Chapter 3

I thought the whole thing was over, but I didn’t expect Mason Taylor to block my path after school.

Keeping my hand in my pocket, I discreetly turned on the recording device hidden there. “What do you want?”

Behind Mason were a few delinquent-looking guys, casually smoking and smirking.

Mason stepped closer, his tone mocking. “What do I want?”

He flashed a cruel smile. “Don’t you know what you’ve done?”

I raised my voice. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

One of the guys behind him let out a sharp whistle. “You’ve got guts, girl. Didn’t anyone tell you not to mess with Mason Taylor?”

Another chimed in, laughing, “Yeah, do you even know who you’re messing with? Mason freakin’ Taylor!”

I crossed my arms, feigning indifference. “Oh, so you’re the Mason Taylor?”

Mason lit a cigarette, smirking smugly. “Who else would it be?”

Before I could respond, the headlights of a car cut through the dim alleyway. Miss Garcia stepped out in her usual dramatic fashion, swaying her hips as she approached.

Mason immediately slung an arm around her waist, pulling her close. The group of boys let out a chorus of catcalls and whistles. Some shouted “Miss Garcia!” while others called her “sis-in-law,” their laughter echoing in the alley.

Miss Garcia rolled her eyes. “Stop calling me that. You’re not my students, so why bother with the formalities?”

She gave Mason a knowing look. “Only Mason gets to call me Miss Garcia.”

Her gaze shifted coldly to me, a smirk curling at the corner of her lips. Then she turned back to Mason and said casually, “Just don’t kill her, okay?”

I froze.

I understood exactly what her words meant. As long as they didn’t kill me, anything else was fair game.

Miss Garcia got back in her car and drove off without another glance, leaving me surrounded.

One of the boys dumped an entire cup of milkshake over my head before I could even react.

Then someone grabbed my hair, yanking me to the ground.

They dragged me across the pavement while my books spilled out of my backpack, trampled and smeared with footprints and spit.

Mason’s voice cut through the chaos. “Strip her. Take pictures.”

The boys laughed and got to work, ripping off my clothes piece by piece until I was left in only my undergarments.

I struggled, kicking and thrashing, but it only made them more aggressive. Someone kicked me in the ribs, knocking the wind out of me.

Just as things were about to get worse, the piercing sound of police sirens echoed through the alley.

The boys panicked, snapping a few hurried pictures before scattering.

As soon as they were gone, I scrambled to put my clothes back on, my hands shaking. My first instinct was to check the recording device in my pocket.

It was intact.

When I looked up, I saw someone standing at the entrance to the alley. It was Jeffrey, our school’s student council president.

In my last life, Jeffrey had once helped me pick out a book at the library. That simple act had been enough for Miss Garcia and her cronies to spread rumors—that I was trying to seduce him, that my grades were fake, and that I was nothing but a shameless flirt.

Seeing him again now, I felt a pang of guilt.

In my past life, my ruined reputation had probably affected him too.

But at the moment, I didn’t have the luxury of worrying about that. I was filthy, covered in dirt, and still shaking from what had just happened.

“Did they leave?” Jeffrey asked calmly.

I nodded, realizing it must’ve been him who called the police.

He glanced at the recording device in my hand. “Is it broken?”

“No,” I replied cautiously.

“Then give it to me.”

I blinked, confused. “What? No, this is mine.”

Jeffrey sighed, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. For the first time, I noticed something—he looked a lot like Mason. Especially those sharp, piercing eyes.

“I helped you,” he said, his tone cool. “Shouldn’t you repay me somehow?”

My heart sank, but I kept my expression neutral. I had a suspicion about what he wanted, but I wasn’t sure.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to take a gamble.

“You want to take Mason down,” I said slowly. “We can work together, but I’m not handing over my leverage. I’m keeping control of this.”

Jeffrey froze for a moment, surprised. Then he laughed—a deep, genuine laugh that echoed in the quiet alley.

“Whoever said you weren’t smart clearly didn’t know you,” he said, still grinning.

“Alright, Amanda. How do you want to do this?”

I met his gaze, my voice steady. “I want Miss Garcia ruined. Completely. As for Mason, I’ll document everything he’s done. When the time comes, I’ll decide how to use it.”

Jeffrey extended his hand, his grin turning sharp.

“Deal. Let’s work together.”