ELI

“Let’s break up.”

I stared at him like I didn’t hear right. The café was loud. There were students behind me laughing, someone playing music too loud through their AirPods, the clink of cutlery and cups, but all I heard were those three words. I blinked once. Twice. My fingers tightened around the paper cup in front of me.

“What?” I said. My voice barely came out.

Liam didn’t even look up. He kept stirring his drink slowly like it didn’t matter. Like I wasn’t falling apart right in front of him.

“I’m done, Eli,” he said. “It’s not working anymore. We’re just… not right for each other.”

My chest started hurting. I sat up straighter, feeling that panic crawl up my throat. “Liam, please. Can we just talk? Whatever it is, I can fix it.”

He sighed, finally looking at me. His face was calm. Too calm. “You can’t fix this, Eli. You’ve been… heavy. For a while now.”

“Heavy?” I repeated, not understanding.

“Yeah. Everything with your past, your mom, the scars.” he shrugged. “It’s just too much. I don’t want to deal with all of that anymore.”

I swallowed hard. It felt like my tongue had turned to stone. “You knew what I’d been through when we started dating,” I whispered. “You said you didn’t care.”

“Well, I do now.”

It felt like he punched me in the stomach. I leaned back slowly, not even knowing what to say. My hands were shaking. My heart was pounding too fast. “Is there someone else?” I asked quietly.

Liam didn’t answer at first. Then he smiled — small, guilty, careless. “Sort of.”

The words knocked the breath out of me. I opened my mouth, but before I could even speak, a girl walked up to our table. She had curly hair, a tight black skirt, and red lipstick. She smiled at Liam, leaned down, and kissed him.

On the mouth.

Right in front of me.

I froze.

Liam stood up like it was nothing. He slung his backpack over his shoulder, gave me one last look, and said, “It’s better this way. Don’t make it worse by begging.”

And then he walked away with her.

Just like that.

I sat there, staring at the spot where he used to be. My ears were ringing. My vision blurred. My throat closed up. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t believe what just happened. The café kept going like nothing had happened, like my entire world didn’t just crash and burn in public.

I don’t know how long I sat there. Maybe five minutes. Maybe thirty. Eventually I stood up, legs weak, and stumbled out of the café into the cold air. My chest was tight. I felt like I was choking. I didn’t cry. Not yet. I just kept walking. My body moved on its own. Everything felt far away. The trees. The sidewalk. The people passing me. None of it was real.

When I got back to my apartment, I locked the door behind me and leaned against it. My backpack slid off my shoulder and hit the floor with a soft thud. The silence inside the room was too loud. I didn’t turn on the light. I just walked straight to my bed and dropped down face-first.

That’s when the tears came.

I didn’t even feel them at first. They just slipped down my cheeks, soaking into the pillow. My chest started to heave. I tried to stay quiet. Tried to bite down on the sobs so no one would hear through the thin walls. But the pain didn’t care about being quiet.

My whole body shook. I turned on my side and curled up tight, hugging my knees to my chest like I used to do as a kid. Like I did after my dad’s fists. After my mom’s screams. After nights when my sister would rock me back and forth and promise we’d escape one day.

Liam knew all of that. He knew what I came from. He saw the scars. I let him see them. Even when it hurt. Even when I hated how ugly they made me feel. I trusted him. I let him touch me. I let him in.

And he left. Just like everyone else.

He kissed another person right in front of me and told me I was too much to love.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe I was too broken.

Too heavy.

Too hard to hold.

The room stayed dark, and the tears kept falling. I buried my face in the pillow and cried harder. I tried to stop, but I couldn’t. My chest hurt so much I thought it might split open. I kept whispering, “Why?” like it would change something.

But no one answered.

Eventually, my body gave up. The crying turned into little hiccups, then silence. My eyes were swollen. My pillow was soaked. My heart was numb.

I lay there in the same clothes I left the house in, the cold wrapping around my arms like a blanket I didn’t ask for. I stared at the wall for a long time. No thoughts. No plans. Just that empty ache that fills you when you’ve been left behind.

And that’s how I fell asleep.

ELI

I woke up like I had been hit by a truck.

My head felt heavy, my body even heavier. The sun burned through the window like it had no mercy. My pillow was still a little wet from last night. My throat hurt. I didn’t remember when I fell asleep — just that it happened sometime between crying and going numb.

I dragged myself out of bed, barely showered, barely ate. My hands felt too slow. My thoughts too loud. I didn’t even try to look good. Just put on a plain hoodie, pulled the sleeves down, and stared at myself in the mirror long enough to regret it. I looked like hell.

