Hannah walked to Amelia hurriedly, a concerned expression plastered on her face.
Amelia saw the girl approaching her from the corner of her eyes, and her earlier sour mood worsened even more.
She wanted her first day of university to be less of a worry because she wanted to celebrate her earlier admission.
For that, she even thought that rather than indulging in any activities, she would focus on her surroundings because this time around, she didn't want to repeat the same mistake of believing the wrong people.
"Amelia, what are you doing here?" Hannah asked, blinking her eyes innocently as if Amelia's presence alone was a sin.
Amelia didn't say anything for a few seconds.
There wasn't a pleased expression on her face like she used to have when she would look at her elder sister. Nor did she have the infamous innocent expression she would muster to impress Killian, who stood at some distance.
Instead, everyone could see an unbothered, nonchalant gaze that she swept over Hannah.
She looked at her from head to toe, Hannah's new dress glaring back at her.
Amelia once mentioned that she wanted something like this when she went shopping with Hannah. But she also knew that her father would never spend that kind of money on her, so she gave up the idea.
However, now that same expensive dress was on Hannah, mocking her, was a clear indication that all their fake poverty only appeared when it came to buying things for her. For Hannah, everything was more than enough.
If their father really wanted to be so partial, why even bother having more children than he could afford?
A mocking smile appeared on Amelia's face before she looked at Hannah with a clear expression.
"Why? Why can't I be here, sister Hannah?" She asked.
Hannah shook her head.
"I know you want to study at this prestigious University too, Amelia, but our dad could only afford the fee for one of us. I thought you wouldn't be arriving after… that's why…" Hannah deliberately left the sentence hanging.
Amelia chuckled inwardly when she saw the looks of contempt pass on everyone who heard their conversation.
Rather than mentioning her marriage, Hannah made it look like she wasn't coming back because of the rumors spreading about her.
Just because she wasn't back with the town didn't mean that people weren't talking about her absence on the night of that trek.
Hannah and Killian knew she had fallen into the ditch and no one had helped her, but they still allowed people to think that she had spent the night with someone else and had lost character.
But wait. Given their personalities, what were the chances that Hannah was the one who spread the rumors, too? The thought alone made Amelia want to slap Hannah, but she held herself.
She wasn't going to go easy on Hannah.
Hannah took a deep breath before faking a dejected look with a forced smile.
She stepped ahead and held Amelia's hand.
"If you want it so much, should I give my spot to you? I think that would be right," Hannah said, tears brimming her eyes.
Amelia didn't say anything, enjoying her act.
"Why would you give your spot to her? Didn't you say your mother always wanted to see you attend college?" Alpha Killian asked as he walked forward to defend Hannah.
He glared at Amelia, his expression screaming rage as if he was minutes away from throwing hands.
"I have never seen a more shameless person than you, Amelia. You already snatched so much from her. The least you can do is let go of the idea of taking away her studying opportunity, too," Alpha Killian said.
Everyone started nodding at Alpha Killian's words.
"Alpha Killian is right. You should be more thoughtful for your sister,"
"Your sister is so thoughtful. You don't even deserve it. I don't think a person with loose morals and character should even study with us,"
Various words started to echo in the corridor.
Aaron, Ryan, and Derrick, who were going to their classes, stopped when they saw the commotion and stood at some distance, watching everything.
"That's the same girl who bad-mouthed me! Ha! She really is one rude girl. Look at her getting into trouble with so many people on her first day," Aaron said.
Ryan didn't comment.
He just kept observing while Derrick pushed his chick on the wall and started kissing her neck, making Aaron nearly throw punches at him. After all, he gotta hear those stupid words because of Derrick's actions.
"You said Mom wanted to see you at the college. You are just one year older than me. I didn't know your memory was so sharp, sister Hannah," Amelia said.
Hannah widened her eyes, and more tears brimmed them.
"Amelia, it's okay if you don't want to give up the spot. Why are you making a scene and cursing our mother who died giving birth to–?" Hannah started, but Amelia raised her hand, stopping her.
"Sister Hannah, I love you. I would do anything for you, even lay down my life for you. However, I don't understand why you are persistent on me giving or taking this spot that Father arranged. Why do you think I came here to snatch the spot from you?" Amelia feigned innocence.
Hannah paused.
What did her sister mean by that? If she wasn't here to snatch the spot from her, then why… Hannah's pupils dilated.
"You mean…" she stuttered.
"I am here to study, just like everyone else. And my fees had already been paid. Not by our father, of course," Amelia spat the last sentence to Alpha Killian before she smiled back at Hannah.
"I earned that money by my decoctions. Coming first place in academics has its perks. Don't you think so? I am Amelia Everleigh, the prodigy among healers, remember?" Amelia said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Once she said her piece, she turned to Alpha Killian.
"And Alpha Killian, I know your brain is the size of the smallest walnut, but please try to use it sometimes. It comes in handy, believe me," Amelia said before she walked ahead.
Alpha Killian stood rooted in his place, his head buzzing with the girl's words. Disbelief was written all over his face.
Did this girl always have this kind of sharp tongue? Why was he seeing it only now?
"Bro, that was dope," Aaron said, silently cheering at her comeback before he remembered how that girl had said some mean words to him too.
"Rudeness runs in her veins," Aaron scoffed before he walked ahead with his brothers, his gaze moving up and down Alpha Killian.
He rolled his eyes before leaving.
Killian could see that he was thoroughly humiliated today and all of that happened because of Amelia.
"Alpha Killian, please forgive my sister. Don't take her words to heart. She is just peachy because you rejected her," Hannah pretended to speak in her favour.
"That doesn't give her the right to insult me. The only reason I let her go this time was because you wouldn't like it. Next time I won't let her leave like this. Girl or not, I won't let people look down on me. I am an Alpha," Alpha Killian growled, his growl a clear warning to everyone looking at him and people immediately scurried away.
Amelia, on the other hand, took a deep breath before shaking her head.
This won't be easy, but it would be satisfying. She smirked as she remembered Hannah's expression.
She could've said that King Cyrus arranged everything for her, but she didn't want Hannah to conspire to sow discord between them.
With Hannah's cunningness and tricks, anything was possible and it was better she didn't underestimate her.