Astrid always sat in the front rows.
Not out of habit, but by choice.
The first seat. The place where she didn't need to turn her head to see the professor, where answers came clearly and confidence felt natural. That was where someone who knew who they were sat.
And Astrid knew.
She was talented. Intelligent. Beautiful enough that she had learned an important rule early in life: keep your distance.
Especially from wealthy men.
The kind who confused interest with entitlement.
The ultra-rich.
Of course, Adrian Valmont belonged to that category.
He said he was in love with her.
Astrid had never fully believed him.
The Valmonts lived in a different world.
Astrid had never forgotten that.
She had attended enough high-society events to understand that there were simply people whose horizons did not overlap with yours.
Adrian belonged to that world.
She did not.
The richest and most powerful family in the city did not fall in love with girls like her; they displayed them. Turned them into elegant trophies, pleasant distractions. Something beautiful to show off... and replace.
That was what Adrian must have seen when he looked at her.
An expensive toy.
Nothing more.
And yet...
He had been considerate. Polite. Even careful.
Enough to confuse anyone.
But Astrid did not deceive herself.
She knew her place.
She always had.
That was why she wanted to prove her worth.
Not for him.
For herself.
She wanted to stand out without favors, without shortcuts, without owing anything to anyone.
To build something of her own.
Something that could not be attributed to smiles or someone else's surname.
That had been the plan.
But now...
Astrid tightened her grip on the pen, staring at the page without truly seeing it.
She couldn't even begin.
The project she had imagined for months —clear, structured, possible— had stopped before the first step.
Not because she lacked ideas.
Not because she was afraid.
Because of limitations.
And that was what hurt the most.
Adrian, on the other hand...
Ever since entering university, he was already listed as responsible for several companies within the Valmont Group.
Real companies.
With employees, contracts, and million-dollar projects.
Astrid had never understood how someone his age could hold such a position.
Maybe it was his surname.
Maybe it was his wealth.
Probably both.
There were people who seemed to start the race several meters ahead of everyone else.
In class, he didn't seem to put in much effort either.
He didn't always get the highest grades.
Sometimes he skipped classes.
Other times he seemed distracted, as if university were just another obligation.
And yet...
Everything always seemed to work out for him.
Astrid lowered her gaze.
It wasn't envy.
Or at least, that was what she wanted to believe.
It was something much more uncomfortable.
The feeling that the world did not deal everyone the same cards.
She had done everything right.
She had studied.
She had planned.
She had worked for every result.
And yet, she still found doors closed.
Adrian, on the other hand, seemed to have been born holding the keys to all of them.
Before, whenever some guy got too close to her, Adrian would intervene.
He never caused a scene.
No threats.
A simple look was enough.
A brief sentence.
And the problem disappeared.
Astrid had never asked him to do that.
In fact, it annoyed her.
But eventually, it had become part of their routine.
Not anymore.
Now Adrian walked past her as if she were just another student.
He didn't look.
He didn't speak.
He didn't even seem to notice who walked beside her.
It was strange.
Not unpleasant.
Strange.
And that strangeness was creating an effect she hadn't expected.
Oliver seemed to have interpreted that silence as an opportunity.
Astrid sighed inwardly.
"I need to talk to him..."
She didn't want to give him false hope.
If she continued allowing that closeness, she would only make the misunderstanding grow.
It wasn't fair.
Not to him.
Not to her.
"No need," she finally said, adjusting her bag over her shoulder. "Thank you."
Oliver withdrew his hand with a slightly awkward smile.
"I thought maybe we could review the project together sometime."
"I'll think about it."
As they walked toward the exit, Astrid raised her gaze almost out of habit.
Adrian was at the end of the hallway.
Surrounded by Leo, Marco, and Bruno.
And, as always...
Sara was right beside him.
The young woman laughed as they walked.
At one point, she began unbuttoning the collar of her shirt with obvious annoyance.
"It's hot..."
"I told you to buy a bigger size," Adrian commented without even looking at her.
"My mother says I can still wear this one."
"Your mother wants to blind me."
Sara burst out laughing.
"You're exaggerating."
