Chapter 65

Alana sat in the reserved section of the hall, watching the chaos of the Robinette Bash preparations unfold around her. Decorations were being hastily hung, the DJ was testing sound equipment, and a few seniors scrambled to set up tables near the bar. Her friends surrounded her, caught up in their own conversations about the party, but Alana was far from interested. She had other things on her mind. Alana had been waiting all day to hear about the results of the midterm exams—results that would determine who would represent the university in the global biochemistry competition. She knew she had to be at the top of the list. After all, she had worked harder than anyone and had all the right connections within the faculty. There was no way she could lose. A sudden movement caught her eye, and she turned to see a girl approaching their group, her face partially covered by a cap and mask. It was Lauren, Professor Patel's assistant, slipping in unnoticed. Alana straightened up, her heart racing with anticipation. She waved her over with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. 'It's nice of you to accept my invitation, I take that you have also received a generous token" Alana said smoothly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. Lauren glanced around nervously, shifting from foot to foot. 'Yes I have. Let's keep this quick. I shouldn't be seen here," she whispered, glancing over her shoulder. Diane, one of Alana's friends, raised an eyebrow. 'Alana, what's going on? Why is Professor Patel's assistant here?" 'Shut up, Diane," Alana hissed, shooting her a cold glare that silenced any further questions. Lauren, visibly uncomfortable, handed Alana a folded piece of paper. Alana's friends crowded around her as she unfolded it, their curiosity piqued. The score sheet showed the results of the midterm exams—exactly what Alana had been waiting for. "The department board is considering Ashleigh Hartman as the first choice for the global biochemistry competition," Lauren explained, her voice quiet but clear. "She's got the top score so far, and some of the senior faculty are supporting her nomination. You're in second place, Alana." Alana's hands trembled as she held the paper, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Ashleigh's name. Her fingers curled tighter around the edge of the sheet, the corners crumpling. Her friends gasped in surprise, but the noise felt distant. She barely heard them. "Top choice... Ashleigh?" The words felt like acid on her tongue. Lauren shifted uncomfortably. 'Yes. The official announcement will be made next week. Professor Patel will release the student rankings as well." Alana's face tightened, but she forced a smile. 'That's... wonderful. I'm glad to be considered." Her voice was tight, each word carefully measured to hide the storm brewing inside her. Lauren nodded curtly and snatched the paper back, shoving it into her pocket. "I need to go before someone notices," she muttered, quickly excusing herself and vanishing into the crowd. The moment Lauren left, the thin veneer of calm that Alana had maintained shattered. Her expression darkened, and the tension around the table became palpable. Alana's friends exchanged uneasy glances, knowing all too well how she handled setbacks. Alana never lost gracefully. Samantha, the most cautious of the group, spoke up first. 'Alana, are you okay?" Alana didn't respond immediately. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—anger, disbelief, and a rapidly growing sense of betrayal. How had Ashleigh, of all people, outperformed her? Gerald, her most loyal but quiet friend, leaned in. 'There's no way those scores are accurate. Maybe Ashleigh rigged the results. We don't know what she's capable of." 'Yeah," Diane chimed in. 'Remember when she threatened you after the debate competition? That girl's desperate." Alana's grip on the edge of the table tightened. Her face was a mask of calm, but beneath the surface, her emotions seethed. She had spent years building her reputation, working tirelessly to be the best. And now, Ashleigh had stolen what should have been hers. 'I feel we should contest the results once the list is released," Samantha urged. 'There's no way she deserves—" Alana cut her off, her voice cold and firm. 'She's not going to the competition." Cameron, who had been silent up until now, blinked in confusion. 'What do you mean?" 'I mean," Alana's voice lowered to an icy whisper, 'she's not going. I'll make sure of it." Her friends fell silent, their eyes darting between each other nervously. Alana's expression had taken on a steely resolve, her wicked plan already beginning to take shape. Losing wasn't an option for her. If Ashleigh had been chosen, fine—but Alana would make sure she didn't make it to the competition. Ashleigh would regret ever thinking she could stand in Alana's way. 