Chapter 31 Stepping Up
ARDEN
+5 Free Coins
Does he know? Those words echoed in the back of my mind as I made my way out of the Silver building. The others had laughed it off when Elias insinuated he had a clue about who the virgin was. I had to force myself to smile in response, not wanting to raise any suspicions. Elias didn’t glance at me even once after that, yet I couldn’t help but wonder if he had said it as a passing. irrelevant comment.
I glanced back to see Elias swarmed by the other members, who eagerly asked for his number and fawned over him. With that scene in front of me, I hastened my steps, eager to put as much distance as possible between myself and their gaze. There was no way he could know. Aside from Tessa, no one else had the slightest clue. Kieran had never shown any interest in me, but I was fairly certain that Jaxon had already informed him of my transformation from the prude he once knew.
I checked my phone and noted that I still had about half an hour before my shift began. It seemed like a good time to grab some snacks from the common cafeteria. As I made my way there, I pushed aside the thoughts of what had transpired during the Silver Quill meeting, determined to focus instead on something mundane.
However, just as I stepped into the hallways, I was met with yet another unfortunate sight. Jaxon and Sienna, along with my brother and some of the other high–ranked youths from the West, were gathered around Owen. My brother had his arm wrapped around him in an unfriendly manner, dragging him toward the Opulence Cafeteria with an unsettling grip.
I hung back a bit, concealing myself behind a post, and observed their interaction.
“Have you ever been inside before?” Kieran teased, nudging Owen’s side. Owen flinched and tried to pull away, but it was futile against my brother’s strength. Jaxon and Sienna merely watched the scene unfold, unbothered, as they fiddled with each other’s hands.
“I’m not allowed in there,” Owen muttered. “Can you please let me go?”
“Aww, look at Owen asking oh–so–nicely for me to let him go,” Kieran chuckled, and the laughter from the others followed. My brows furrowed in disapproval. There was nothing funny about this situation. Did their pride and ego render them incapable of recognizing the absurdity of their cruelty?
“How about this? I’ll let you in there for free. What do you say, huh? I’m sure someone like you would want to see the cafeteria reserved for the likes of us,” Kieran continued his taunts.
“No, thank you,” Owen replied firmly. “I have somewhere to be”
With
that, he managed to slip away with surprising speed, but Kieran didn’t take kindly to his escape. In an instant, he grasped Owen again, wrapping his arm around Owen’s neck and pulling his close.
Kieran dragged Owen toward the Opulence Cafeteria, and my hands clenched tightly at my sides. I found myself in a dilemma, torn between the urge to intervene and the daunting reality of my brother’s overpowering presence.
Others walked past the scene, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil unfolding, some even giggling with amusement. I felt compelled to intervene. How could I criticize these bystanders while I remained a passive observer at this damn post, too?
Before I fully processed my thoughts, I found myself striding toward the Opulence Cafeteria, my initial hesitation giving way to a surge of courage As I entered, the atmosphere of regality enveloped me. However, it was accompanied by a sense of hypocrisy. The tables and chairs, a stark contrast to those in the Common Cafeteria, resembled pieces plucked straight from million dollar homes.
At the center of it all were Owen and Kieran, the former radiating discomfort.
“You’re already here, so why don’t you entertain us?” Kieran chuckled. Owen pursed his lips, turning slightly away, trying to
hdraw from the moment.
“You didn’t think you’d come here for free, did you?” Kieran taunted. Then, he stood and grabbed a piece of steak, shoving it into Owen’s mouth, which only drew Laughter from the others seated nearby. My heart raced at the vile display of bullying taking place before me.
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10:44 AM ch
Chapter 31 Stepping Up
+5 Free Coins
I scanned the room, hoping to find at least one person with a semblance of sanity. While a few were entertained, most cast their eyes downward, appearing afraid of the repercussions of standing against Kieran and his crew.
“I even provided you a meal,” Kieran chuckled. “Show the hand that feeds you some kindness by performing for us. What are you guys in the mood for? A song? A dance? An act?” he asked, parading around the room, pointing at others as he did.
“Monster.” I muttered under my breath, my hands shaking from an emotion I couldn’t quite identify–fear? Disdain?
“Make him act like a dog!” Sienna exclaimed carelessly while reapplying her lip gloss. The others jumped on board, chiming in with suggestions, their enthusiasm frightening. It felt like a betting ground filled with the most depraved college students imaginable.
“The crowd has spoken,” Kieran announced, his voice rising to command everyone’s attention. “Act like a dog for us, Owen.”
Owen’s lips were pursed tightly, and from my vantage point, I could almost see a black cloud gathering over his head. I didn’t pity him; I felt a fierce anger rising within me. No one would want to find themselves in such a humiliating predicament, yet escaping it seemed nearly impossible.
Owen remained motionless, casting his gaze downward in silence. Kieran, embarrassed by Owen’s lack of response, gripped his shoulder, causing Owen to flinch.
“Don’t embarrass me now, you rascal,” he said through gritted teeth. “I brought you here for a show, and you are going to deliver, whether you like it or not.
“Please let me go,” Owen pleaded desperately, but his words only sparked amusement among the others.
“What was that?” Kieran teased, leaning in closer. “Say it louder.”
“Please just let me go,” Owen repeated.
Silence fell for a moment, and I could see Kieran’s smirk widening maliciously. “No,” he replied casually. “Not unless you act like a dog for us first.”
“Do it now, while I’m still asking nicely. I might even consider reducing the amount of your debt if you perform well.”
My breath hitched as I noticed a flicker of hope in Owen’s expression. He lifted his head slightly, and for a moment, I genuinely believed he night comply. No–I was certain he was going to go through with it.
But at that moment, I stepped forward, my voice ringing clear above the crowd.
“Let him go
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