CLAIMED BY THE BILLIONAIRE'S HEIR

Life can change fast. If I had known, I might have chosen differently. I waved goodbye to my Aunt Kate, who grinned at me from her car window. With her red curls and model-like figure, she always looks amazing. I feel awkward around her, but I hope to be like her one day. Aunt Kate runs a successful business, Callahan Engineering, with her husband.

"Show them what you've got, Sophie!" she calls out before driving off. I blush and wave her away. "Aunt Kate, don't make a big deal!" She just laughs and says, "Go for it, kiddo!"

I'm back at the prestigious Diamond Elite School, or DES. It's like a castle, with tall towers and grand gardens. Only a few get accepted, and I'm one of the lucky ones. I want to make my aunt and uncle proud and hope to get into Cambridge someday.

Inside, everyone seems confident and graceful. Most of them know each other, while I feel out of place. Then I spot a girl walking alone with big green eyes and a shy look, just like me. I go up to her and say, "Hi, I'm Sophie."

She looks at me briefly before looking away. "You don't have to talk to me," she whispers. "I'm kind of a nobody here."

I just smile. "If I want to talk to you, I will." Her name is Kelly, and as we start chatting, her shyness fades.

We walk toward the soccer field, where a crowd has gathered. The students are murmuring about the "elite" guys who, apparently, run the school. Kelly looks nervous, especially when she sees a tall, confident boy named Maxwell laughing with his friends. One of them has dark hair and piercing eyes that hold my gaze, making me shiver. "Let's go," Kelly whispers, trying to lead me away. But it's too late. The elite boys block our path, and Maxwell teases Kelly. I feel my heart pound, wanting to stand up for her. But before I can, the dark-haired boy, Liam, grabs my arm and pins me against the wall, his intense eyes locked on mine.

"I'm going to make your life miserable," he says coldly.

Two years later, it's senior year:

The last year before Cambridge. I just want it to be over.

In the school parking lot, Kelly pulls up fast in her little car. I gasp, "Kelly!?" She just grins and shrugs. "What? Sandra almost took my spot. Not happening."

I smile. Kelly's so different now. She went on a summer camping trip and came back happy and full of confidence. She lost weight, dyed her hair green, and is wearing a short skirt that's daring for her.

"You look amazing, Kelly," I say. She rolls her eyes. "Only to you and my dad. Doesn't count." She takes a deep breath and says, "Today, I'm going to show everyone who I really am. Head high, like you taught me."

We're about to walk inside when Sandra storms over, looking angry. "You think you're something now?" she snaps. Kelly just rolls down her window and gives her the finger, making Sandra and her friends freeze in shock.

I'm proud of Kelly but a little surprised. She's never done that before. As we get out, Sandra sneers at me. "What are you looking at, Ice Queen?" That nickname sticks. Since day one, I've been the outcast. Kelly and I have always been the target of their jokes. But I was determined never to let them see me break. I meet Sandra's gaze calmly. "Sorry, you're not worth my time."

Kelly links her arm through mine, and we head inside. DES feels like a haunted castle, and I'm counting down the days to leave. The whispers start as we walk. "Hey, Ice Queen! Freeze anyone this summer?" "Where's your chunky friend?" They don't even recognize Kelly after her transformation. "Ignore them," I whisper, keeping my head up.

Finally, we get to our classroom, where the school's four top guys are laughing and tossing a football. Maxwell, Bryan, James, and... Liam King, also known as the "Black King." Liam, who has spent years making my life miserable here.

He's staring at me now, his gaze as cold as ever, like he lives to see me unhappy. The summer hasn't changed that look in his eyes, though he seems tougher, his uniform snug over his muscles, his hair a bit messier, and his gray eyes fixed on me. I stay quiet because his family owns a lot of influence over this school and could easily make trouble for my aunt and uncle if I complain.

