The next morning, Las Estrellas Academy felt different.
The video of Ella's speech had gone viral.
Not just in school, but on TikTok, Twitter, even YouTube.
#JusticeForElla was trending in Mexico's elite school circles.
And the Elite Circle?
Cracking.
Clarissa strutted into class late, designer bag on one arm, but her smirk was hollow now.
People moved away from her. Not toward.
Ella watched her fall from the throne—one stare at a time.
But Ella didn't feel victorious.
Not yet.
Because her mom's bracelet was still gone.
And someone—someone—had broken into her life, touched her most sacred memories, and thought they could get away with it.
She wouldn't rest until she found them.
---
During lunch, Ella sat with Naomi and Lexi under the willow tree near the pool house.
Ryan showed up minutes later, bringing smoothies, casually acting like he hadn't just set fire to half the school's social hierarchy.
He slid one to Ella. "You did good."
She shook her head. "Not good enough."
Naomi leaned in. "Actually… there might be a way to finish this."
Ella raised a brow. "I'm listening."
Naomi dropped her voice. "You know Leila? Clarissa's best friend? The one who always looks like she's scared of saying the wrong thing?"
Ella nodded.
"Well," Naomi said, sipping, "She asked me to meet her. Alone. She said… she has something to confess."
---
Later that evening, Ella and Naomi met Leila behind the art building.
She wore a hoodie, hair pulled low like she didn't want to be seen.
"I don't want to be part of it anymore," she said quickly, eyes darting around. "Clarissa… she's gone too far."
Ella folded her arms. "How far?"
Leila hesitated.
"She took your bracelet," she whispered. "She said she wanted to make it personal. She planned the dorm break-in. And…"
"And what?"
"She's blackmailing people. Staff. Even students. Ryan included."
Ella's heart stopped. "What do you mean—Ryan?"
Leila bit her lip. "She found something out. About his past. Something he's been hiding. She said if he didn't stay away from you, she'd expose it."
Ella blinked.
Suddenly, it made sense.
Why Ryan had gone cold weeks before the kiss.
Why he was hesitant at first.
Why he sometimes looked like he was carrying a weight he couldn't explain.
She had questions now—dangerous ones.
But Leila wasn't finished.
"She's planning something. For the Spring Gala. She said it'll 'ruin the peasant girl once and for all.'"
Ella felt a chill.
She didn't know what it was.
But it was big.
---
That night, Ryan found her pacing outside the dorms.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked him, arms crossed.
He froze. "Tell you what?"
"About what Clarissa's holding over you."
His jaw clenched.
"I didn't want you to see me like that."
"Like what?"
"Weak."
She stepped closer. "Ryan, I don't care about your past. But I do care that someone thinks they can use it to hurt us."
Silence stretched between them.
Then he sighed, pulled her to the side of the building, and said in a low voice:
"There's a reason I transferred here last year."
Ella waited.
"I… slept with one of my former teachers. She was married. It leaked. Quietly. But Clarissa's dad was the one who covered it up. She's held it over me ever since."
Ella's mouth dropped.
Ryan looked away.
"She said if I went near you, she'd leak the footage to the press. She has everything."
Ella placed a hand on his chest.
"We'll destroy every piece of it. Together."
And just like that—two broken pieces locked in place.
Not perfect.
But powerful.
---
But later that night, Ella received an envelope under her door.
Inside: a printed screenshot.
A livestream link.
Labeled "GALA NIGHT: COUNTDOWN TO ELLA'S DESTRUCTION."
And a timer ticking down.
Just 5 days.