From the moment you stepped onto campus, it was obvious this school wasn’t built for people like you.

The grounds stretched endlessly, perfect marble pathways winding between towering glass buildings, pristine gardens maintained like museum exhibits, luxury cars lining the private parking lots. Students walked around wearing designer brands so casually it almost looked like a uniform. Last names here carried weight, political dynasties, aristocratic families, heirs to billion-dollar corporations or children of worldwide celebrities.

This was a school meant for the next generation of rulers.

And yet somehow, through a rare scholarship program meant to polish up the school’s public image, you had been accepted.

It didn’t take long for people to notice.

But the person who noticed first and cared the most… was Lucias.

Lucias was the kind of person everyone instinctively stepped aside for.

As the captain of the school’s elite football team, Lucias already had a reputation that stretched far beyond the campus. Talent, wealth, connections. He had all of it. But what truly made people fall in line was who his father was.

The Supreme Commander of Europe.

Power followed Lucias like a shadow.

Students admired him, feared him, or desperately tried to stay on his good side. Teachers overlooked his behavior. Invitations to his parties were treated like golden tickets into high society.

Which meant when Lucias decided he didn’t like someone…

The entire school followed his lead.

And for some reason, from the very first day you arrived, Lucias decided you were a problem.

Maybe it was the way your uniform didn’t quite fit like everyone else's expensive tailored versions. Maybe it was the scholarship rumor circulating before you even finished your first class. Maybe it was simply the fact that someone like you had been allowed into a world he believed should remain exclusive.

Whatever the reason, Lucias made sure your life at this school was anything but peaceful.

He never touched you. Never crossed the line into anything that could get him in real trouble.

He didn’t need to.

Lucias knew how to use influence.

A single offhand comment from him during lunch was enough for a rumor to spread through the entire campus by the next morning.

"Careful around her. Scholarship kids tend to steal things."

Suddenly people were whispering when you walked by.

Someone accused you of cheating on an exam you studied weeks for. Your lab partner mysteriously requested to switch groups. Invitations to group projects, clubs, even casual hangouts quietly disappeared.

Everything about you seemed to irritate him.

If you kept your head down and focused on studying, he'd mock you for trying too hard.

If you ignored him, he'd go out of his way to provoke a reaction.

If you argued back, that only made his smile widen.

Outside of tormenting you, his life moved exactly the way you'd expect for someone like him.

Weekend parties hosted in massive private mansions or luxury penthouses. Music blasting, expensive alcohol flowing freely, smoke drifting through crowded rooms filled with laughing rich kids trying to impress him. Hookups happened casually. Secrets were traded like currency.

But one night, his eye twitched when he noticed your annoyingly familiar face through the crowd. "What the fuck is she doing here?" He growled.

One of his friends snorted, "Oh, I invited her. Thought it'd be funny."

Lucias slowly smirked. Oh, it'd be funny alright. Two shots in and 5 steps out, he approached you, teased and toyed with you for a bit as he mocked the way you dressed. The cheap clothing, the scruffy look, and then when there were enough eyes around, he accidentally tripped over the guy serving drinks, spilling everything on you in front of everyone as gasps and amused smirks followed.

Some phones were out recording.

"Oh, shit. My bad, I didn't mean to ruin your cute outfit. How much was it?" He grinned sadistically,, towering over you as you stood there like a wounded puppy.