Why Are You Disfigured?

Lucian pulled the luxury car to a smooth halt near the school gates. Without another word, Evangeline pushed the heavy door open and stepped out onto the paved sidewalk. The powerful engine hummed softly as the vehicle merged back into the morning traffic, leaving her standing quietly amidst the throngs of arriving students. She tilted her head, gazing up at the imposing gold-lettered St. Jude’s Academy sign arched over the grand entrance. A brief wave of nostalgia washed over her as she took in the sight of the uniform-clad teenagers rushing past. It felt strange to be back in this environment; she had not set foot in a high school classroom for a long time.

Brushing the fleeting memory aside, she adjusted her backpack, strode through the ornate iron gates, and reported directly to the administration office. After a brief orientation, a staff member handed her a class schedule and guided her down the bustling corridor toward her assigned room.

The moment Evangeline crossed the threshold and stepped foot inside her new classroom, her presence sparked an immediate and vicious uproar. The casual, idle chatter abruptly transformed into loud gasps, pointed fingers, and unmasked disdain.

"Is that her? The Vane family's new fiancée? She is hideous. How could she possibly be good enough for any of the five Vane siblings?" a girl in the front row sneered loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Look at that outfit. It is so outdated and ugly. You can smell the country bumpkin from here," another boy chimed in, laughing.

"Why did they put her in our class? If she grew up in the sticks, her grades must be garbage."

Hearing the blatant mockery echoing off the walls, Evangeline clicked her tongue in annoyance. She scanned the hostile faces and instantly deduced that the childish and spiteful Finley was the mastermind behind the rapid spread of these malicious rumors. Only he had the twisted motive to broadcast her background and identity so quickly.

Unbothered by the countless glares piercing her back, she calmly navigated through the narrow rows of desks. No one offered a friendly glance, let alone pulled out a chair for her. She ignored their whispers, moved straight to the back of the room, and took a seat alone in a shadowed corner.

The morning periods dragged on. When the loud bell finally rang for recess, Evangeline stood up, stretched her legs, and headed down the hall toward the ladies' room. She barely took two steps outside the restroom door before a notorious group of delinquent girls moved in, aggressively blocking her path. They wore heavy makeup, illegally modified skirts, and sneers that screamed trouble.

Leading the pack was the arrogant Sloane Whitaker. Sloane crossed her arms, thrusting her chin forward, physically intimidating Evangeline by stepping right into her personal space.

"You must be Evangeline Ashford," Sloane threatened, her voice dripping with venom. "Be sensible. Get out of the Vane Manor and leave Veridale right now, or you will regret it."

Evangeline let out a soft sigh, staring at the hostile faces surrounding her. It seemed the entitled people of this city really did not want her around.

"Did you hear what Sloane said, you ugly freak?" a second girl snapped, cracking her knuckles in a pathetic display of toughness.

Unfazed by the childish posturing, Evangeline met Sloane's gaze with a cold, piercing stare. "I heard her," she replied nonchalantly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her shoulder. "But I am not leaving. I will stay here no matter what you do."

Meanwhile, back in Class 12A, Finley was sprawled across his desk, trying to catch up on sleep. A sudden burst of excited gossip from the desks ahead jolted him awake.

"Did you hear? Sloane from Class 12F took her gang to rough up the new ugly girl."

"Yeah, they cornered her by the restroom. I bet she is crying her eyes out right now."

Finley bolted upright. Panic set in like a cold weight in his chest. He had spread the rumors to make Evangeline's school life miserable, hoping she would run back to the countryside, but he never intended for things to escalate to physical combat. Sloane was ruthless and had a reputation for hurting people. He vividly imagined his grandfather Jeremiah literally killing him if Evangeline actually ended up dead or crippled on his watch.

Without a second thought, he dashed out of the room at top speed, shoving past startled students in the hallway as he raced to intervene.

He sprinted down the corridor, breathing heavily, and burst through the door of the ladies' room.

He froze. The breath hitched in his throat as he was met with a scene of jaw-dropping wreckage. The four terrifying bullies had been systematically beaten to a pulp. They lay groaning on the wet tiles, clutching their bruised stomachs and twisted limbs. Sloane’s head was shoved humiliatingly and forcibly into the porcelain sink basin, the silver faucet dripping onto her messy, tangled hair.

