Chapter 33

Victor’s reign over the school had been easy in Alex’s absence. Without Alex to challenge him, no one dared stand up to him or his crew. He’d enjoyed the sense of power that came with being the untouchable bully, lording it over everyone else. For a moment, life seemed perfect.

But all that came crashing down when he heard the news.

“Alex is back,” Jake said, his voice a mixture of disbelief and something close to fear. Emily was beside him, wide-eyed and chewing her nails, a nervous habit she’d picked up when things got tense.

Victor’s initial reaction was one of surprise, his heart skipping a beat. Alex, back? After all this time? How? Where had he gone? The rumors were wild—some said he had transferred, others thought he had been expelled or worse. And yet, here Alex was, back like a ghost from the past.

Victor clenched his fists, trying to suppress the growing feeling of unease in his chest. He couldn’t deny it: part of him felt threatened. The last time he and Alex had faced off,