The maltreated Heir

chapter two

Morning came slowly for Liam.

His body surged with pain the moment he had his eyes opened.

His head throbbed with every breath he took, as though his skull had been cracked open and poorly stitched back together.

He groaned softly and shifted on the bed.

Memories of yesterday flashed through his head. Vanessa's slap and Jason's men beating the hell out of him.

For a moment, he stared blankly at the cracked ceiling above him, his chest rising and falling unevenly.

Then he turned his head slightly and winced. Everything hurts.

He slowly pushed himself up, his hands trembling from the effort.

His knuckles were bruised and swollen, dried blood clinging to a part of his body.

A faint smear of red stained his shirt from the night before.

He didn’t bother changing.

What was the point?

His gaze drifted to the corner of the room where the empty space on the couch sat like a reminder.

Vanessa’s presence was gone, but the weight of her words echoed in his mind.

“It was just a bet.”

Liam let out a bitter laugh, though it came out with the pain of betrayal.

He dragged himself out of bed and splashed water on his face.

The coldness of the water felt refreshing but it did nothing to calm the rage he was feeling..

He had to go to school but for a second, he considered not going.

But that would only make things worse.

If he missed another day, he risked being completely locked out. His tuition was still unpaid, and today might be his last chance to explain himself.

Liam grabbed his worn bag and stepped out of the house.

*

The campus of Westbridge University was alive as usual.

Students walked in groups, laughter echoing through the neatly trimmed lawns and polished walkways.

Expensive cars lined the parking lot, shining under the morning sun like trophies on display.

Liam felt out of place the moment he stepped into the school compound. A few heads turned the moment he walked in and maybe a few more.

“ He came.”

“Isn’t that him?”

“The one Jason beat up?”

“No, he hit Jason first.”

“I heard Vanessa dumped him on the spot.”

“Of course she did. Look at him.”

Liam clenched his jaw and kept walking. He didn't need to explain himself to anyone.

He could feel their eyes on him. Each gaze judged, mocked, dissecting every bruise on his face like it was entertainment.

By the time he reached the administrative building, his chest felt tight.

The office smelled of polished wood and expensive perfume.

Behind the desk sat a stern-looking woman, her glasses resting low on her nose as she scanned a file.

She didn’t look up immediately.

“Name,” she said flatly.

“Liam Gray.”

Her fingers paused. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and adjusted her glasses, studying him more carefully now.

“I was expecting you.”

That wasn’t a good sign.

She pulled out a document and slid it across the desk.

“You are one week overdue on your tuition payment,” she said. “Today is the final deadline.”

Liam swallowed.

“I know. I just need a little more time. I’ve been working, and I—”

“This is not a charity,” she interrupted coldly.

Her words hit harder than he expected.

“I’m not asking for charity,” Liam said, trying to keep his voice steady. “Just a few more days. I can pay—”

“You’ve already been given an extension.” she said with a stern look on her face.

The room fell into an awkward silence.

Liam’s fingers tightened around the strap of his bag. “Please,” he said quietly. “If I get thrown out now, everything I’ve worked for—”

“Rules are rules, Mr. Gray.”

She stamped a paper and pushed it toward him.

“Failure to meet today’s deadline will result in your suspension from all academic activities.”

Liam stared at the paper as he read the termination of his education. The words blurred for a second.

Suspension.

His chest tightened again.

“Is there… anyone else I can speak to?” he asked.

The woman leaned back slightly, her expression unmoved.

“You may try the Dean’s office. But I wouldn’t get your hopes up.” she said and immediately went back to what she was doing.

The walk to the Dean’s office felt longer than it actually was.

Students passed by him, some whispering, some openly staring now.

The story about the fight had spread through the school.

By the time Liam reached the hallway, a small crowd had already gathered nearby.

And at the center of it was Jason Reed.

He was perfectly dressed, his clothes nicely tailored and he was putting on a fancy shoe.

Vanessa stood beside him, her hand lightly wrapped around his arm, as if she had always belonged there.

Liam stopped walking.For a brief moment, their eyes met.

Vanessa’s expression didn’t change. Not even a flicker of guilt.

Jason, however, smiled. “Well, if it isn’t the hero,” Jason said loudly, drawing more attention.

The crowd quieted just enough to listen.

Liam forced himself to move forward. “I’m not here for you,” he said.

Jason chuckled. “Funny. Because it seems like trouble follows you everywhere.”

A few students laughed.

Liam ignored them and reached for the office door.Jason stepped in front of him.

“Careful,” he said, his voice dropping slightly. “You don’t want to make things worse for yourself.”

Liam’s patience snapped. “You’ve done enough already.”

Jason’s smile faded just a little.

“Oh, you think this is enough?” he asked softly. “You hit me yesterday, Liam. Do you have any idea what that means?”

Before Liam could respond, the door behind them opened.

A tall man stepped out,his gaze moved from Jason… to Liam and finally to the small crowd.

“What is going on here?” he asked.

Jason spoke first.

“Sir, I was just about to report an incident from yesterday,” he said calmly. “This student assaulted me.”

Murmurs spread instantly.

Liam’s stomach dropped.

“That’s not what happened,” he said quickly. “He—”

“I have witnesses,” Jason cut in smoothly. “Plenty of them.”

Vanessa stepped forward. “I saw everything,” she said.

Liam froze. His heart beating super fast.

The last bit of hope he had cracked.

The Dean’s expression hardened.

“Mr. Gray,” he said. “Step into my office. We have a lot to discuss. Your life depends on it.”

Jason let out a smirk as he walked into the Dean’s office with Liam trailing right behind them.