They continued walking.
Astrid watched the scene for only a few seconds.
It was strange.
For years, she had seen exactly the opposite.
Adrian kept a certain distance from Sara when Astrid was nearby.
Now it seemed to be the other way around.
He didn't even push her away.
Nor did he seem uncomfortable with that closeness.
And, most strangely...
He hadn't looked in her direction even once.
Astrid looked away.
How strange.
That was all.
Strange.
Nothing more.
However...
Oliver continued walking beside her.
Talking to her.
Waiting for answers.
And Astrid realized that this change was already producing consequences.
If things continued like this, Oliver would end up believing that he truly had a chance.
She let out a small sigh.
She would have to talk to him as soon as possible.
She didn't want to encourage a misunderstanding.
The next morning, Astrid gathered the courage to speak with her father.
She had waited all night.
Maybe it was just a bad moment.
Maybe there was a simple explanation.
She took the folder containing her project and walked to the main office.
She knocked twice.
—Come in.
When she entered, she stopped.
Something was wrong.
Her father was still sitting behind the same enormous desk as always.
But he was not the same man.
His tie was slightly loosened.
His beard was beginning to show along his chin.
And beneath his eyes were dark circles Astrid had never seen before.
Several empty coffee cups sat on the desk.
Open documents.
Charts.
Financial reports.
Even the phone remained off the hook, as if he had ended a call only moments ago.
For the first time she could remember...
her father looked tired.
Truly tired.
He raised his eyes and, upon seeing her, tried to smile.
It was a brief gesture.
Forced.
—What is it, Astrid?
She felt a knot form in her stomach.
—I wanted to talk to you about my company.
Her father remained still for several seconds.
Then he looked at the folder she was holding in her hands.
He did not even try to open it.
He simply lowered his gaze.
That small gesture was enough for Astrid to understand that something was wrong.
Very wrong.
—I finished the business plan —she said, trying to remain calm—. Everything is ready. I just need the initial capital.
Silence settled between them again.
Her father closed his eyes for a moment.
As if gathering those words required more effort than it should have.
—Astrid...
When he looked at her again, there was something in his expression she had never seen before.
Guilt.
—We can't.
Two words.
Nothing more.
But they weighed more than any explanation could have.
Because Astrid did not hear only a refusal.
She heard a reality she had never imagined.
For the first time in many years...
a door was closed.
The trip outside the city had begun like any other activity organized by the university.
Private buses.
Supervising professors.
Carefree conversations.
The students walked through the gardens of the complex, some taking photographs, others discussing future projects or family connections.
Everything seemed perfectly organized.
Too perfect.
Astrid observed the place while reviewing the notes she had brought in her backpack one last time.
Activities like this were not simple excursions.
They were opportunities.
Important people.
Invited businessmen.
Professors with connections.
Every conversation could become a door to the future.
Then it happened.
Several black vehicles entered through the main gate.
Too fast.
Too determined.
The doors opened before they had even fully stopped.
Armed men stepped out one after another.
Covered faces.
Bulletproof vests.
Assault rifles.
They did not look like amateurs.
—Nobody move!
The shout echoed throughout the entire area.
For a second...
nobody reacted.
Until the first shot into the air shattered the silence.
Panic exploded.
Some students screamed.
Others dropped to the ground purely by instinct.
Several professors tried to intervene.
—Calm down! Don't...
The strike of a rifle stock silenced them.
The man who appeared to lead the group slowly scanned the crowd.
He was not looking for money.
He was looking for people.
—You.
He pointed at a student.
—You.
A girl.
—You.
Another young man.
He selected them quickly.
As if he already knew their names.
As if he had studied their faces before arriving.
Then he pointed at Astrid.
—You too.
Astrid felt the color drain from her face.
A man approached and grabbed her arm.
—Walk.
She instinctively took a step back.
—Let her go.
The voice came from the side.
Oliver.
He had moved forward without anyone noticing.
His hands were empty.
His breathing was heavy.
But he did not retreat.
The kidnapper slowly turned his head.
The barrel of the rifle pointed directly at the boy's chest.
—Back away.
