The days were spent shuttling between home and college. Aeris hardly saw his father, as he spent most of his time on business trips or at the company.
The family felt like many individuals occupying a large villa, occasionally sharing a meal.
Moreover, after that day, Amara kept her distance from him. The deliberate noises and her frowning and sulking expressions were clearly meant to get his attention.
If it were Aeris from his previous life, he would have already conceded to her various coy antics. But the current him didn't care about her. He was already showing mercy by not targeting her.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
"What did Aunty Zinti make today?" Leo put his arm around him. As he thought about the delicious chicken fry they ate yesterday, he couldn't help swallowing.
"You starving ghost." Aeris put on an annoyed look. He rolled his eyes at someone whose saliva was practically dripping from his mouth.
"Why do I always have to share my lunch with you? Why don't you eat at the cafeteria?"
Leo wasn't offended. He knew that Aeris had brought enough for both of them and he was just putting on an annoyed act.
He smiled cheekily.
"Come on, don't be stingy. I won't eat much today. Just give me a bite."
"You think I'll believe you?"
The duo quickly drifted out of view.
Freya stared at the back of Aeris until it disappeared from the door. She didn't realise the longing and resentment flashing in her eyes.
Noticing Lile staring at her maliciously, she felt despair like never before. She wanted to forget the consequences and resist with everything she had. Yet it was just a thought after all.
Taking a deep breath, she rose from the seat and rushed forward trying to escape from the devil's clutches, only to be yanked back by her hair.
Back to Aeris and Leo, the duo was enjoying a sumptuous lunch at the top of the water tank.
With his mouth full and a chicken leg in his hand, Leo stared at Aeris, eyes full of exaggerated jealousy.
"You know what I envy the most about you? It's not about your rich family but having to eat all the delicious food every day."
Aeris raised his eyebrows amused. He patted his head and said with a fake pity.
"Poor child. Here, take more."
Leo was stunned. He pointed at himself, eyes wide with disbelief.
"... Are you treating me like a dog?"
Aeris chuckled in response.
"Tell me..."
"Bang!"
The rooftop door was pushed open violently.
"Bitch! How dare you resist? You really think I can't do anything to you, huh? I'll let you know the consequences of offending me."
Aeris and Leo exchanged a glance and cautiously shuffled to the edge of the tank.
Below stood five girls, surrounding a disheveled girl.
The girl, who looked like the leader of the group, clutched the girl's hair and dragged her in a circle.
"Ahhh... I am sorry. Please, let go. It hurts so much."
The hair was released and the girl fell to the ground. Her scalp hurt so much it felt like it was about to be detached from her head.
"Girls, beat up this slut." The leader ordered her friends.
Anger flushed Leo's face. He was about to shout but it was quickly blocked by Aeris's hand.
He gave Aeris a puzzled look.
Aeris whispered to him to listen carefully and not act rashly. The moment the girl begged for mercy, he recognised her.
Freya.
As far as he knew Freya, she couldn't be completely innocent. Besides, he didn't want to interfere in her affairs.
And as expected.
"Who gave you the guts to seduce my friend's fiance, huh?"
"Do you think no one can see that you were just playing hard to get?"
"Borrowing money from a strange man and insisting on giving a tuition in return? Do you take yourself as a female lead of some cinderella novel?"
"Shameless!"
Lile stood to the side and watched indifferently as her friends vented her anger.
Freya protected her head as kicks and punches landed on her, sparing no parts of her body.
The sounds of beatings and groans, along with the abusers' curses, went unnoticed by the people below the building.
After finally venting her anger, Lile asked her friends to stop.
She crouched down, grabbed a handful of Freya's hair, and lifted her head to meet her gaze.
"This is just a friendly warning. If I see or hear any more rumors involving you and my fiance, I will destroy you. I mean it. Got it?"
Freya's bloody face filled with fear as she met those venomous eyes with unhidden malice.
She hurriedly nodded, tears streaming down her face. She wished she had never provoked such a vicious person.
The gang left, leaving behind the badly beaten Freya.
Freya wept loudly, cursing her own fate. She hated those rich people who acted arrogantly, relying on their parents' power and money.
She stood up slowly with great difficulty and walked to the edge of the building. Watching the people play, laugh, and walk in groups, numbness and deep loneliness gripped her whole body.
Many of them never had to worry about life, while all her years of hard work and patience could be taken away by a single command from them.
At that moment she felt completely disheartened. The unfairness at home, and in the workplace was almost driving her crazy. On top of that, she couldn't even find any peace at college.
What was the meaning of such a life?
Freya broke down. The quiet sobbing and her thin trembling shoulders looked heartbreaking from behind.
Minutes passed. She wiped the tears and blood from her face and brushed the dirt off her uniform. Limping slightly, Freya left the place.
All this time, Aeris watched indifferently.
His memories flashed back to his previous life. Aeris knew that Lile's fiance was a well-known playboy in the wealthy circle. So he had warned her not to get close to him. But Freya had insisted otherwise.
This event had also occurred in his previous life. However, since Aeris was there to protect her, Lile just warned her and didn't take further action.
Later, after learning that Aeris had taken a liking to Freya, the boy distanced himself from her.
The reason was simple. The boy's family was not worth mentioning in front of the Hunter family.
Yet, Freya placed all the blame on Aeris, accusing him of being domineering and disrespectful.
They entered a long cold war that only ended after several days of coaxing and Aeris acting like a dog.
Back in the present, Aeris broke away from the memories and saw only the departing figure of Freya.
Taking in all the negative emotions, he turned towards Leo, as it was almost time for their next class.
Leo had his head lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
Aeris could sense his dilemma, but he did nothing about it. Some things had to be figured out on one's own.
"Come, let's go." Aeris packed up the unfinished lunch and jumped down from the tank, landing perfectly.
As they walked down the stairs, Leo spoke, his voice hoarse and heavy with tension.
"I shouldn't have stayed silent. No matter what, it's the boy's fault. He's the one who's engaged. The girl shouldn't alone be held responsible."
Aeris paused, but only for a breath. After a brief silence, he spoke casually, without any heaviness in his tone.
" Then what? Do you have the power or influence to face Lile's family? What about your parents? Are you going to put them in danger because of a classmate who isn't even close to you?"
"...."
" I can't but you can.."
Aeris halted and stared straight into Leo's eyes.
Unable to meet his gaze, Leo dodged. Yet he still spoke with difficulty.
"If you step in, Lile will definitely give you face. I know Freya wasn't innocent either, but they could have warned her or given her a light lesson. They were too brutal. And you had the power to stop it."
Aeris's face was icy-cold.
"You know I have two half-brothers constantly looking for a chance to bring me down. My father doesn't care which son rises to the top. So tell me....where is this power and influence you speak of? Or do you expect me to risk my future by offending a powerful family merely for an unknown classmate?"
Leo's face turned red in embarrassment at the cold rebuke.
"I..I.."
Flustered, he was unable to complete his sentence.
"I have no interest in keeping a saint as a friend. We should keep our distance from now on."
Aeris had always been decisive in his action. Since the friendship wasn't worth keeping, better cut it off early.
Although he didn't think Leo was at wrong, their values clashed, and continuing the friendship would only lead to future conflicts.
Leo turned pale as he watched Aeris walked away, decisively ending their friendship.