He Killed Me Then Loved Me Chapter 02
I was seated next to Charles.
It was an elite private school, owned by the Spence family. Damian Spence, Charles’s father, had sponsored me, partly because he wanted me to be a good influence on Charles, to keep him on track academically. But given his rebellious streak, I found that highly unlikely.
During class, Charles lazily lifted his gaze and said, all casual and offhand, “Catalina, I’m thirsty.”
His gaze landed, bold and unmistakable, on the clear water bottle on my desk. My spine went rigid. It was my water bottle. I’d already drunk from it.
In my previous life, it was precisely because of this that I had turned him down in a low voice. Then his gaze darkened with a dangerous edge.
Ignoring the teacher’s shocked gaze, he snatched the bottle and smashed it into pieces. With a cold sneer, he said, “An eyesore.”
He didn’t bother to lower his voice, and the other kids looked over, but no one dared to say a word to stop him. The teacher acted as if nothing had happened and continued to teach.
But after that incident, the other kids in class started bullying me even more ruthlessly. I got cornered and roughed up in the bathroom, had my hair yanked, and got slapped around.
Being bullied by the entire school was like quicksand. The more I fought back, the deeper I sank. And all of it started with Charles’s silent approval.
By the time I came back to the present, I’d already handed him my water bottle.
An imperceptible smile passed through his eyes. But he didn’t reach for it. After a long moment, he lowered his gaze and said with an air of refinement, “Open the lid.”
I forced myself to remain calm and did as he said.
He drank very slowly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, the lines of his profile smooth and pleasing. But I wasn’t the slightest bit enchanted. All I felt was wariness and caution.
A while later, the bottle was empty, but he seemed like he hadn’t had enough.
He turned his head, eyes narrowing. Then he commanded, “Bring me water at the basketball game tomorrow afternoon.”
I parted my lips, but in the end, I didn’t say no.
What I had learned from my previous life told me crossing him wouldn’t do me any good.
I bought water. By the time I arrived at the basketball courts, the game had begun. The two teams were neck and neck.
I sat in a secluded corner, ready to bring him the water when halftime rolled around.
But no sooner had I sat down than Vanessa came over, followed by a few lackeys. They were like sharks that had smelled blood.
“Catalina, what are you doing here?
“If you think just because Chuck’s got your back, I don’t dare lay a hand on you, then you’re wrong.”
“I’ve asked around. Mr. Spence sponsored you. That’s all. You’ve got no connections at all.
“You’ve got some guts, going after my guy. You’re way out of your league.”
I didn’t even spare her a glance, which only infuriated her more.
She strode forward and yanked my hair, sending a sharp sting across my scalp. I was forced to look up at her.
She curled her lips, a smug, arrogant smile on her face. “I can put any bitch in her place. Anytime I want.”
In the very next second, her expression changed drastically, and she screamed, “How dare you fucking hit me?”
I’d hurled the bottle of water I’d bought for Charles at her face, hard. It rolled down the stairs into the distance.
I watched it roll away, then pulled my gaze back. I dusted off my hands and made to stand up.
Seeing this, Vanessa’s lackeys closed in on me, ready to beat me up.
I’d never been in a fight before. But thanks to the memories of my previous life, I knew exactly where the human body was most vulnerable. The eyes, the ears, the stomach, and the thighs… Vanessa and her crew had hit me in all those places.
Today, I’d give it all back to them.
By the time their faces were swollen and bruised by my hands, the first half of the game had finally ended.
When Charles walked over, I was covering my cheek, panting slightly.
He looked at me, his voice unreadable, no anger, no amusement. “Where’s my water, Catalina?”