Leila Thimothee.
The youngest daughter of the Thimothees, the very family that had destroyed the bond between the four families. The reason they split. The reason pain still lingered like a shadow.
Leila was trouble wrapped in arrogance. A complete menace. And for some reason, she was always after Bella, mocking her, provoking her, clawing at her peace every chance she got.
Bella ignored her every time, avoiding her like one avoids a buzzing mosquito. But Leila? She only grew more agitated.
One day.
Bella was walking down the college corridor when Leila stepped directly into her path.
"Well, well, well… look who we have here," Leila drawled, loud enough for everyone around to hear. "Miss Isabella Smith… the precious youngest daughter of the great, mighty military family."
Bella rolled her eyes and walked past her without a word, which only fueled Leila's irritation.
"Everyone in your family serves the nation," Leila continued mockingly, trailing behind her.
"But look at you… a Smith in a cooking school? How disappointing."
Bella clenched her jaw but kept walking, refusing to give her the satisfaction.
By then, a crowd had gathered, students sensing drama and forming a circle.
Leila smirked cruelly.
"It's simple, really. Just ask Mr. Smith… who was with his wife that night…"
PAKK!
A sharp slap echoed through the corridor, stunning everyone.
Bella stood there, palm still raised, eyes blazing.
Leila froze, her cheek burning red.
"Now do you understand who my father is?" Bella said, her voice trembling with anger. She turned to the crowd, glaring fiercely.
"Does anyone else want to discuss my family?"
Silence. Not a soul dared breathe.
"You…!" Leila lunged to grab Bella's arm, but Bella was faster. She twisted Leila's hand away and locked her in a headlock with fluid ease.
Leila struggled, face turning red with humiliation as whispers filled the corridor.
Bella scoffed.
"It's my choice not to join the military. That doesn't make me weak."
Her voice dropped to a deadly calm. "Certainly not weaker than you."
Laughter and murmurs spread among the students, all directed at Leila.
"I'll let you go this time," Bella said, pushing her to the floor. "Don't show me your ugly face again."
She walked out.
Leila fell, palms scraping the ground. Rage twisted her expression.
"I will show you who Leila Thimothee is," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Wait and watch. I will take everything from you."
Some days passed like this.
It was the day before Bella's graduation.
She sat on her bed, thinking hard.
'Tomorrow is my graduation day… Should I make a plan?'
She suddenly stood up.
"Yup. I should surprise him. I've decided, I'm going to propose to him tomorrow."
She giggled to herself, cheeks warming with excitement.
Meanwhile, Rick and Ben were deep in discussion with Alex, who was on the phone.
"You have to squeeze the information out of her," Alex said from the other end.
"But how, man?" Rick groaned, sipping his Coke.
"That's on you," Alex replied.
"Me?" Rick blinked in confusion.
Ben shrugged.
"Of course. You're the heartthrob of the campus," Alex added dryly.
Rick smirked, striking a dramatic superstar pose.
"So you're going to charm her and make her talk."
Rick's expression instantly turned horrified. Ben burst out laughing.
"What?! No! How can I? Absolutely not! Bella will murder me if she sees me charming her rival!"
Ben raised one eyebrow.
"Bella?"
Rick looked everywhere but at him.
"Yeah… she's not on good terms with that young Thimothee. And… she's a good friend of mine. She'll kill me if she thinks I'm flirting with her enemy," he said quickly.
Ben nodded, only half convinced.
"Whatever you say. But it has to be you. Ben can't enter the campus. Everyone knows him as the Chief's son."
"But…" Rick hesitated.
"Tomorrow is graduation day. Bella will be busy. So take, Leila… Deila…. whatever her name is, to lunch and try to get her brother's location," Ben said.
That's when Rick remembered.
'Shit! Tomorrow is her graduation… I still need to find her the perfect gift. Should I... propose?'
He blushed slightly at the thought.
"Hello?! Earth to Mr. Filsch." Alex's voice snapped him back.
"I… I'll talk to her. But don't expect me to act all lovey-dovey with that girl," Rick muttered.
"Do whatever you want. Just don't underestimate her. She may be young, but she's still a Thimothee. A despicable one," Alex warned.
Rick and Ben agreed and went their separate ways, each planning for tomorrow.
Bella was preparing a sweet, heartfelt proposal for Rick…
…while far away, unknown to everyone, Leila was patiently weaving a hellish net of misunderstandings.
Next day.
Ben and Rick were out together, trying to find a suitable graduation gift for Bella.
"Hey, help me choose something, okay? You know her likes and dislikes better than I do," Ben said.
Rick smiled proudly. "Of course, buddy. She's not fond of jewellery or clothes. I'd say a customised knife set or something useful like that."
Ben looked at him in awe. "Wow. You really know her well."
"Okay, what are you gifting her, Rick? Want to buy something from here?" Ben asked as he started the car again.
"No, no. I already prepared her gift. And don't ask me, it's a secret." Rick shrugged.
Ben chuckled and drove off.
"By the way, why are you hanging out with me? Aren't you supposed to seduce that Thimothee witch?" Ben teased.
Rick's expression soured instantly. "Stop it, Ben. I have a different plan. And eww!!! who in their right mind would want to talk to that b*tch?"
Ben burst out laughing. "Looks like Mr. Filsch has a personal grudge against her."
Rick just shrugged, making a face.
Meanwhile, Bella was preparing a sweet little proposal for Rick.
'He's definitely going to like this, she giggled to herself.'
"Miss Isabella, your department head, Mrs. Barnes, is asking for you," a random student called out.
"Oh. Okay." Bella stood up, picking up her books.
"Oh, yes, she's waiting for you at the meadow behind the ground."
Bella frowned. "Behind the ground?" she asked skeptically.
The student nodded.
Bella nodded back and headed toward the ground. As soon as she walked away, the student made a quick phone call.
"Hello, I did what you asked. She's approaching the ground."
"Good. Your payment is done. Now leave immediately. Make sure no one sees you," the voice on the other end instructed.
The student quietly disappeared.
On the other side of the campus…
Leila smirked viciously. "You took the bait, Miss Smith. Now wait for your heartbreak."
Bella reached the meadow. It was almost empty, except for a presence behind a giant tree. She frowned and walked around to see who it was.
The moment she reached the front, her heart dropped. She gasped, the books slipping from her hands and falling to the ground.