'How are you going to do that?" Diane asked hesitantly. Alana's lips curled into a twisted smile. 'It's simple. Tonight, at the party, we'll make sure Ashleigh is humiliated. So badly, she won't want to show her face again, let alone compete." Diane's eyes widened. 'Humiliated? What could we even do?" 'Leave that to me," Alana said, her voice low and calculated. 'I know exactly how to break her." Alana had been watching Ashleigh closely for the past week, noticing how unnerved she'd become recently. And through her well-placed connections, she had discovered the rumors—the whispers about a stalker following Ashleigh, and how paranoid she'd become. It was a weak spot Alana intended to exploit. 'Do you remember the rumors about her being stalked?" Alana asked, her eyes gleaming with dark intent. 'She's been acting paranoid lately. We can use that." Her friends exchanged nervous glances, unsure where this was going. 'If we set things up just right, we could make her think her stalker's here at the party. All we need is a little scare, and she'll run into our trap. When we're done, she'll be embarrassed in front of everyone." Samantha looked hesitant. 'But... isn't that a bit much?" Alana's gaze hardened. 'Good. She deserves it for trying to steal what's mine. If you don't want to help, you can leave. But if you're with me, we'll make sure tonight is a night she'll never forget." A brief silence followed. Cameron was the first to speak. 'I'm in. I have a personal bone to pick with that girl. She needs to be shown her real place." Seeing Cameron's support, the others slowly nodded in agreement, though the uncertainty in their eyes lingered. 'Good," Alana said, a sharp smile tugging at her lips. 'Cameron, I'll need your help to set everything up." He nodded, already reaching for his phone to make the necessary calls. Alana's heart thudded with excitement, her earlier frustration turning into something much darker. This wasn't just about revenge anymore—it was about reclaiming what was rightfully hers and making sure Ashleigh never stood in her way again. As the evening wore on, the preparations were finalized. Alana's plan was simple but devastating: they would have one of their accomplices pretend to be the stalker, sending threatening messages to Ashleigh throughout the night. With enough pressure, she would break—and when she did, everyone would see it. No one was going to take what belonged to Alana. Not Ashleigh. Not anyone. ****************************************** Meanwhile, Ashleigh stepped out of her faculty building, the cool evening air doing little to calm her nerves. Damien walked beside her, silent and comforting as they made their way to the car where Arthur and Oliver waited, and Arthur proceeded to take her to the hostel. Midterms were finally over, but the exhaustion clung to her like a heavy fog. She had made it through, but barely. They soon arrived at the hostel and as Ashleigh walked in, Arthur's loud voice echoed behind her. 'ASHLEIGH, YOU HAVE THIRTY MINUTES!" He waved at her with exaggerated enthusiasm, earning side looks from others in the area. Ashleigh smiled weakly and waved back. She was trying to focus on the party ahead, but her mind kept drifting to the call she received the other day. The stalker hadn't called again in days, but the tension never fully left her. She walked into the hostel, relieved to find the room empty. For now, at least, she had some peace. As she prepared for the party, her phone buzzed with messages from James and Fiona, who were both demanding updates about when she'd be returning home. They still didn't know about her secret marriage, and tonight wasn't the night for that conversation. By the time Ashleigh was ready, the sky had darkened. The reception area was packed with girls, all heading to the party. Outside, the parking lot was filled with students who buzzed with excitement, but Ashleigh couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The familiar unease crept up her spine. 'What if the stalker shows up again?" Her mind spiraled, and her stomach twisted with anxiety. She tried to push the thoughts aside as she spotted Arthur waving at her from across the lot. Forcing a smile, she made her way over to him and the others. But even as they headed toward the party, Ashleigh's skin prickled with the unsettling sensation of being watched. Little did she know, the real nightmare was about to begin.