When the guys notice Kelly, Maxwell smirks. "What did you do to yourself, Kelly?" She freezes, and I nudge her to ignore him. Sandra then "accidentally" spills juice all over Kelly. The class laughs, but Liam's eyes are on me, watching my reaction. He never gets involved directly; he just lets others do the bullying for him. Kelly runs, and I follow, pushing past Sandra. I find her in the garden, crying while Maxwell continues to taunt her. I hit record on my phone as he grabs her roughly. I feel a small victory, thinking I finally have something to use against him.

Then, just as I move forward, a shadow blocks my way.

It's Liam King, standing right in front of me.

Liam can't stand me. He hates me so much that I think he imagines ways I could disappear. Why? I have no idea, and I don't ask. My rule is simple: don't try to understand bullies. What's there to understand? They hurt people just because they can.But when I look into his cold, intense eyes, my confidence fades, and I feel scared. He's intimidating, even though he tries to hide it with a calm smile and looks like a star football player. "What did you just do?" His voice is calm, almost friendly. But I know it's a trick-a mask he wears, like a devil trying to fool his next victim.

I hold my phone tightly and try to act tough. "I don't know what you mean." "Hand it over," he says, reaching out his hand.

I step aside to avoid him, but he blocks my way, towering over me. He's too tall and too strong, blocking my view of Kelly and Maxwell. And he's not done.

Liam steps closer until I can see the tiny mole near his right eye. I back away as he moves closer, but he keeps coming, trapping me against a tree. I flinch as he puts his arm beside my head, boxing me in.

He reaches out his hand again. "Give it, Frozen." It's a nickname he uses to tease me.But I'm done letting him control me. I'm tired of backing down. "No," I say, crossing my arms and raising my chin. He narrows his eyes. "Who do you think you are?""Just someone who deserves peace," I reply.

Liam tilts his head, studying me. "Not everyone gets peace. Why should you?""Are you serious?"" Give me the phone. I won't ask again." " No," I repeat, matching his tone.Then, without warning, he grabs my wrist, where I'm holding the phone. My stomach twists. Liam rarely touches me-not since two years ago when he grabbed my throat. His hands are rough and strong, just like I remember.

We struggle, me holding the phone close to my chest. But I realize he won't stop, so I shove it down into my bra, lifting my chin with a small smile. His eyes darken. "You had to make this difficult." " What?"

"Did you really think that would stop me? "He reaches forward and undoes a button on my shirt. I gasp and try to push him back, but he keeps going, unbuttoning more until my scar is visible.

That scar has always been something I've hidden. But now, Liam is staring at it, and I can't tell what he's thinking. It's not pity or kindness; there's something darker in his eyes, like he sees me as a puzzle he wants to solve. A noise nearby breaks the silence, snapping me back to reality. I quickly button up, turning away and breathing fast, wishing this was over.Then Maxwell, his friend, steps closer. "You got her, huh?" he says, laughing. But there's no kindness in his eyes-just self satisfaction

"She recorded you," Liam tells Maxwell, barely looking at me. "She thinks she can use it against you. "Maxwell laughs like it's a joke. "Cute that you think you can hurt me," he says, but there's a sharp edge in his voice. "Now hand it over. "I stand my ground. "You've made Kelly's life miserable for no reason. I'm done watching you treat people like this. Someone has to stand up to you."

Maxwell's face shows no reaction, but I can feel Liam's cold gaze on me, taking in every word I say.

"She has it in her bra," Maxwell says flatly to Liam, as if I'm not there.

I feel Liam's gaze drop. Without warning, Maxwell grabs my arms, holding me still. My heart races, and I struggle, but his grip is too strong. I'm trapped, helpless under their control.

They don't see boundaries or rules. For them, it's just a game, and I've walked right into it. With a sinking feeling, I realize I'm not strong enough to play their game. But I swallow my pride and say, "Fine. I'll give it to you."

