Amy's POV

New Year's and Christmas flew by so quickly, huh?

Dad didn't even come once to visit me. Why would he? He was busy managing the company from collapsing.

How did I know? Dane and Nick were talking about it as they thought I was fast asleep in my hospital bed.

Today, I was getting done with this. Going home finally.

While packing my bags, someone knocked. It was the nurse.

"An admirer wanted to give you this. Again." She said, sounding nonchalant. Before, she sounded pretty excited but discovered what I did with them. With a nod, I let her put it on the counter. While heading out with my bags, I shoved them in the dustbin, but not before enjoying the fresh rosy scent and plucking exactly 2 petals from 2 roses.

I shoved one each on my breast, inside my bra.

It reminded me where my almost true lover belonged, in my chest. Keyword being...almost.

"Ready to go home?" Crystal, draped in a white and sky blue simple top and pants, held the 'Welcome back!' banner for me. I chuckled, throwing my arm around her shoulder.

"Always. Home is where all of you are!" I said, but in the back of my head, I was starting to resent it.

And my only ticket to that freedom?

The scholarship.

You must be thinking...that I'd let Cynric or anyone take that opportunity and let them have that freedom.

You see, all rich people in this country or in any corner of the world are tied to one thing—parental control. They wanna shape us, modify us to fit their niche lifestyle, making us believe normal doesn't exist and shouldn't.

I wanted normal.

I wanted richness, but I wanted someone to love me for who I am.

Cynric proved it time and again. But love isn't the only thing that makes my life normal, right?

That's why I need this scholarship.

And mostly...I wanted to build my own empire with that degree. A stepping stone.

All these smiles today...inviting me back home...

They were going to fade very soon.

Because, whether they knew it or not, all of us were competing to get that golden ticket.

And the business school we are talking about?

Azure Kingston University, London.

The ONLY premium business school in the whole wide world.

Imagine being a business school that had only three intakes per academic year. Three.

People from all over the world were competing for three seats. That's crazy.

And I was gonna fight for crazy.

So on a fine Monday morning, I pulled up to school as Amy Frostbite again, showing face and real identity. I feared no one anymore.

Not even Darla. The bitch who constantly bullied me for being a 'nerd'.

"Pch! Seems like the bitch just bought a high-class ticket." I heard her words. The corridor was rather silent, staring at the new me. Who wouldn't? I was in the news. And the stitched sticker of a scar plastered on my forehead was worthy of staring at.

I stopped in my tracks, I had to.

Even if my real identity was revealed, Darla wouldn't stop headbutting with me.

But my horns have grown stronger and resilient now.

That made me smirk. It confused her.

"Better a high-class ticket than your free pass to cheapness." Her eyes widened. Her boyfriend? Snickered behind shut hands!

"I'll deal with you eventually, bitch." I rolled my eyes. Was calling me a bitch her favourite thing?

"Hola-Hola! We are Enchante Radio~

Lemme have your attention~"

The Spanish accent of the club leader boomed through speakers.

I knew what was coming.

That little bridge to cross and reach our golden ticket? This was it.

I turned to the LED monitors plastered at every intersection overhead. A powerful holographic Ana De Armas danced in front of it, catching attention.

"Are you ready for the Spring Lit Royale!? Join your hands! Brace yourselves! 'Cause the competish is gonna get super wild from tomorrow!"

"3rd of January? Are you kidding me? It's three days later than last year!" Someone yelled in the crowd, and the students hollered, forgetting they were millionaires and billionaires.

"Late but great! See you soon with more info! Todos!" With a clinky fairy sound, the monitor blackened. I raised an eyebrow.

"Amy!" It was Crystal, Alex and Nick.

"What could the first round be!?" Alex asked excitedly.

"Probably test scores like last year," I said, heading to my locker.

"Aw man! I'm out already then!" Alex joked. We all knew he was the jock who played hard but studied harder.

"I'm heading to the library guys. I have a free hour." Announcing, I walked over to the library.

It was normally vacant. As in...Hollywood style hay rolling over.

But it was filled today, making my jaw drop.

"Are you kidding me!?"

"Amy!" Suddenly, I heard my name being called. It was a boy's voice.

"Here," Cynric patted the seat beside him. With an indifferent smile, I headed over.

He resisted kissing me, but the bitch sat across from him, caught the kind of gaze he held as he looked at me. His gaze was...soft, adoring, filled with love for me.

The wild gasp from her whipped our heads to her.

"Darla...?" I questioned. She shut the book loudly, as if annoyed by my presence.

"You were saving that seat for her!?"

"Yeah," Cynric answered simply, smirking.

"Gotta keep enemies' siblings closer." Cynric winked at Darla.

Suddenly, all her anger towards Cynric and me dissipated.

What the fuck!?!

"Is she the one trying to get into your pants...?" I asked Cynric, vividly remembering how he mentioned he had a secret admirer. Not so much of a secret anymore. More like...an embarrassing admirer.

"The one who almost drugged me in my home and tried to sleep with me? Yeah. That's the crazy rut."

Oh lord~

This competition is gonna be so much fun~

I couldn't wait for the Spring Lit Royale to start!

Especially since I had EVERYONE convinced that I was LEAST interested~