Chapter 2

Marlowe’s POV

I was up at five-thirty in the morning.

I'd barely slept, my mind racing with thoughts of what was coming. I showered and carefully put on that expensive uniform, checking myself in the mirror countless times.

The uniform fit perfectly—navy blazer, crisp white shirt, everything immaculate. But I still felt like I was wearing someone else's clothes, like I didn't belong.

"Up already?" Mom poked her head out from the kitchen, holding a steaming mug of milk.

"A little nervous." I took the mug, my hands trembling slightly.

"Don't be scared. You look beautiful." Mom reached up to adjust my collar. "Remember, you belong there."

I nodded, though we both knew we were lying.

The walk to Ashford Academy took forty minutes. I left early, hoping to get familiar with the campus before other students arrived.

But when I reached the school gates, I realized how wrong I'd been.

A line of luxury cars stretched down the street—Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis. Uniformed chauffeurs opened doors with practiced deference for their young passengers.

I ducked behind a corner, hit by a brutal realization: I was the only one who'd walked to school.

"Shit," I muttered, not daring to approach that parade of wealth.

Then a black Maybach glided to a stop at the main entrance. The door opened, and a pair of handmade leather shoes emerged first.

Then that face.

Caspian.

He wore the same uniform as me, but on him, it came alive. Tall frame, perfect features—even among all these rich kids, he was the most striking.

My heart started racing.

At the estate, I'd only ever seen him from a distance. I'd never really looked at him like this. He was more... captivating than I'd imagined.

Caspian walked toward the school with elegant composure. Other students stepped aside for him, some girls deliberately moving closer, trying to catch his attention.

But he seemed oblivious to it all, focused only on reaching the entrance.

I waited several minutes until he'd disappeared inside before carefully approaching the gates.

The security guard checked his list, found my name, and waved me through.

The main hall took my breath away. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, oil paintings, sculptures—this wasn't a school, it was a palace.

I was taking it all in when a sweet voice spoke behind me:

"New girl?"

I turned to find three girls standing there. All gorgeous, dripping in accessories that caught the light—Cartier watches, Chanel bags, Tiffany jewelry.

"Yes." I managed a smile.

"I'm Madison Whitney." The leader looked me up and down—blonde, blue-eyed, doll-perfect. "What do your parents do?"

My stomach clenched. In a place like this, that question was really asking about class.

"My mom... she works." I kept it vague.

"Doing what specifically?" Another girl pressed, superiority dripping from her tone. "Oil? Real estate? Tech?"

My palms started sweating. "She's... in the service industry."

The three exchanged glances, their expressions shifting instantly.

"Service industry?" Madison's voice sharpened. "You mean restaurants? Or...?"

"She's a housekeeper." I forced out the truth.

The air went dead.

Madison's eyes widened dramatically before she burst into shrill laughter.

"A housekeeper? You're saying you're the housekeeper's daughter?" Her voice carried across the entire hall. "How are you even here?"

Students started gathering like we were some circus act. My face burned with shame.

"I got a scholarship." I said quietly.

"A scholarship!" Madison was practically hysterical. "A charity case! God, Ashford Academy is taking in strays now!"

Her friends joined in, their laughter sharp and cutting, slicing right through me.

"You know what, sweetie," Madison stepped closer, voice deliberately low but loud enough for everyone to hear, "charity money can't change your bloodline. You'll never be one of us."

My eyes started burning, fists clenched tight.

"You have no right to talk to me like that."

"No right?" Madison smirked, grabbing a glass of red wine from nearby. "We have every right."

She raised her hand and threw the wine at me.

The red liquid splashed across my pristine uniform—the uniform I'd treasured like gold—ruining it instantly.

The crowd erupted in louder laughter and jeers.

I stood there frozen, the world spinning around me. Tears finally broke free.

I wanted to run, to escape this hellhole, to go back to our cramped but dignified staff quarters.

Just as I turned to leave, a low voice cut through the noise:

"Enough."

The entire hall fell silent—so quiet you could hear breathing.

I looked back to see Caspian standing nearby. His face was ice-cold, eyes blazing with fury I'd never seen before.

Madison went pale.

"Caspian... we were just joking..." Her voice started shaking.

"Joking?" Caspian's voice could freeze hell. "Throwing wine at a classmate is joking?"

He walked toward us slowly, each step radiating menace. Other students automatically cleared a path, afraid of becoming his next target.

"I... we didn't know you two knew each other..." Madison stammered.

Caspian stopped in front of me, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket.

"How are you here?" he asked me gently, his tone much softer than before.

I took the handkerchief with trembling hands. "Scholarship."

He nodded, then turned to Madison: "Apologize to her."

"What?" Madison stared in disbelief.

"I said apologize to her. Now."

Caspian's voice wasn't loud, but it carried absolute authority. Everyone held their breath.

Madison looked around desperately, finding no allies. At Ashford Academy, the Aldridge name was law.

"S-sorry, Marlowe." She bit out through gritted teeth.

"Louder. So everyone can hear."

"I'm sorry, Marlowe! I apologize for my behavior!" Madison practically shouted.

Her two friends quickly mumbled apologies before all three slunk away.

The crowd dispersed, the hall returning to quiet.

"You okay?" Caspian asked with concern.

I nodded, though tears kept falling.

"Why did you help me?" I choked out.

Caspian was quiet for a moment. "Just remember—in this place, you can never show weakness."

I looked up into his eyes for the first time, really looked. I saw pain there, anger, and a loneliness I couldn't quite name.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"Stay close to me from now on," Caspian said quietly, but with a force that shook me. "No one will dare touch you again."

Those words nearly stopped my heart.