Connor stepped into the classroom, his eyes darting from the dented locker, to Arthur holding the bat, to Brooke groaning on the floor. He immediately puffed out his chest, stepping into his role as the savior.
"Put the chair down, Kevin!" Connor ordered, his voice echoing with practiced authority.
He rushed over to Aurora's side. He reached out, his hands aiming to pull her into a comforting, protective embrace. "Aurora, are you okay? I'm here now."
Aurora's stomach violently rejected the idea of his touch. She took a swift, fluid step backward, perfectly evading his hands. A flash of pure revulsion crossed her eyes before she hid it.
Connor's hands grasped empty air. He blinked, a flash of irritation breaking through his concerned facade. He quickly recovered, turning his glare onto Kevin.
"What is wrong with you, Kevin? Raising a chair against a girl?" Connor demanded.
Kevin stood frozen, the heavy chair still raised above his head. He looked at Connor, then pointed a shaking finger at Brooke on the floor. "She's insane, Connor! She just flipped Brooke over her shoulder! She's a psycho!"
Connor frowned. He looked at Aurora. She looked pale, her hair slightly messy, her eyes wide. He didn't believe for a second that this fragile, dependent girl could throw someone. He assumed Kevin was just making excuses for his own violence.
Aurora didn't defend herself. Her sharp eyes scanned the immediate area.
Right next to her desk was an empty chair. Earlier that morning, Dylan Walsh had squeezed an entire tube of industrial-strength superglue onto the wooden seat, hoping to prank her. The chaos had erupted before she ever sat down.
Aurora's mind worked with terrifying speed. If she fought back now, Julian would see her as a liability. He would tighten his grip on her life. But if she was a broken, humiliated victim of severe bullying, Julian's obsessive need to protect his family would ignite. She could get out of school forever.
She made her choice.
Aurora let out a sudden, high-pitched gasp. She stared at the chair Kevin was holding, her eyes widening in manufactured terror. She threw her hands up to protect her face and stumbled backward, her steps looking clumsy and panicked.
Arthur saw her retreating. He thought Kevin was about to throw the chair.
With a roar, Arthur lunged forward. He kicked his heavy boot straight into Kevin's chest. Kevin flew backward, dropping the chair. It crashed against the chalkboard with a deafening shatter.
At that exact moment, Aurora's backing up ended perfectly. She let her knees give out and collapsed heavily onto the empty chair next to her desk.
The thick, wet superglue instantly soaked into the fabric of her expensive custom skirt.
Aurora waited exactly two seconds for the chemical to bond. Then, she let out a panicked cry and tried to stand up.
RIIIP.
The sound of tearing fabric was loud and sharp in the quiet room. A massive chunk of her skirt ripped away, remaining glued to the wood.
To sell it completely, Aurora threw her head back in distress. A thick lock of her long, dark hair slapped against the top of the chair back, instantly fusing with the glue residue there.
She was trapped. Physically bound to the chair, her clothes torn, looking utterly humiliated and helpless.
She dropped her face into her hands. Her shoulders began to heave with violent, suppressed sobs. It was the picture-perfect image of a girl pushed past her breaking point.
Connor stood just a few feet away. He looked at Aurora stuck to the chair. His nose wrinkled in genuine disgust. Instead of rushing forward to help her, he took a distinct, undeniable step backward. He didn't want to get glue on his blazer. He didn't want to deal with this mess.
Aurora watched him through the gaps in her fingers. That single step backward sealed his fate. She was going to destroy him.
Arthur turned around and saw Aurora trapped. The sight of her torn clothes and glued hair pushed him over the edge. His eyes filled with blood. He looked like a demon.
He pointed the bat at the entire class. Spit flew from his lips. "If any of you take one more step toward her, I will personally break every bone in your bodies! I will make you beg for mercy!"
The students shrank back, terrified by the raw promise of violence in his voice. Several girls started crying for real.
Connor cleared his throat, trying to regain control. "Listen, sir. The student council will investigate this. You need to calm down and put the weapon away."
Arthur snapped his neck toward Connor. He grabbed Connor by the lapels of his blazer and yanked him forward.
"You piece of trash," Arthur snarled, his breath hot on Connor's face. "You think you can manage the Carlisle family's business?"
Connor's face drained of all color. His eyes bulged. Carlisle. He thought her identity was a closely guarded secret. He never expected a driver to scream it in front of the whole class.
Before Connor could speak, the sharp, angry clicking of high heels echoed from the hallway.
Mrs. Albright, the homeroom teacher, stormed into the classroom. Her face was red with fury. She had been enjoying her coffee when the crashing sounds finally forced her to investigate.
Mrs. Albright was a woman who worshipped wealth and despised anyone on a scholarship. She took one look at the room. She saw Brooke crying on the floor. She saw a strange man holding a bat.
She completely ignored Aurora glued to the chair.
Mrs. Albright pointed a shaking finger at Arthur and shrieked, "Security! I am calling security right now to have you arrested, you animal!"
Behind her hands, Aurora's tears stopped. A cold, dark satisfaction settled in her chest. The final idiot had arrived. The stage was perfectly set.