Oliver swallowed.
He knew he could not win.
He had known it from the moment he saw those weapons.
But he also knew that if he did nothing, Astrid would disappear right in front of his eyes.
He clenched his fists.
—Let her go.
The man let out a short laugh.
—Brave...
He raised the rifle.
For a moment, the entire place fell silent.
Astrid felt her heart stop.
—Oliver...
He took another step.
He did not get any farther.
The rifle stock struck his face with brutal force.
The impact sent him crashing to the ground.
Blood began sliding down his forehead.
Even so, he tried to stand.
—Oliver!
Astrid wanted to run toward him.
The kidnapper's grip tightened around her arm.
—Don't even think about it.
Oliver placed one knee on the ground.
His legs trembled.
His vision was beginning to blur.
But he stood again.
Once more.
The man watched him for a moment.
—Enough.
This time, it was a kick to the abdomen.
Oliver fell onto his back, unable to catch his breath.
Two more kidnappers immediately stepped forward.
Not to continue beating him.
But to restrain him.
They knew he was not a real threat.
But they had too little respect for courage to allow another interruption.
The leader turned his attention back to the other students.
—Listen carefully.
His voice was cold.
Calculated.
—We did not come here to kill anyone.
We only want the people we selected.
If you cooperate...
everyone will return home.
If anyone tries to play the hero again...
that will change.
No one answered.
Only sobs could be heard.
Heavy breathing.
And Oliver's desperate struggle to stand again.
Astrid looked at him one last time as she was pushed toward the vehicles.
He had failed to stop them.
Not even once.
But he had tried.
The engines began to roar.
The kidnappers forced the selected students onto the bus.
No one resisted.
No one could.
One of the men turned the barrel of his weapon toward Adrián.
—What about him?
Before he could approach, the leader grabbed his arm.
—Don't even think about it.
The man frowned.
—But he's a student too...
The leader pulled a folded photograph from his pocket and showed it to him for only a moment.
Adrián Valmont.
In one corner, a warning written in red ink.
DO NOT TOUCH.
DO NOT INTERACT.
IF HE INTERFERES, ABORT THE OPERATION.
The kidnapper looked up, confused.
—Who the hell is...?
—Forget it.
The leader put the photograph away.
—There isn't enough money in the world to kidnap a Valmont.
The man swallowed.
He immediately lowered his weapon.
He did not look at Adrián again.
Astrid climbed the steps with trembling legs.
Before entering, she turned her head one last time.
Her eyes met Adrián's.
He was still where he had been from the beginning.
Still.
Calm.
Watching.
Astrid held his gaze for only a moment.
She said nothing.
She couldn't.
But her eyes were searching for an answer.
The bus doors closed.
The vehicles began moving away.
Only when they disappeared among the trees did Adrián slowly take his phone from his pocket.
He dialed a number.
—This is Adrián Valmont.
His voice remained as calm as ever.
—Several students from Valmont University have been kidnapped.
He paused briefly.
—Activate the protocol.
He hung up.
Behind him, hurried footsteps could be heard.
Oliver's uniform was torn, and blood was still running down his forehead.
He stopped in front of Adrián.
He looked at him with anger.
—Why didn't you do anything?
Adrián put his phone away.
He did not answer. He simply watched him for a moment.
Only he knew the effort it took to keep his hands still. The fear was still there, buried deep in his stomach. But if there was one thing he had learned in his previous life, it was that panicking had never solved a single problem.
If he had intervened...
Something worse would have happened.
The first ones to die would have been the students.
—You could have tried to stop them!
The silence was more irritating than any excuse.
Oliver clenched his fists.
—If you're just going to stand here and wait...
...then I'll go.
Oliver took a step.
He staggered.
He placed a hand against a tree to regain his balance.
Blood continued dripping from his forehead.
Even so...
He started running.
He disappeared between the trees within seconds.
Leo watched him leave.
—Boss...
Adrián kept his eyes fixed on the path.
—Leave him.
—And us?
This time, Adrián slowly raised his gaze.
The calm was still there.
It was the calm of someone who understood that there were people far better equipped to handle that task.