Ring!
It was 7:30 a.m. Charlotte groaned and smacked the purple alarm clock by her bedside, cutting off its sharp ringing.
"Jeez, what an annoying noise…" she muttered, rubbing her eyes.
She glanced at the clock again. 7:30 a.m. Her eyes widened.
"Oh my! I overslept?!" she gasped, throwing off her covers. "No one woke me up for school?"
She sat up quickly, heart racing. "Thank goodness this isn't the orphanage. Sister Tina would have dealt with me," she muttered, still half in disbelief. "I've got to get ready—I'm so late!"
Charlotte rushed out of bed and picked up the phone.
"Jenny!" she called, breathless. "Please get the things I need for school ready—and take my handbag to the car!"
Without waiting for a reply, Charlotte darted into the bathroom for a warm, refreshing bath. Minutes later, she was in her dressing room. She applied her lotion, deodorant, and perfume, brushed her hair, and added light makeup.
Afterward, she picked out a floral pair of shorts with a white, purple, and yellow pattern, matched it with a yellow singlet, and topped it off with a stylish purple blazer. Dressed and ready, she stood in front of her mirror.
She gave herself one last look. "Perfect," she said with a confident smile.
She slipped on her shell-shaped earrings, patted Licky—her dog—on the head, grabbed her phone, and stepped out.
Outside, Abby was already in another car with her nanny. She waved cheerfully at Charlotte through the window.
Charlotte waved back as her own driver opened the door for her.
"Good morning, Miss," he greeted politely. "Your parents left a few minutes ago. Your dad asked me to inform you—he wants to see you in his office during recess."
Charlotte nodded. "Alright. Thank you."
She put on her seatbelt, and the driver pulled out of the driveway.
The school wasn't far from the mansion. From a distance, she could already see its stunning marine-blue rooftop glinting in the morning light.
As they approached the school gates,Charlotte spotted groups of students chatting and laughing as they made their way toward the Lecture rooms.
Just meters away stood the grand entrance with tall black gates. And beyond them—the building.
In bold black letters, the name shone proudly on the front wall: ROYALS COLLEGE.
Charlotte's eyes sparkled. Her dream finally came true.
The driver carefully pulled into the VIP parking lot of the school and brought the car to a smooth stop. He stepped out, walked around, and opened the door for Charlotte.
She stepped out gracefully, her eyes taking in the grandeur of the school compound—the polished pavement, the gleaming glass windows, the pristine lawns. Everything looked like a dream.
"Excuse me, Miss," the driver said politely, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Reana, come with me. I was also instructed to take you to the registrar's office. She'll be the one to lead you to your lecture hall."
"Okay, thanks," Charlotte replied with a nod, following him as he led the way, holding a respectful distance behind him.
As they walked, her eyes scanned the school compound, noting a separate block entirely for administrative staff. It was a long corridor of offices, each with elegant nameplates. They passed several doors until they stopped at one with a bold inscription: Registrar.
The driver knocked.
"Please come in," came a bossy female voice from inside.
They entered. Behind the desk sat a woman who appeared to be in her late forties. She wore rose-colored eyeglasses and was dressed neatly in a blue chiffon blouse tucked into a black straight skirt. She looked up from her files and smiled.
"You may have a seat," she said warmly.
"Thanks," Charlotte replied politely.
"Mrs. Hastings, this is Reana Mavurian —the proprietor's daughter you were expecting," the driver announced.
"Oh? Is that so?" Mrs. Hastings said with a welcoming smile. "You're very welcome, Miss Mavurian ."
"Thanks, Sister. It's a pleasure," Charlotte replied, returning the smile.
"I'll take my leave now," the driver said, excusing himself with a small bow before stepping out and closing the door behind him.
"All right, Reana, right?"
"Yes, madam,"
"We were informed that your parents decided to fly you back from Fernland to Mehin, so you could get acquainted with their businesses here."
Charlotte blinked. That wasn't true, but clearly, that was the narrative her foster parents had told everyone.
"Oh—yes, madam. You're right about that," she said with a small, awkward laugh.
"Well then," Mrs. Hastings said as she rose from her chair, "Let's go meet your coursemates and lecturers."
"Yes, madam," Charlotte said, quickly standing up and following behind her.
As they walked down the hallway toward the lecture halls, several students greeted the registrar respectfully. Their curious eyes shifted immediately to Charlotte, scanning her from head to toe. She could hear the whispers. Who is she? She looks so classy. She must be a new student.
Her heart beat faster, but she kept her head high and kept moving.
Finally, they arrived at a lecture hall where a male lecturer stood in front of the class, explaining a topic with the aid of a digital whiteboard. The registrar whispered something to him, and he immediately paused the lesson.
"Excuse me, everyone," he said, raising his voice slightly. "The registrar has something important to tell you."
The room went quiet.
"Good morning, students," the registrar began.
"Good morning, Sister," the class chorused in response.
"Today, we have a new student joining the Business Administration Department. She's not exactly a stranger, though—she's one of us."
She turned slightly and gestured toward Charlotte.