Liam's dark smile spreads across his face. "Too late. You had your chance. Now I've changed my mind."

I thought I knew what being scared felt like, like when my parents passed away. But looking at Liam now, I feel a new kind of fear, one I've never felt before. Liam stands right in front of me, his face hard to read, like he's hiding something. My hands are held behind my back, and my shirt is messy. I don't feel strong or brave anymore.

"Liam..." I say softly, hoping he'll listen. But he only steps closer, his eyes cold, like he doesn't care."What would you do to make me stop?" he asks quietly, which makes me even more nervous.

"Let's just grab the phone and leave," Maxwell says, but he doesn't let go of my hands. Liam doesn't look at him-he's just staring at me. Liam picks up a piece of my hair and twists it around his fingers. "So... Frozen," he says, calling me by his nickname.

I don't like how he's looking at me, and I feel myself moving back. "Say something, Frozen," he says, his hand moving closer to my collar. I take a deep breath and say, "Fine! What do you want? "Liam steps back a little, still watching me with those serious eyes. "Everyone calls me King," he says."And?" I answer, not understanding.

"But you don't," he says, raising an eyebrow."Why would I call you that?" I ask, confused.He gives a small, mean smile. "Who said you could call me by my first name?" I feel a bit braver. "If you try to hurt me, I'll tell on you," I say. Maxwell laughs a little. "You shouldn't have said that," he mutters. Liam frowns and pulls me from Maxwell's grip, holding my wrists behind my back. He takes my phone and hands it to Maxwell, who walks away.

Liam looked down at me. "Let me go," I whispered, staring at the ground, too scared to meet his gaze. "No," he replied quietly, his hand resting over my heart, making it race even faster.

Sophie felt tense, trying to pull away, but Liam kept talking, smiling as he held her hand firmly. A button on my shirt slipped open, revealing a bit of my bra. "Are you putting on a show for me?" he asked with a smirk. "No. Please just leave me alone," she said, frowning. Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You've got some fire in you, Sophie."

Sophie took a deep breath, hoping to stay calm. She knew he was testing her patience, trying to get a reaction. She was determined not to give him that satisfaction.

"Why don't you just tell me what you want?" she asked, wanting the conversation to end. "An apology," he said with a casual tone, but there was a hint of challenge in his eyes. Sophie felt her frustration rise. "Apology? You're the one causing problems!"

Liam only laughed, brushing off her anger. "It's not so simple, Sophie. You've... made things more interesting." Sophie had enough. "I won't let you get to me," she said firmly. He looked her up and down. "We'll see about that." She stood her ground, refusing to back down. Liam's gaze stayed fixed on me, intense and almost pleased. He seemed to enjoy making me uncomfortable, as if it gave him energy.

When I pushed back, he only tried harder. First, he demanded my phone, then he made me call him by his last name, and now he wanted me to say "sorry." Each time I said "no," he got even more persistent.

I knew he only wanted to see me struggle. He wasn't interested in apologies; he just liked being in control.

"I'm sorry," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Do you really mean that?" he whispered, leaning close. "I'm not that easy to fool."

He dismissed my apology, obviously enjoying my effort to stay calm. "What do you really want, Liam?" I asked, hoping he'd end this. He just chuckled. "You'll have to figure that out."

Then, he teased me, saying I should cry if I wanted him to leave me alone. He was pushing, trying to break me. Finally, I felt tears escape. Liam watched, pleased, until a phone rang, cutting through the moment. He sighed, annoyed, and told me to "make smart choices" before he left.

When he was gone, I turned and ran, tears falling as I put distance between us. I cried because I couldn't understand what I'd done to make him hate me so much, that he seemed to enjoy hurting me.

Running through the rain left me exhausted. My clothes clung to me, shoes soaked, and my toes went numb from the cold. I stopped in the garden, leaning over, catching my breath with a shaky hand on my chest. The rain felt comforting, even if it couldn't reach the hurt inside.