queen," Vivienne added.
"She's not dramatic," Kai said softly. "She's just…."
Selene passed by in silence, head held up high like she belonged in the sky,watching Alina and her theatrics with interest
"She was a dangerous girl"
And from the balcony above, Jace Wren stood leaning against the railing.
Eyes down.
Watching one girl.
Ryn.
He lit a cigarette and didn't blink once.
Disregarding all the noise around him ,with his best friend Zayne by his side.
Hallway – Midday
Ryn closed her locker and turned,and almost bumped into Jace.
He didn't speak right away.
He just looked at her.
Like she was something new. Something strange. Something sharp.
"You avoid me why?".
"I really don't have time for that," she replied.
"You should have time for me" Jace whispered
"Who are you to tell me that " I said calmly.
His mouth twitched into a smile. "I like the way you speak." You feel different.
"Don't," she said.
"Don't what?"
"Get close to me."
He tilted his head. "Too late."
Then he walked away, smoke curling behind him.
Selene's POV
Selene stood on the steps outside the building, arms crossed, watching the parking lot.
Ryn got into the black car without looking back.
Jace was already walking the other direction, hands in his pockets, headphones in, but eyes still full of storm.
Selene frowned.
What was happening, she feels like she loosing control over everything... even Jace
And it all happened after Ryns return after she disappeared for two weeks.
This wasn't just rivalry anymore.
It was something worse.
Something dangerous.
And Ryn Vale?
She wasn't a victim anymore.
She was the trigger.
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"Some girls bloom. Others burn. I do both." – Ryn Vale