The Rightful Heir

Liam’s POV

Crestwood University wasn’t just a school—it was an empire built for the rich, by the rich. A place where last names mattered more than merit, and money was the key to everything. If you weren’t born with a silver spoon, you were just another background character, an extra in the story of the elite. 

That was me. 

I had learned that the hard way.

As I walked through the grand marble halls, my shoulders throbbing with pain from the excessive book I had stashed into my bag.

I could feel the sneers, the sideways glances. My faded shoes, the second-hand clothes I had carefully ironed this morning, and the cheap wristwatch my mom had given me on my last birthday—all of it shouting I don't belong in here. 

I don't fit in. 

I was the charity case, the scholarship student. The poor kid surrounded by royalty.

“Hey, loser.” I heard a voice behind me. 

I barely had time to react before a hand slammed into my back, shoving me forward. I stumbled, barely catching myself before my books fell on the cold floor. 

Laughter echoed behind me.

Ryan Blackwood.

I didn’t have to turn around to know it was him. His voice carried the easy arrogance of someone who had never been told ‘no’ in his life.

“Why do you even bother showing up, Carter?” Ryan’s voice said sarcastically, making me want to throw a punch at his face.  

“Crestwood isn’t for people like you. I bet the janitors earn more than whatever pocket change you scrape together.”

The crowd around us chuckled, and I swallowed hard, my hands tightening around my backpack straps. Fighting back would be useless.

Ryan wasn’t just any rich kid—he was the heir to the Blackwood Empire, one of the biggest business conglomerates in the country. His father probably had enough money to buy this entire school twice over.

And me? I was just the son of a struggling waitress who worked double shifts to make sure I had enough to eat.

Ryan leaned in, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “And just so you know, Melissa is mine. She was never interested in a broke nobody like you. Do you honestly think you can win her over with just studying? I bet she is paying you some change to have her work done." 

My heart clenched at his words, but I refused to let it show. I refused to give him the satisfaction.

Melissa.

The girl I had known since freshman year. The girl who had once smiled at me, who had laughed at my stupid jokes, who had promised we would always be friends no matter what. 

The same girl who, just last week, had been in my dorm room, asking me for help with an essay.

And now she was with Ryan.

I had seen the photos, the ones she had posted on her social media—wrapped around his arm, sitting in his sports car, dressed in designer clothes. At first, they meant nothing 

Everyone wanted to be friends with Ryan and I don't blame her. She gave me the attention I needed, that was all that matters. 

I had wanted to believe it was just a misunderstanding. That she wasn’t like the others.

But I was wrong.

“Move.”

Ryan shoved past me, his minions following, each of them flashing me smug grins. I stood frozen for a second, willing myself to stay calm. Losing my temper wouldn’t change anything.

I exhaled sharply and kept walking.

The humiliation didn’t stop there.

By lunchtime, I had already been bumped into three more times, each “accidental” shove sending my books or my tray of food tumbling to the floor. It wasn’t new. This was just another normal day at Crestwood.

I slid onto a chair at the end corner of the cafeteria, keeping my head down.

“Mind if I sit here?”

I looked up to see Noah, my only real friend at this school. He wasn’t rich either, but he was better at blending in than I was. He had a way of keeping his head low, staying out of trouble.

“Sure,” I muttered.

Noah dropped his tray down, giving me a sympathetic look. 

“Ryan again?”

I gave a small nod. There was no point in denying it.

Before Noah could say anything else, the cafeteria suddenly erupted into cheers and gasps.

I turned my head toward the commotion.

At the center of it all stood Melissa and Ryan.

Melissa had a microphone in her hand. “I just wanted to say,” her voice rang through the speakers, “that I’ve found the love of my life.”

My stomach dropped.

She turned, smiling sweetly at Ryan, before getting on her tiptoes and kissing him in front of everyone. The cafeteria exploded in cheers, laughter, and whistles.

And then, her eyes met mine.

I knew what she was doing. This wasn’t just a public confession. This was a message.

A message that I was nothing.

I felt Noah shift beside me uncomfortably. “Liam—”

But I didn’t hear the rest. I had already stood up, grabbing my tray and walking out of the cafeteria.

The laughter followed me all the way down the hall.

The day only got worse.

By evening, I was in the library, my head resting against my arm, trying to ignore the dull ache behind my eyes.

I couldn’t keep doing this.

No matter how hard I worked, or how much effort I put in, I would always be at the bottom of this social hierarchy. No amount of intelligence or book reading would ever change the fact that I wasn’t one of them.

My phone buzzed on the table.

It was my mom.

I hesitated before answering. “Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, sweetheart,” her voice was warm but tired. “How’s school?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “It’s fine.”

A pause. “Liam…”

I could hear the concern in her voice.

I forced a smile she couldn’t see. “Really, Mom. It’s fine. How’s work?”

She sighed. “They cut my hours again. But don’t worry, I’ll figure something out. Just focus on your studies, okay?”

My grip tightened on my phone. I knew what she wasn’t saying. Money was tight. It had always been tight.

I glanced around the lavish library, at the students wearing clothes that probably cost more than our rent for a year. The bitter taste of resentment settled on my tongue.

I wasn’t just humiliated.

I was tired.

Tired of struggling. Tired of being at the bottom. Tired of being reminded every single day that I wasn’t good enough.

Something had to change.

I just didn’t know how.

Not yet.

But I would.