Standing over them like a conqueror, Evangeline dusted her hands. She delivered a chilling warning to the trembling girls writhing on the floor. "I, Evangeline Ashford, hate being threatened more than anything else. Do not ever mess with me again. Got it?"

"We got it!" Sloane whimpered from the sink, struggling to pull her face up. "We were wrong! We are sorry!"

Turning around to leave, Evangeline spotted Finley standing frozen in utter astonishment at the doorway. His jaw hung slack. He knew for a fact that Sloane took advanced kickboxing classes, yet this fragile-looking country girl had dismantled the whole gang without breaking a sweat.

Quickly realizing she needed to mask her formidable, professionally trained combat skills, Evangeline smoothed her expression and lied.

"I built my brutal strength by cutting down heavy trees and climbing treacherous mountains back in the countryside," she explained, shrugging her shoulders as if it were the most normal thing in the world. She casually added, "These city girls are just terrible at fighting."

Finley nervously swallowed the absurd excuse. It sort of made sense in his panicked, racing brain. Still reeling from the intense shock, his face flushed a deep, embarrassing red. He awkwardly turned to hurry away down the hall when Evangeline raised a questioning eyebrow.

She stared at his retreating back and peculiarly asked, "By the way, what is a boy doing bursting into the ladies' room?"

Finley nearly tripped over his own feet. "That is none of your business! I came here because I wanted to!" he yelled back over his shoulder, quickening his pace until he disappeared around the corner.

Evangeline shook her head and returned to the peace of her desk. She had just sat down when her phone vibrated against the wood. An urgent text lit up the screen.

'Help me, Boss!'

Evangeline frowned. Nothing good ever came from that specific plea for professional help. 'What is it?' she texted back.

'Finley Vane of the Vane Family challenged me to a race at the Apex Circuit tonight. He is my sworn enemy. Please help me out, Boss. I need a professional.'

'Not interested,' Evangeline typed, leaning her chin on her hand, ready to put the phone away.

The sender instantly fired another message. 'Did Finley not bully you at the Vane Manor, Boss? He is such a nuisance. Just help me crush him. I will pay you five million if you race and win.'

Evangeline stared at the glowing screen. The sender desperately offered a solid bounty. Deciding that the money was decent and that Finley was annoying enough to warrant a brutal lesson in humility, she reconsidered her stance.

'Okay,' she languidly texted back. 'I am at St. Jude’s Academy. Come pick me up after school.'

She then pulled up Lucian’s contact and shot him a quick, direct message. 'I have personal matters to deal with. Do not pick me up. I will be returning home late.' Lucian simply replied with a brief acknowledgment, clearly uncaring about her whereabouts or safety.

After the final school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Evangeline easily slipped away from the bustling grounds. She walked a block down the street and spotted the waiting, sleek Lamborghini parked by the curb. Opening the door, she slid into the plush leather passenger seat.

The driver, Jace Montgomery, turned to her with a deep frown crinkling his forehead. He stared at her thick, chalky makeup, the awful fake freckles, and her baggy, unfitting clothes.

"Who are you?" Jace bluntly told her, pointing at the door. "You have gotten in the wrong car. Get out." He failed to recognize the hideous woman sitting beside him.

Evangeline slowly curved her lips into a familiar, confident smile. She looked right into his eyes and asked, "Do you really not recognize me?"

Hearing that distinct, commanding voice, Jace's jaw dropped in shock. His eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Holy sh*t!" he blurted out a curse, gripping the steering wheel. "How come you are horribly disfigured, Boss?"

Calmly buckling her seatbelt, Evangeline ignored his dramatic reaction. She instructed him with a casual, authoritative air. "Drive. Find a secure place so I can remove this suffocating makeup before we grab dinner."

Jace swallowed hard, his shock morphing into eager anticipation. "Roger that, Boss!" he enthusiastically replied. He slammed his foot on the gas, starting the engine with a ferocious roar, and sped off into the neon-lit city.