Chapter 1: Perfect on Paper
The Carter estate glittered like wealth incarnate—chandeliers dripping crystal tears, velvet drapes suffocating the windows, and furniture polished so finely it could reflect a broken heart.
Jace Carter stood stiffly near the marble fireplace, his blazer too perfect, his silence too practiced.
His father, Victor Carter, stood at the head of the room, raising a glass toward the golden boy beside him.
"Now that's what I call leadership," Victor said, voice rich with pride. "Eli handled the board like a true Carter. He's ready to take the company further than I ever did."
Eli Carter flashed his award-winning smile. The prodigal son—charming, confident, untouchable. Not a bead of sweat had graced his brow in weeks. He hadn't attended the meetings. He hadn't prepped the presentations. He hadn't even opened the reports Jace had spent endless nights preparing.
But he stood there, basking in praise that wasn't his.
Jace didn't say a word. He'd learned better. Speaking up wouldn't change anything. It never had.
Victor finally turned to him. His tone shifted like a blade unsheathing.
"And you—stop hiding behind excuses. You're wasting your time, your potential, and this family's name. You're not a child anymore, Jace. Step up."
He didn't wait for a response. He didn't need one. With a satisfied grunt, Victor turned and walked off, a hand on Eli's shoulder like a crown being passed down.
Jace stood there in the silence they left behind. Just like always.
The next day, the halls of Westbridge High felt tighter than usual. Crowded, loud, filled with faces that knew his name—but only because they laughed when it was insulted.
"Coming through, nobody," Sabrina Cole snapped, brushing against Jace's shoulder as she passed.
Flawless. Ruthless. Sabrina moved like she owned the school—and everyone in it. Her smirk was sharper than her eyeliner, and she wore cruelty like designer perfume.
Behind her, Eli followed, spinning a basketball on his fingertip. The leader of the varsity team, the school's favorite golden boy. Just like at home.
He stopped long enough to smirk at his brother.
"Didn't know we had charity cases roaming the halls," he said, loud enough for nearby students to snicker.
Jace kept walking, jaw tight. He didn't flinch. Not here. Not now.
Eli reached a hand toward his shoulder, maybe to shove him, maybe just to remind him of his place—but another hand caught his wrist mid-air.
"Touch him, and I'll touch you back," said Leo Martin coolly.
Leo stood tall, basketball in one hand, eyes sharp. Captain material in every sense, except the team belonged to Eli. Leo didn't care. He didn't need a title to act like a leader.
Eli raised both hands, grinning. "Relax, tough guy. Just saying hi."
Sabrina rolled her eyes and dragged Eli off like a bored queen done with her minions.
Leo turned to Jace. "One of these days, you've got to stop letting them walk over you."
"I'm used to it," Jace muttered.
"Doesn't mean you should be," Leo said, tossing the ball to his other hand. "They act powerful because they know you won't fight back."
Jace didn't answer. He didn't have to.
He just walked on—alone in a crowd full of people who believed a lie.
❓ Reader Question:
If you were in Jace's shoes—unseen, uncredited, constantly underestimated—
Would you stay silent… or would you finally fight back?