Bryn kept her eyes locked on Keifer's pristine Air Jordans. Her gaze dripped with undisguised contempt.

Keifer noticed where she was looking. He proudly shifted his weight, tapping the toe of his shoe on the floor. He thought she was admiring the shoes he bought using his scholarship stipend.

Bryn snapped her head up. Her voice rang out, sharp and cold. She demanded he pay her back for the shoes he ruined last week. Right now.

The hallway went dead silent. Every single pair of eyes shifted to Keifer's suddenly frozen face.

His eyes bugged out of his head. He stuttered, asking if she was joking, reminding her that they never kept track of money between them.

Bryn let out a harsh laugh. She told him that was when she was stupid, but from now on, every penny was accounted for.

She spoke clearly, enunciating every syllable. She stated the exact price of the limited-edition Jimmy Choo heels: eight hundred and sixty-five dollars.

Blood rushed to Keifer's face, turning his cheeks a dark, humiliated purple. He was a charity case at this school. He didn't have eight hundred dollars in his bank account, let alone in cash.

He dropped his voice to a frantic whisper. He reached out to grab the sleeve of her blazer, begging her to stop making a scene in front of everyone.

Bryn slapped his hand away like he was a diseased rat. She took a large step backward, putting a safe physical distance between them.

She raised her voice even louder. She mocked him, saying that if he was too broke to pay it all at once, she would accept a payment plan.

Bryn unzipped her designer bag and pulled out her iPhone. She tapped the screen a few times, pulled up her Venmo QR code, and shoved the bright screen directly into his face.

A low wave of laughter rippled through the crowd of students. For a narcissist like Keifer, being publicly exposed as poor was worse than taking a bullet.

Keifer clenched his fists. The veins in his neck popped. He convinced himself she was only doing this to humiliate him into begging for her attention.

Desperate to save face, he forced a tight, arrogant smirk. He pulled out his own phone, scanned the code, and hissed that he was sending the money, telling her not to come crying to him later.

Bryn watched the green notification pop up on her screen. She immediately hit accept. She looked up and loudly announced that their debt was settled, and they were officially done.

Before he could react, she added one last sentence. She wished him and Fabiola a very happy life together.

The hallway exploded. Gasps and shocked whispers bounced off the lockers. Students pointed at Keifer, their eyes filled with disgust at the implication that he was hooking up with her adopted sister.

Keifer's face went from purple to chalk white. He threw his hands up, stammering wildly, trying to explain that he and Fabiola were just like brother and sister.

Bryn didn't care to listen to his pathetic lies. She turned her back on him, her posture straight and untouchable, and walked away.

The loud, piercing shriek of the warning bell echoed through the hall, shattering the heavy tension.

The crowd broke apart, but every single student immediately pulled out their phones, furiously typing on Snapchat and the school's anonymous gossip forum.

Keifer stood frozen in the middle of the hallway like a statue. He felt the mocking stares burning into his skin. His massive pride was shattered into a million pieces on the linoleum floor.

Bryn walked toward her AP History classroom. Her chest felt lighter. The suffocating weight of her past life was finally starting to lift.

She reached the heavy wooden door of the classroom and stopped. Dominic was leaning against the brick wall right next to the frame.

He had clearly watched the entire execution. His dark eyes were fixed on her, analyzing her with a deep, intense curiosity.

Bryn didn't look away. She held his gaze and gave him a quick, playful wink, like they were sharing a private joke.

Dominic's breath hitched. He pushed himself off the wall so fast his shoulder bumped the brick. He let out a defensive scoff to cover his reaction.

But instead of throwing a cruel insult at her, he reached out and pulled the heavy wooden door open for her.

Bryn smiled. She whispered a soft "thank you" and walked into the classroom, her head held high, ready to start her new life.

Bryn walked into the AP US History classroom. She scanned the rows of desks and walked straight to the very back corner, taking the seat right next to the window.

