Ryan’s Pov

Just when I thought we were going to get along after spending some time together, my dad decided to spoil the moment by sending me a message, threatening me.

Dad: “Come back home now! Or else your little sweetheart and her entire family will go down and their blood will be on your head.”

His usual way, taking lives as if he were the owner of that very life that he has taken. But it scared me a bit. If anything should happen to Elena and her mom and her sister, I would never forgive myself. Dragging them into my family affair isn't what I envisioned but it has happened that way and I owe it to them to protect them against my father.

“Elena, let's go. Please don't make me repeat myself,” I said, while dragging her by her wrist to the car.

“If you can just explain to me what happened, maybe I won't be struggling and you won't be dragging me as if I stole Something from you.”

“Let's just go, we will come back another time. Something came up, I’ll explain everything to you later.”

She stopped arguing and struggling, she entered the car with an angry face. The ride back to her house was a very quiet one, no words were exchanged between us.

****

“Dad, can you just leave Elena and her family away from whatever games you're playing?”

He smirked. “Son, the moment you brought her here and introduced her as your girlfriend, she became my business and a tool to use.”

“I don't even love the Senator's daughter, so what am I supposed to do with her then?”

“You'll adjust with time and love is for weaklings. A real man doesn't have feelings for anyone, what they owe their significant other is an obligation. And I know you're not a weakling, you had better remove ur mind from having feelings for anyone!” He yells.

He walks away after making me feel how incapable I am of making my own decision. He has always controlled my life, as the head of the Blackwoods clan, his word is final, no argument, no rebellion else judgment will be served cold.

I’m used to everyone talking about and throwing little glances my way but what I wasn't prepared for was the silence I walked into when I got to my class. Immediately I stepped foot inside my class, the noise stopped, the giggling stopped, the arguments between two girls sitting close to my seat were loud enough that I could hear from outside but immediately I entered the class, they stopped arguing and all eyes were on me. I was used to the noise, not the silence and the stares.

I suddenly felt relieved that they could for once be quiet and allow me to think about ways to overcome Edward Blackwoods.

By noon everyone on campus started whispering anywhere I passed, saying words that I couldn't quite hear.

On my way to the cafeteria, Tasha came from behind me, I noticed but I kept walking to avoid any discussion with her.

“Ryan, wait up please.” she pleaded.

I waited until I heard how breathless she was from running.

“So it's her now? Your new girlfriend?” She asked as she brought her phone closer to my face, only to see an image of me and Elena sitting in the park.

That was when it occurred to me that the reason for the whispering and silent stares was. I wanted to snatch the phone from her, but she was faster. She quickly removed the phone and kept it in her bag.

I was angry not surprised, I know it will get to this someday but I didn't expect it to be sooner.

“Tasha, how did you get the video?” I asked.

She smiled but a wicked one, one that says ‘I’ll deal with you’

“It's in the school's group chat, I took it from there. You know, you really think you could replace me with that girl?” she asked.

I gritted my teeth, I had already asked someone to take down every video that had to do with Elena and me. But this particular video is still there?

“If I were you, I would stay away from this picture or any discussion that had to do with Elene and me. What we have is different from what you and I had, so just back off.”

She stood and stared at me.

“Ryan, can't you see this girl doesn't mean well for you? The whole campus is talking about it, about you. Some think she's classless and baseless, while some think she's not your type and she doesn't fit into your social circle,” she said.

“So is that why you had someone follow us, and also take our pictures so that you can post them to the group chat and have the entire campus make fun of me and Elena?”

She flinched, and her eyes became teary.

Seconds later she said, “I didn't do that Ryan, I can't stoop so low to run after my ex or frustrate his new relationship,” she said as she tried to defend herself.

“If you're not the one who did it, then who did?

She was scared by the way my voice became chilled. A flash of fear and something flashed across her face.

“Then maybe you should look inward. You have a very large family and Elena has an older sister. Look inward Ryan, I'm not against you though I’m hurt.”

“Tasha, you of all people know what exactly I can do to the person who did this.”

“Ryan, I care about you and your reputation, and you know I can never do something like this. You know what I can do, we spent a really good amount of time together in the past, you know exactly the kind of things I'm capable of doing.”

Just then a thought crossed my mind, Tasha might be right, as no one knew about my visitation to Elena’s house apart from her sister, Cara. And if Tasha who happens to be my ex isn't the one who had us followed then who did?

Cara.