"Her name is Reana Mavurian . Yes, that Mavurian . She's the daughter of the owners of this great institution. She just returned to begin learning more about Mehin and her family's business. So please, make her feel welcome."
"All right, Ma'am," the students chorused again, though many were still staring.
Charlotte smiled awkwardly, trying to stay composed as she scanned the sea of eyes locked onto her.
Gosh, she thought. I can feel all their eyes piercing through me. I know exactly what they're thinking…
Daddy's girl.
She must be feeling like some princess.
She kept smiling, but inside, she was bracing herself.
They were all wondering where she had been all this while, and why she just showed up out of the blue. Charlotte could feel the silent questions hanging in the air like mist. Whispers buzzed softly across the room, though no one was bold enough to ask her anything directly.
She took a seat at an empty desk in the front row—one that seemed suspiciously prepared just for her. A sleek laptop sat on it, and the seat itself looked untouched. Charlotte rubbed her bracelet gently. This special treatment was beginning to make her feel uncomfortable. After sitting, she glanced at her neighbors on both sides.
To her right sat a girl with a playful smile and a wide-brimmed hat perched atop long blonde hair. She wore glasses and a cute jumpsuit that gave off an easy charm.
"Hello!" the girl beamed.
Charlotte smiled back. "Hey."
The girl giggled, clearly excited. She looked like she felt lucky to be seated beside the VIP student.
The giggling caught the attention of the lecturer.
"Adora," he said sharply, "pay attention. Stop giggling."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir," she muttered, trying to straighten up, though she still wore a grin.
The lecturer continued, wrapping up the lesson. "Now that you've all been briefed on the topic, it's time for some independent study. We're doing a flipped classroom model—so tomorrow, come prepared. There are no lectures for the rest of the day, so make sure to use your free time wisely."
With that, he packed his materials and left the room.
A second later, the boy sitting to Charlotte's left turned to her.
"Hello," he said, flashing a nonchalant gaze—and dimples.
Oh my God… Charlotte's heart did a small cartwheel. He's gorgeous.
She returned the smile, trying not to show too much excitement. "Hi."
"The heiress herself," Adora cut in playfully, moving over so she now stands between Charlotte and the guy.
Charlotte laughed shyly.
"My name is Adora," the girl said, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. "And this guy here—" she nudged him, "is Michael. He's my best friend."
"Nice to meet you, Michael," Charlotte corrected herself quickly.
Michael chuckled. "Its a pleasure."
Charlotte felt relieved. Earlier, she thought they were dating. But knowing they were just friends, gave her a quiet kind of hope. She liked him already—and she definitely had a crush.
"I think we should show you around the school," Adora suggested, glancing between the two of them. "Right, Michael?"
"Oh, my driver was supposed to do that," Charlotte said, taking out her phone. "But I'll text him to forget about it. I'd rather hang out with you two."
"Yeah you better" Adora said dramatically.
They all laughed.
"Nice bracelets, by the way," Adora added, eyeing Charlotte's wrist.
"Oh, thanks."
"You're welcome. Now, first stop—the cafeteria. Because I'm starving!"
"Of course you are," Michael said dryly, earning another round of laughter as they got up to leave.
They walked toward the cafeteria, chatting. When they got there, Charlotte offered to pay, but Michael insisted on covering the bill for all three.
"Don't worry," he said. "First day—my treat."
"Thanks," Charlotte smiled, genuinely touched.
They found a table by the window and had barely sat down when three pretty girls who looked like Victoria's Secret's models walked in. They had a similar taste for goth fashion. Charlotte swore they looked like vampires.
The one in the middle, clearly the ringleader, wore a confident smirk and eyes that zeroed in on Michael like a heat-seeking missile.
Charlotte turned her gaze toward Adora. Is she… his girlfriend? Her stomach twisted a little.
Adora leaned over, tapped Michael lightly on the shoulder, and whispered, "Oh well, here comes your ex."
Michael sighed. He tried to take his eyes off them, even though he knew they were approaching him.
"Her name is Isabella," Adora explained with a huff. "She used to be the most popular girl in school. But now that you're here—" Adora raised her brows, "obviously, you'll be taking her place."
Charlotte blinked. "What?"
"Oh, and she had a thing with Michael last year before they broke up," Adora added, elbowing him playfully.
"Hey, stop that," Michael muttered, refusing to be bothered.
Isabella strolled toward their table, her eyes locked on Charlotte with barely concealed disdain. She greeted Michael with a sugary tone.
"Hello, Mike," she purred, ignoring Adora entirely. Then, looking at Charlotte with an icy smile, she asked, "Dora, who's the new girl?"
Adora didn't even look at her.
Charlotte met Isabella's gaze, steady and calm. Let the games begin, she thought.
Isabella folded her arms as she eyed her with thinly veiled contempt.
Michael, sensing the awkward silence stretching between them, stepped in. "Isabella, this is Reana… our new friend, now if you'd kindly excuse us."
Adora scoffed before he could say more. "Wait a minute, Isabella—or whatever you call yourself—do you even have manners? You want to know someone, and you can't even start with a simple hello?"
Isabella turned to her two lanky friends, who immediately broke into mocking laughter, their gum snapping in unison.