School didn’t care.

Law school especially didn’t care.

Final year was no joke. We were neck-deep in Trial Advocacy, and our first assignment was already hanging over us like a guillotine. I threw on my bag and left the apartment, still half in a daze. Every step toward campus felt like I was walking through mud. I kept my head low, hoping no one would talk to me.

Of course, that didn’t last.

“Hey, hey, hey! Why aren’t you answering your phone, dummy?”

I jolted so hard I nearly dropped my bag. Maya’s arm swung around my shoulders like a damn lasso. I blinked, startled, and looked up to see her grinning down at me like I owed her money.

She frowned immediately. “Whoa. Why do you look like you haven’t slept in a week?”

I tried to keep walking. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. Don’t even try that weak voice with me. What happened?” She stepped in front of me, walking backward to keep eye contact. “Eli. I swear if this is about school stress—”

“We broke up,” I muttered, looking at the floor.

She froze. “Wait… what?”

“Liam and I broke up.”

Maya blinked hard. “Wait, what the hell do you mean—”

“He has a new girl already,” I added, swallowing.

Her voice dropped. “You’re joking.”

I shook my head. “She kissed him. Right in front of me.”

Maya looked like her soul left her body for a second. “He—” she started. “Wait. You mean… that little—”

“Maya, don’t—”

Too late.

Because right at that moment, Liam walked past.

His stupid face.

His smug little walk.

His hand casually brushing through his hair like he was God’s gift.

Maya exploded.

“You son of a—”

She lunged at him so fast, I didn’t even have time to blink. Her hand slapped him straight across the face, and before anyone could react, she grabbed his hoodie and slammed him into the lockers.

“YOU THINK YOU CAN TREAT HIM LIKE THAT?!”

People started screaming. Phones were pulled out. A cup of coffee hit the floor. Liam tried to shove her back, but she punched him square in the jaw.

I think time stopped.

Then chaos.

Two random jocks ran forward. Another guy grabbed Maya’s waist. She kept swinging. Her braid came loose.

Liam looked like he wanted to hit back—his hand curled into a fist—but one of the jocks stepped in front of Maya protectively.

“You touch her, you deal with me,” the guy growled.

Liam flinched.

Maya kicked again. “YOU THINK YOU’RE A MAN?! HUH?! LEAVING HIM FOR SOME RANDOM—”

Three people were holding her now. She was still fighting.

Liam looked at the guy in front of him — tall, broad, same jawline — and cursed under his breath.

“Of course you’re related,” he muttered. “This is insane.”

“No. You’re insane,” the guy snapped. “Now walk. Away.”

Liam adjusted his hoodie and stormed off, muttering insults under his breath. Maya spat on the floor behind him.

Someone gasped. “She spit blood—”

“I bit my tongue, relax,” she barked, wiping her mouth.

She turned to me, breathing hard. “Are you okay?”

I blinked. “You’re bleeding.”

“I said I’m fine. Are you okay?”

I shrugged.

Maya wiped her hands on her jeans and rolled her eyes. “You know what? Let’s just get to class before I break another nose.”

The crowd slowly started to move. Everyone was still buzzing, but no one was dumb enough to challenge her now. Maya was tiny, but she could body a linebacker if pissed off enough.

We walked to the lecture hall. I kept my head down. My heart still felt like it had been wrung out and hung to dry.

Inside, people were whispering.

Not about the fight. Something else.

“Did you hear about the new prof?”

“Yeah, I think he’s teaching Trial Advocacy.”

“He’s supposed to be fine.”

“Girl, I saw a picture. He’s giving... big dick energy.”

Maya perked up. “New professor?”

She slid into her seat next to me and pulled out her phone. “Hold on, let me check the group chat.”

I stared at my notebook, still feeling like my body wasn’t fully connected to my brain.

“Oh my God,” she breathed. “They weren’t lying.”

I glanced over. “What?”

She showed me a photo someone took from behind. It was blurry, but the man was tall, in a long black coat, hands in his pockets. He had broad shoulders, clean shoes, and posture like a king.

“You can’t even see his face,” I mumbled.

Maya grinned. “Don’t matter. That’s big dick energy. You can just tell.”

Another picture came in. This one was from the side — still no clear view of the face — but the jawline? Sharp enough to cut someone’s GPA in half.

“Maybe law school is about to get fun again,” she said.

I didn’t answer. I just stared ahead at the empty desk where the professor would soon stand.

Something strange started to crawl under my skin.

