The next morning, Susan floated into school in a daze.
The world seemed different — lighter, warmer.
The sharp edges of her pain felt dulled, numbed by the memory of Marcus's kiss.
Even the laughter and whispers that usually haunted her steps seemed fainter.
For the first time, Susan allowed herself to believe she was normal.
Wanted.
Chosen.
---
In the bustling cafeteria, Susan stood awkwardly by the food line, clutching her tray.
Normally she would sit alone, tucked away in a corner where no one would notice her — but today, everything was different.
Today, Marcus waved her over.
He was sitting at the popular table.
Jessica, Samantha, Tyler, Nick — the untouchable, perfect ones — were all there, lounging like kings and queens in a world Susan had never been allowed to enter.
Susan's throat tightened.
Her sneakers squeaked against the polished floor as she crossed the room under a hundred watching eyes.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
Marcus scooted over, patting the seat beside him.
"Come sit with us," he said, flashing that perfect smile.
Susan sat, trembling with nervous excitement.
Jessica's eyes gleamed with something cold, something sharp, but her mouth curled into a fake sugary smile.
"So," Jessica purred, flipping her glossy blond hair. "You and Marcus, huh?"
Susan's cheeks flamed. She ducked her head, playing with the edge of her tray.
Samantha giggled behind her hand.
"Did he tell you?" Samantha asked, voice high and innocent.
"Tell me... what?" Susan asked, glancing up, her stomach twisting.
Marcus stiffened slightly beside her.
Jessica leaned forward, her blue eyes bright with cruel amusement.
"That you're just the charity case of the month."
The world tilted.
Susan's hands went numb.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
---
The table erupted into laughter.
Loud.
Harsh.
Unforgiving.
Susan stared at Marcus, willing him to deny it, to say it was a joke.
But he didn't.
He just sat there.
Silent.
Watching her fall apart.
---
Tears blurred Susan's vision as she stood, the tray slipping from her hands and crashing to the floor with a clatter that echoed through the entire cafeteria.
The laughter followed her like knives as she fled.
Out the double doors.
Down the hall.
Into the bathroom, where she locked herself into the last stall and sank to the floor.
Her whole body shook with silent sobs.
---
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She wiped her hands on her jeans and pulled it out.
New Message from Unknown:
> You thought you belonged, didn't you? You'll never be one of us. Stay in the gutter where you belong, orphan.
Susan's breath hitched.
Another message.
And another.
Each one sharper than the last.
They poured in like acid rain, pictures, videos, captions.
They had filmed it — her walking over like a fool, smiling like she mattered.
Jessica had posted it online.
By lunchtime, the whole school would have seen.
---
Somewhere deep inside Susan, something snapped.
She sat there for what felt like hours, the bright fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, her soul crumbling.
The girl who had dared to hope was gone.
The Susan who stood up shakily from the bathroom floor wasn't the same.
She was quieter.
Colder.
Empty.
---
Later that day, Jackim found her sitting alone behind the gym, knees drawn up to her chest, staring blankly into space.
He had seen the videos.
He had seen the cruel memes.
The comments.
The mockery.
Jackim sat down beside her without saying a word.
He didn't ask if she was okay.
He knew she wasn't.
Instead, he simply placed his jacket around her shoulders.
A silent promise.
You are not alone.
Not anymore.
---
Far away, in a sleek black car parked near the school gates, a man in a dark suit adjusted his sunglasses and made a phone call.
"Yes," he said. "We found her."
"Proceed carefully. The inheritance must be protected at all costs."
He glanced once more at Susan's broken figure before driving away.
The pieces were moving.
And Susan's pain was only the beginning.
---