In her past life, she always sat in the front row just so she could stare at the back of Keifer's head. Now, she just wanted to breathe clean air.

Dominic walked in right behind her. He saw her sitting in his usual territory. His dark eyebrows pulled together in a deep frown.

He walked to the empty desk right next to hers. He pulled the metal chair out with unnecessary force, sitting down with the annoyed energy of a dog whose bed had been stolen.

Mr. Alistair Finch, the Dean of Students and AP History teacher, walked to the front of the room carrying a massive stack of manila folders.

He tapped his knuckles against the chalkboard. He announced that today he would post the final list of students selected for the Ivy League prep seminar.

The air in the room instantly tightened. Getting on that list meant securing a guaranteed recommendation letter for the top universities in the country.

Keifer sat in the front row. He puffed out his chest and sat up perfectly straight. He considered himself the academic star of the school. He knew his name was on that list.

Bryn lazily spun a silver pen between her fingers. From the corner of her eye, she watched Dominic pretend to read his textbook.

She noticed his large hand gripping his pen. His knuckles were sharp, and there was a faint, jagged scar across the back of his hand that looked like it came from a blade.

Bryn relaxed her fingers. The silver pen slipped from her grasp, rolled down the slanted desk, and dropped perfectly right next to Dominic's black combat boot.

Dominic stopped reading. He stared at the pen on the floor, then slowly turned his head to glare at Bryn.

Bryn didn't apologize. She rested her chin in the palm of her hand and smiled at him. Her eyes sparkled with a dangerous, teasing light.

Dominic ground his back teeth together. He let out a heavy sigh, leaned over, and picked up the pen.

He held it out to her. Bryn reached for it, but instead of grabbing the plastic barrel, she intentionally dragged her warm fingertips across the scarred skin on the back of his hand.

The light touch sent a visible jolt through Dominic's body. He yanked his hand back so violently the pen clattered onto the wooden desk.

He leaned closer to her. He lowered his voice to a dangerous, raspy whisper, warning her to stop playing with fire. His dark eyes darted nervously to her lips.

Bryn leaned in to meet him. The sharp scent of cedarwood radiating from his uniform filled her nose. She whispered back that she liked the fire.

Mr. Finch cleared his throat loudly at the front of the room, shattering the heavy sexual tension between the two desks.

He began reading the names. He called out Keifer's name first. Keifer immediately turned around in his seat and looked at Bryn, waiting for her to look at him with awe.

Bryn didn't even blink in his direction. Her eyes were entirely focused on the side of Dominic's face.

Mr. Finch continued. He read Dominic Hutchinson's name, praising him for having the highest test scores in the entire district.

Finally, Mr. Finch pushed his glasses up his nose. He announced that the final spot went to the most improved student in the grade: Bryn Callahan.

The classroom erupted in shocked whispers. Keifer whipped his head around, his jaw dropping open. He couldn't process that the girl he thought was a brainless groupie had secretly beaten out half the class.

Bryn wasn't surprised. She remembered the countless nights she stayed awake until 4 AM studying in her past life, just trying to be smart enough for Keifer.

Dominic turned his head slightly. He looked at the confident smirk on Bryn's face. A flash of deep, hidden pride softened the hard lines around his eyes.

The bell rang. Mr. Finch yelled over the noise, reminding the students on the list that the after-school study group started next week.

Bryn shoved her notebook into her bag. She stood up, looked down at Dominic, and told him she would see him at the study group.

She didn't wait for him to respond. She turned and walked out of the classroom with a light, bouncy step, leaving Dominic staring at her empty chair with a tight chest.

Keifer stood by the door, trying to block her path. He opened his mouth to congratulate her, trying to use the list as an excuse to talk. Bryn walked right past him like he was a piece of furniture.

The sky opened up, dropping a freezing drizzle over the school parking lot. Bryn walked briskly toward the massive, custom black Cadillac SUV that belonged to her family.

Old John, the family driver, stood by the rear door holding a massive black umbrella. When he saw Bryn approaching, he quickly pulled the heavy door open for her.