Maya was still whispering about the mystery professor. She was tapping my arm like a drum, practically bouncing in her seat.

“Eli,” she hissed. “Look at this man. I swear he’s six-foot-sin. Who gave him permission?”

I didn’t answer. I had my nose in my book, trying to reread the same line for the third time. My head still hurt from everything. I just wanted the day to be over. My eyes scanned the paragraph again. None of it was sinking in.

Then she tapped me again—hard this time. “Eli. Babe. Look up. Now.”

I rolled my eyes, sighed, and lifted my head.

All the air left my lungs.

He walked in like he owned the building. Black coat, dark slacks, broad shoulders that filled the doorway, and a face carved out of ice. Sharp jaw, cold eyes, calm steps. His presence hit the room like silence. People stopped talking. Even the ones laughing a second ago suddenly had nothing to say.

Maya leaned toward me slowly. “Tell me why this man looks like he ruins lives on purpose.”

I couldn’t speak.

He set a file down at the front of the class. Turned. Looked over the room. His gaze passed right over me like I wasn’t even there—but for a second, something behind his eyes flickered. Just a second. Then it was gone.

“Good morning,” he said, voice deep, smooth, steady. “I’m Professor Vale. Carter Vale.”

Maya let out the softest gasp beside me.

I blinked, trying to pull myself together.

Because of course.

Of course, the universe would do this to me today. The same week I got dumped.

Can the universe get any more annoying?

ELI

He didn’t smile. Not once.

“I’ll be taking over Trial Advocacy this semester,” he said, placing a neat stack of books on the desk. “You’ve had your reading list emailed to you. The exam breakdown is already online. I don’t do reminders. I don’t do extensions. If you want to be lawyers, act like it.”

Silence. I could feel the entire room blinking in unison.

He didn’t wait for us to catch our breath.

“Before we begin,” he continued, pulling a marker from his coat pocket, “we’ll do quick introductions. Just your last names. Loud enough for me to hear. No explanations. Start from the first row.”

People started calling out names.

“Hassan.”

“Liu.”

“Martins.”

One by one. Flat, dry, nervous.

He barely nodded at each one. Didn’t write anything down. I doubt he even blinked.

Maya nudged me with her elbow. “He’s terrifying. I love it.”

I didn’t say anything.

When it got to her, she lifted her chin proudly and said, “Maya Adeniran.”

He looked at her for half a second before moving on.

I cleared my throat. “Rivera.”

That’s when his eyes paused on me.

Not long. Just long enough for me to feel it.

He nodded and moved on.

I sank lower in my seat.

This is insane.

Liam’s brother. Liam’s older brother was now my professor. Tall, cold, intimidating Carter Vale. The same man who barely spoke to me at family dinners. The same man who looked at me like I was a stain on his brother’s reputation. And now he was standing at the front of my class.

Could the universe get any more dramatic?

He turned back to the board and began scribbling down some terms.

“Cross-examination,” he wrote. “Witness credibility. Objection handling. Real-time strategy.”

“This course is practical. I don’t care how well you write essays. I care how well you think on your feet. If you can’t argue your point without stuttering, walk out now.”

Someone coughed awkwardly.

Maya leaned toward me. “He’s insane. I’m obsessed.”

I groaned quietly. “Please. That’s Liam’s brother.”

She blinked. “What?”

“Carter. He’s Liam’s older brother.”

Her eyes widened like saucers.

Then she screamed.

Okay—not screamed. But she gasped so dramatically it echoed.

Every single head turned toward us.

I wanted to melt into the seat and die.

Carter looked directly at her. “Is there something you’d like to share with the class, Miss Adeniran?”

Maya sat up straight like she’d been electrocuted. “No, sir. Sorry. I—uh—just remembered I left my flat iron on. It’s fine now. Very fine. Sorry. Continue.”

Carter raised an eyebrow. Then went right back to writing on the board.

I pressed my forehead against my notebook.

“I hate you,” I muttered.

“I’m sorry but I didn’t know,” she whispered back. “That makes this ten times hotter.”

“Kill me.”

He started teaching right away. No break. No mercy. Just straight into case law, courtroom procedures, and real-life examples.

“Who can tell me what happens when a lawyer makes a personal attack on opposing counsel during closing arguments?” he asked, turning around.

Silence.

He scanned the room.

“If you don’t know, say so. I’d rather have honesty than stupidity.”

Someone in the front raised their hand. “Objection for misconduct?”

“Which rule of professional conduct does that violate?”

Another silence.

I glanced down at my notes, hoping he wouldn’t—

“Rivera.”

I looked up.

