The knock on the classroom door came halfway through the lesson.
Three sharp taps.
The room fell quiet.
Mr. Antoine paused mid-sentence and looked toward the door. Mrs Chen, wearing a dark blazer as usual, stood outside, her expression stiff and formal.
"Liam Adrien," she said, loud enough for the class to hear. "You're needed at the administration office."
A soft murmur spread across the room.
Liam didn't react at first. He slowly lifted his head, his face calm, almost bored. But his eyes shifted immediately—straight to Oliver.
Oliver felt it at once.
His fingers tightened around his pen. His chest tightened too. He knew. Of course he knew. Rumors didn't summon students to the office for no reason.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, the whole class disappeared.
Oliver's face had gone pale. His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something but didn't know how. Fear sat plainly in his eyes—not fear for himself, but for Liam.
Liam held his gaze a moment longer.
Then, very deliberately, he gave Oliver a small nod.
It wasn't loud. It wasn't dramatic.
But it said everything.
I've got this.
Liam stood up, pushing his chair back calmly. He didn't rush. He didn't look around. He picked up nothing, carried nothing—just walked out of the classroom like someone who had nothing to hide.
The door closed behind him.
Oliver swallowed hard.
His heart wouldn't stop racing.
The walk to the administration block felt longer than usual.
Mrs Chen didn't speak. Liam didn't ask questions. His hands were in his pockets, his shoulders relaxed, but his mind was sharp. He already knew what this was about.
Rumors.
Whispers.
Stories that people loved to twist until they became ugly.
They stopped in front of a large wooden door.
"Wait here," she said before walking in.
Liam stood alone in the hallway.
For a moment, he closed his eyes.
Oliver's face flashed in his mind again—quiet, tense, trying to disappear. Something in Liam's chest hardened.
The door opened.
"You may come in."
The office was cold and neat. Too neat.
Three people sat inside: the vice principal, the school counselor, and another senior staff member Liam barely recognized. Papers were spread across the table.
"Sit down, Liam," the vice principal said.
Liam did.
They studied him for a moment, like he was a problem they were trying to solve without touching. They wouldn't dare to offend the Adriens family.
"We've received several reports," the counselor began carefully, "about inappropriate behavior involving you and another student."
Liam didn't flinch.
"Inappropriate how?" he asked calmly.
The vice principal cleared his throat. "Public displays. Disruptive conduct. Behavior that has caused unrest among students."
Liam leaned back slightly. "So… rumors."
The room stiffened.
"These are serious matters," the senior staff member said. "This school has a reputation to protect."
Liam's jaw tightened.
"And what about the students being harassed because of those rumors?" he asked. "Was that mentioned in your reports?"
Silence.
The counselor exchanged a look with the vice principal.
"We're aware there were some… comments," she said slowly.
"Comments," Liam repeated. His voice was still calm, but something sharp lived underneath it. "People saying cruel things. Cornering someone. Making him afraid to walk into a restroom."
The vice principal frowned. "Is that accusation based on evidence?"
Liam leaned forward now.
"It's based on reality," he said. "And if this meeting is about who should be warned, then you're calling the wrong person in."
The room went quiet.
"You're saying the rumors are false?" the vice principal asked.
Liam shook his head. "I'm saying my personal life is not your problem. But the bullying happening in this school is."
The counselor looked uneasy. "Liam, we only want to prevent further issues."
"Then do your job," Liam said plainly. "Because the problem isn't me caring about someone. The problem is students thinking they can humiliate another student and get away with it."
The vice principal sighed. "You must understand how this looks."
Liam stood up.
"I understand perfectly," he said. "And I'm not ashamed of it."
He paused, then added, quieter but firm, "If anyone is punished for this, it won't be Oliver."
The counselor blinked. "Oliver?"
Liam didn't correct himself.
He turned and walked toward the door.
"Liam," the vice principal called. "We're not finished."
Liam stopped with his hand on the handle.
"Yes," he said without turning around. "You are."
And then he walked out.
Back in the classroom, Oliver hadn't heard a single word the teacher said.
The door opened.
Liam stepped inside.
Oliver looked up instantly.
Their eyes met again.
This time, Liam didn't nod.
He smiled.
Not a wide smile. Not a teasing one.
A steady one.
Oliver's breath finally released.
Mrs. Adrien's office sat at the top floor of the Adrien Group building, all glass walls and polished marble. From where she sat, the city looked small. Cars moved like toys far below. People hurried, unaware of how much power rested in this room.
She liked it that way.
She was signing documents when her secretary knocked lightly and stepped in.
"Ma'am," the woman said carefully, "Golden Crest Academy called earlier. They said it was… important."
Mrs. Adrien's pen stopped mid-sign.
"What about?" she asked without looking up.
The secretary hesitated. "It concerns Liam."
That got her attention.
Mrs. Adrien slowly set the pen down and lifted her head. "Continue."
"They said he was summoned by the administration today. Due to some rumors circulating in the school."
The air in the room changed.
Mrs. Adrien leaned back in her chair, fingers pressing together. Her face stayed calm, but her eyes sharpened.
"Rumors," she repeated. "About what?"
The secretary lowered her voice. "About his relationship with another student. A boy."
For a moment, Mrs. Adrien said nothing.
Then she laughed softly.
"A school calling my son over gossip?" she said. "How bold of them."
But the laugh didn't reach her eyes.
"Did they say what action they intend to take?" she asked.
"No, ma'am. Only that they were 'monitoring the situation.'"
Mrs. Adrien stood up abruptly.
She walked to the window, heels clicking against the marble floor. Her reflection stared back at her—perfect hair, perfect posture, perfect control. That reflection cracked just slightly when she clenched her jaw.
"So it's reached that level," she murmured.
Oliver.
Her chest tightened, with fear disguised as anger. Fear of scandal. Fear of whispers in boardrooms. Fear of investors asking questions they shouldn't ask.
Fear of losing control.
"Cancel my next meeting," she said sharply.
"Yes, ma'am."
Mrs. Adrien turned back to her desk and picked up her phone.
She stared at Liam's contact name for a long moment before locking the screen again.
"No," she muttered. "Not yet."
Calling him now would only make him defensive again.
She needed to act first.
"Find out exactly what happened at that school today," she ordered. "Who spoke. Who complained. And who is spreading those baseless rumors. Think they've got nothing else to do. Busy bodies"
The secretary nodded and left quickly.
Mrs. Adrien sank back into her chair.
Her mind went back to her own youth. To expectations. To rules. To being told love was something you learned to endure, not choose.
Liam doesn't understand, she thought. He's young. He thinks feelings are enough.
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"I won't let him ruin his future," she said quietly to the empty office. "Even if I have to protect him from himself."
Outside, the city kept moving.
Inside, Mrs. Adrien made a decision...