Bryn ducked her head to get in, but she stopped dead in her tracks. The spacious leather backseat was already full.

Her younger brother, Kile, sat on the far left, aggressively tapping his phone screen with his headphones on. Fabiola sat in the middle, her hands folded neatly in her lap, looking like a perfect angel.

And sitting in the premium right-side window seat was Keifer. He was leaning back against the headrest, completely relaxed, not even wearing his seatbelt.

In her past life, Keifer used her family's money to live like a king. He rode in her cars, lived in her house, and treated her wealth like it was his birthright.

Bryn's hand gripped the edge of the door frame. Her eyes turned to ice. She stared directly at Keifer's relaxed face.

Keifer saw her standing in the rain. He assumed she was still throwing a fit over the hallway incident. He flashed a charming smile and patted the empty space next to his leg, telling her to get in.

Bryn didn't move a muscle. The rain soaked into the shoulders of her blazer. She looked him dead in the eye and said one word: "Out."

The air inside the SUV froze. Kile pulled one headphone off his ear, his eyes wide as he stared at his sister, who usually worshipped the ground Keifer walked on.

Fabiola immediately snapped into character. Her eyes welled up with tears. She reached out and softly touched Bryn's sleeve, begging her not to be mean because it was raining outside.

Keifer's smile vanished. His face flushed with anger. He couldn't believe she was disrespecting him in front of the hired help.

He tried to laugh it off, telling her to stop acting crazy. He reminded her that the Callahan estate was ten miles away and asked if she expected him to walk.

Bryn let out a sharp, mocking laugh. She asked him if his legs were broken. She asked if he was too poor to afford an Uber with the eight hundred dollars he just sent her.

The mention of the money hit Keifer right in his fragile ego. His face turned a dark, ugly shade of red. His jaw clenched so hard his teeth squeaked.

Old John sensed the danger. The massive driver stepped forward, his broad shoulders blocking the light, silently threatening Keifer to move.

Bryn pointed a perfectly manicured finger at the wet, muddy asphalt outside the car. She told him he had two choices: get out on his own, or she would have the bodyguards drag him out by his hair.

Kile watched his sister's ruthless face. Instead of defending Keifer, a slow, excited grin spread across Kile's face. He loved the drama.

Trapped by the staring eyes and the physical threat of the driver, Keifer's pride shattered. He grabbed his backpack, kicked the door open, and stepped out into the rain.

The cold water instantly soaked his hair. The perfectly styled locks flattened against his forehead, making him look like a wet, pathetic rat.

Fabiola's movements instantly froze. She glanced nervously at the muddy, freezing asphalt outside, and then looked back down at the warm, dry leather seat beneath her. Without making a sound, she slowly and carefully pulled her leg back inside the car.

Bryn locked eyes with her adopted sister. Her gaze was lethal. She warned Fabiola that if she felt so bad for him, she could walk the ten miles too, and she would never be allowed back in this car again.

Fabiola looked down at her lap and forced a few tears to fall to keep up her victim act.

Bryn climbed into the SUV and slammed the heavy door shut, completely cutting off Keifer's furious glare.

She told Old John to drive. The massive Cadillac pulled out of the parking space. The heavy tires rolled directly through a deep, muddy puddle.

A wave of dirty brown water splashed up and completely soaked Keifer's brand-new, limited-edition sneakers.

Keifer let out a scream of pure rage. He kicked the metal trash can next to him, the loud clang echoing across the lot.

Fifty feet away, Dominic sat in the driver's seat of his Maybach. He watched the entire scene play out. His long fingers tapped a slow rhythm against the leather steering wheel.

A dark, incredibly satisfied smirk pulled at the corner of Dominic's mouth. "Good girl," he whispered to the empty car.

Inside the Cadillac, Bryn leaned her head against the cool glass of the window. She listened to the rain and started planning exactly how she was going to throw Keifer out of her house tonight.