Silent Scars

CHAPTER 70

Kendric stood beside Luca, awkwardly bouncing on the balls of his feet like a restless puppy.

He leaned closer to the closed door, dramatically pressing his ear against it.

"Are they... like... talking? Or is Dom just sitting there breathing all weird?"

He whispered loudly.

Luca sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Kendric, back up before you break the door with your forehead."

Kendric pouted, rubbing his forehead even though it didn't hurt.

"I'm invested in their friendship story, okay? Healing starts with communication!"

Luca gave him a sidelong glance.

"Healing also needs privacy."

Kendric huffed but obeyed, dramatically flopping onto the nearest bench. His phone buzzed again; Kendric glanced at it... and froze.

The bright screen flashed an article:

"Minister Steps Down After Daughter's Bullying Confession: Public Apology Issued"

Beneath the headline, pictures of Hannah and her father at a press conference. Hannah tearfully admitted she had bullied multiple students. Her father, grim faced, admitted to covering for her and resigning from his political position.

Kendric stared at it, mouth falling open.

"Yo, Luca!!"

He hissed, shooting up from the bench.

"You need to see this."

But before Luca could react, Kendric stormed toward the door, throwing it open without even knocking.

"You messed up the whole damn school and you did this too?!"

Kendric burst out, his voice full of surprise, disbelief, and undeniably pride.

He shoved the phone out toward Domain like an accusation and an offering all at once.

Domain blinked, clearly caught off guard. He grabbed the phone from Kendric's hand, eyes narrowing at the headline.

A tense beat passed before he said flatly,

"It's not me."

Across the room, Ariana shifted on the bed. Her wide eyes flickered to the screen, reading the bold words.

Her heart thudded hard against her ribs.

Hannah... apologized?

For a second, Ariana didn't move, didn't even breathe.

A thousand memories crashed into her, laughter turning sharp, whispers turning cruel, the isolation, the bruises she'd hidden under long sleeves and silence.

The fear that it might be a trick gnawed at her.

That it wasn't real. That she'd be laughed at again.

But this... this didn't look like a setup.

It looked real.

It felt real.

The walls she had built around her heart, walls that kept her safe, trembled.

She didn't know what to feel.

Relief?

Shock?

Grief for the apology that had come too late to erase the scars already carved deep inside her?