My mouth was suddenly dry. “Yes?”

“What happens when personal attacks are made during closing arguments?”

I tried to remember. “Depends on context. It could lead to a sustained objection or, if extreme, a mistrial.”

“And what would the judge look for to decide that?”

I shifted in my seat. “Whether it prejudiced the jury, or if it was a direct attack on character rather than the facts.”

He crossed his arms. “What if the lawyer says, and I quote, ‘The defense is as pathetic as the lies they just told you’?”

I blinked. “That’s… clearly misconduct.”

“Clearly?” he repeated.

I bit my lip. “It’s inflammatory.”

“But is it reversible error?”

I hesitated. “Possibly, if the judge believes it affected the verdict.”

He tilted his head. “So only possibly?”

“It depends on whether it’s a pattern—”

“That wasn’t the question.”

My cheeks burned.

Maya glanced at me.

Carter stepped closer. “Confidence is crucial in court, Rivera. If you can’t answer clearly, how do you expect a jury to believe you?”

I exhaled slowly. “Then no. It’s not automatically reversible error.”

He stared at me. “Better.”

I looked away.

He kept going like nothing happened.

But my heart wouldn’t slow down.

He kept calling on other people after that. A few stumbled. One guy tried to flirt and got completely ignored. Carter didn’t give anyone special attention. But I still felt like he was watching me every time he turned toward the board.

When the class finally ended, people started packing their bags fast. Maya stood, ready to leave.

Then I heard him.

“Mr. Rivera.”

I froze.

Everyone else kept moving, but my feet stayed planted.

“Stay behind,” he said. Calm. Plain. Like he hadn’t just ruined my whole day.

Maya looked at me with wide eyes.

“I’ll wait outside,” she whispered, squeezing my arm.

I nodded.

My chest was tight again.

The room slowly emptied, leaving just the two of us.

I didn’t dare look up.

I already knew what was coming.

The room was quiet.

Carter closed the door behind the last student, then turned slowly. His eyes landed on me, sharp as always.

I stood near my seat, unsure what to do with my hands.

He walked toward the desk, set down a folder, and said flatly, “If you’re going to be in my class, I suggest you learn how to focus.”

I blinked. “I was—”

“You weren’t,” he cut in. “You were whispering. Distracted. Your answers lacked clarity. I expect better.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Sorry.”

“I don’t want your apologies,” he said, still not looking at me. “I want improvement.”

I looked down at my shoes. My fingers were curled around the strap of my bag, tight.

He finally raised his head and stared straight at me. “You might be sleeping with Liam, but in this room, that doesn’t matter. You don’t get special treatment.”

My eyes widened. “We’re not—”

“I don’t care,” he snapped, cutting me off again.

I opened my mouth to explain. To say it ended. To say it hurt. But he already turned away.

“You’re dismissed.”

The words were like a door slamming in my face.

I stood there for a second, my mouth half open, chest burning.

Then I nodded slowly and grabbed my bag.

I walked out with my jaw tight and throat dry.

Maya was leaning against the wall, still scrolling through her phone.

“Finally,” she said, standing upright. “What happened?”

I exhaled hard. “He said I should pay attention. And that I won’t get special treatment just because I’m sleeping with Liam.”

She choked. “He what?”

I nodded, tired. “Yeah.”

“But—” she stared at me. “Did you tell him you broke up?”

“I tried.”

She shook her head. “And he didn’t let you talk?”

“Nope.”

She rolled her eyes hard. “Wow. He’s hot, but he’s a jerk. A cold, dramatic, six-foot jerk.”

I didn’t respond.

Maya stretched her arms. “I’m going to the salon. I’m tired of this growth. My scalp is crying. It’s been, what—seven weeks?”

I looked at her hair and nodded. “Yeah, it’s time.”

She tugged gently at one braid. “Edges are fighting for their life. Black girl emergency.”

I smiled weakly. “Tell Kemi I said hi.”

“I will,” she said, hugging me quickly. “Text me if that man bothers you again. I’ll come back and throw my whole purse at his head.”

I laughed under my breath. “Not the purse.”

She gave me a little wink and walked off down the hallway.

I walked in the opposite direction, still feeling Carter’s words echo in my head. I tried to shake it off, but it stuck to me like dust. Like shame.

The air outside felt dry. I pulled my hoodie tighter around me, shoved my hands into my pockets, and started heading home.

I was halfway to my apartment when my phone rang.

Unknown number.

I almost ignored it, but something inside me said pick up.

I answered.

And froze.

My legs stopped moving.

Then I started running.