Charlotte stepped in quickly, wanting to keep the peace. "It's okay, Adora… Isabella, I'm Reana. Reana Mavurian ."
Isabella blinked, her head tilting slightly. "Uh-huh. Reana Mavurian?" Her voice dripped with disbelief.
"Yeah, you heard her right, dummy," Adora chimed in with a smirk. "She's the daughter of the Mavurians. Looks like cat got your tongue huh!?."
Isabella's smirk wavered for a second before she masked it again. "Oh please, stop bluffing. There ain't no Mavurian kid here."
"She really is the proprietor's daughter. Just accept the truth for once." Michael said calmly,while he leaned back, ankle resting loosely on his knee, shoulders relaxed, giving off the impression that nothing in the room demanded his full attention.
"Well then, Miss Mavurian "—Isabella turned fully to Charlotte now, hands on her hips, jealousy written all over her face—"prove it."
Charlotte simply blinked. Was it really even necessary to prove anything to this self acclaimed most popular girl in school? Because to Charlotte, it was such a non-issue .
"I'm not here to prove anything to anyone," she said coolly. "You'll find out sooner or later."
Almost on cue, her phone buzzed with a new message. She glanced down. It was her father:
"Where are you? I'm going to ask someone to bring you to my office."
She quickly texted back:
"I'm in the cafeteria. They can find me here."
Moments later, a huge man entered the cafeteria, scanning the space before walking directly toward their table.
"Miss Reana Mavurian ?"
"Yes, sir," she replied, rising to her feet.
"Your Dad wants to see you in his office."
As she followed the staff member out of the cafeteria, the look on Isabella's face shifted from disbelief to bitter realization.
"She really is a Mavurian," Isabella muttered under her breath.
In the school's executive office, all the staff members were assembled. The air was formal and full of respect as Mr. and Mrs. Mavurian introduced their daughter to everyone.
"This is our daughter, Reana," Mr. Mavurian announced, placing a proud hand on her shoulder. "She'll be attending classes like any other student, but we expect that no one treats her as just any student. She's here to learn about our institution—and our legacy."
After the brief meeting, Charlotte smiled politely, shaking hands with each staff member, exchanging warm pleasantries. She appreciated the effort her adoptive parents made to give her a formal welcome.
After the meeting ended and the staff dispersed, only Charlotte and her parents remained in the office.
"Reana," her father began, settling into his leather chair.
"Yes, Dad?"
"There will be a party at our house tomorrow."
"A party?" she echoed.
"Yes," her mother added, "It's important that the students get to know who you are socially, not just academically."
"We'll give you some invitation cards," Mr. Mavurian continued. "Use this opportunity to make new acquaintances, Get to know your colleagues."
Charlotte nodded slowly. "I already know two people I'd like to invite—Adora and Michael."
"That's a good start," her mother said with a smile.
"OK, Mom, Dad, thanks a lot,Charlotte said.
"You're welcome dear. You can go now, Mr. Mavurian said.
"Alright, Bye. See you at home."
Charlotte left her adoptive parents' office beaming with smiles. She was so happy; she was going to have a party soon. She went back to the Cafeteria to meet Michael and Adora and share the information with them.
"Jeez, what took you so long, young lady?" Adora asked in her usual humorous manner.
"Sorry about that. My parents delayed me and stuff."
" Any updates?" Michael asked.
"Oh, yeah."
"Yeah, tell us, please," Adora pleaded with puppy eyes.
"Okay, okay, I'll spill. There's gonna be a party at my house this Friday."
"So, are we invited?" Adora asked.
"Of course, both of you are invited," she told them. "Infact everyone is..."
"Great!" Adora said.
"Yeah, that will be figured out tomorrow. Right now, I've got to call my driver to pick me up. I need to keep my kid sister company since my parents will be returning late."
"Oh, you have a kid sister?" Adora asked.
"Yeah. Here's her picture."
Charlotte showed them a few pictures of her little sister on her phone.
"She's really pretty. What's her name? And how old is she?" Adora asked.
"Her name is Rose, and she's five."
"Aww, I wish I had a sibling too," Adora said, looking a bit sad.
"Come on, it's okay. Good friends are like siblings too,you know?" Charlotte said, trying to comfort her.
"Of course, Reana, you're right," Adora agreed. "Mike, how old is Jack? Six, right?" Adora asked, quickly changing the topic. She looked more relaxed.
"Yeah."
"Wow, then Rose needs to meet her new friend," Charlotte teased.
The girls chuckled as Michael pulled out his phone to show them Jack's picture.
"Aww, he is so cute," Charlotte gushed.
"Although he can be very stubborn at times, you know," Michael added. "Well, he's actually sweeter than me, especially when you give him sweet treats."
"Trust me to spoil him always, his teeth will thank me later" Adora said dramatically, and they all laughed.
"Can't wait to see him," Charlotte said.
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was her driver.
"Oh, sorry guys, I've got to go now. I'll call you both later, okay? video call!"
"Bye, take care," they both said as she hurried off.
They waved as she left.Charlotte entered the car, and the driver drove off.