The evening rays filtered through the glass walls of Malcolm College, painting the halls in gold.
Three girls walked side by side, arms folded, each lost in thought.
Valentine sighed softly. The other two sighed with her.
Breaking the silence, Rachel finally said,
"Okay, but seriously… how are we supposed to expose Aurora? She's one of the potential candidates running for the eighth seat in the Student Council."
"What?!" Maysha exclaimed, her and Valentine turning to Rachel at once.
Rachel blinked. "You didn't know? It's all over the campus boards. In three months, the student elections begin. Anyone with the rank can challenge a Council member or run for the open eighth seat. Aurora's a favorite—her dad owns one of the biggest companies invested by Mike Loraine. Plus, she's the head cheerleader for the international division."
"So you're saying we can't do anything because she's powerful?" Maysha frowned, crossing her arms. "Everyone here has connections, right?"
"You don't get it," Rachel said, shaking her head. Then she froze mid-sentence. Her eyes slowly turned to Valentine.
"Wait… Mike Loraine?"
Rachel's head snapped toward Valentine too.
"Valentine," she said slowly. "Where's your family crest?"
Before Valentine could reply, Maysha showed Rachel her phone—a photo of a silver-haired girl surrounded by bodyguards, flashing cameras exploding in the background.
The headline read:
"Daughter of fashion mogul Mitchell Loraine attends the Saint Laurent show in Paris."
Rachel's jaw dropped. "You're kidding. You're a Loraine? Valentine Loraine?"
Valentine blinked, cornered. "...Yeah?"
Rachel gaped. "Girl! No wonder your shampoo smells expensive! You use that Secret Veil line, don't you?"
Valentine shot her a deadpan look. "So you're the reason my brand's been out of stock."
Maysha leaned in. "Wait, but if you're a Loraine—daughter of Mike and Mitchell Loraine—why are you even in Sapphire Class? You're literally Student Council material."
Rachel nodded dramatically. "Exactly! You could've been in the elite class with Andre and Louis!"
Valentine sighed. "My parents and I agreed I'd live a normal life—no titles, no advantages."
Rachel smirked. "Normal life? Please. I saw your black cards at lunch."
Valentine groaned. "They forced those on me."
"Anyway," she said, shaking her head, "that's not the problem right now."
Maysha snapped her fingers. "Actually, I have an idea."
Both Rachel and Valentine turned to her. "What idea?"
"The Fourth Rule," Maysha said, a spark lighting in her eyes.
Rachel frowned. "Fourth rule?"
Valentine's expression shifted, understanding dawning. "Hierarchy and ranks matter, no matter your class or position…"
"Exactly," Maysha said with a grin. "If Valentine challenges Aurora officially, she can't be punished. It's part of the system."
Rachel gasped. "You mean—head-on challenge? Like, publicly?"
Maysha nodded. "If Valentine wasn't high-ranking by blood, it'd be impossible. But she's a Loraine. It's not just legal—it's powerful. She could clear her name and shut Alice's mouth for good."
Valentine frowned deeply. "I don't know… I wanted peace. That's the whole reason I kept my name hidden. I asked for that normal life. I can't just go back on it."
Rachel placed a hand on her shoulder. "If you don't, this could haunt you—and your family. The rumors are spreading fast."
Maysha nodded in agreement. "You can't stay quiet this time. Sometimes silence feeds the fire."
Valentine was quiet for a moment, her gaze distant. Then she started walking again, arms folded.
"I'll think about it," she said softly.
Maysha and Rachel smiled, linking arms with her. "Good. But for now, we're getting snacks and pretending we're not plotting social warfare," Rachel said teasingly.
Valentine chuckled. "Deal."
They walked together toward the dorms, laughter echoing faintly against the marble halls.
By the time they reached the entrance, the sun had begun to dip low.
Maysha waved. "See you tomorrow!"
"Night!" Rachel and Valentine called back.
Inside their room, Valentine dropped her bag on the bed. "Rachel," she said quietly, "don't you think… it's all too strange?"
Rachel looked up, unbuttoning her blazer. "Strange?"
Valentine paced slowly. "Ren. You said he rarely contacts anyone, right? So why me? Why now?"
Rachel shrugged, wrapping herself in a red bathrobe. "Please. You have that main-character aura—people just find you."
Valentine frowned, unconvinced. "When I met him, it felt like… i could read he was hiding something. Like he already knew too much."
Rachel was already halfway to the bathroom. "You're overthinking again, Val. Relax. He's probably just another bored genius who loves drama."
Valentine sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed. "Maybe you're right."
Her eyes lingered on the window for a moment. The glass shimmered faintly under the moonlight, her reflection looking… slightly off.
She blinked and it vanished.
Shaking it off, she lay down. Within minutes, her eyes drifted shut.
The world slipped into darkness.
Hours later, the dorm was quiet.
The bathroom door creaked open. Rachel stepped out, her red robe dry, her hair untouched by steam—as though she'd never bathed at all.
She stood beside Valentine's bed, watching her sleep. Her gaze was distant. Cold.
Then she picked up her phone and typed a message.
Not yet. Let the signs come out more.
A moment later, a reply flashed on her screen:
Crow.
The glow of her phone lit her face for a second.
Then she smiled—small, sharp, and unrecognizable.
💬 Authors note:
Things are getting intense, huh? 😳
What do you guys think—should Valentine reveal who she really is and challenge Aurora? Or will her secret only cause more chaos later?
And that ending... what's Rachel really up to? 👀
Let me know your theories below! Your comments seriously keep me going 💖