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Kellie Olsen, daughter of the powerful Steve Olsen, walked through life with a presence that commanded respect, even from the most seasoned of teachers. Her family's wealth was vast, stretching across continents, but it wasn't just her affluence that defined her. No, it was her chilling reputation—she was known as the Hot Cold Beauty. Her stunning figure sparked desire in many, but it was her frosty demeanor that kept them at a distance. Cold as ice, her beauty was as much a weapon as her family's fortune.
As she locked eyes with Chase, something flickered in her gaze before she shot him a cold, dismissive kick, sending him stumbling away. She turned, slipping back into her luxury car, her parting words lingering like a promise of doom. "If you continue down this path, don't expect any help from me."
Chase watched her car disappear into the distance, a bitter sting at the back of his throat. His eyes shifted upward, catching the morning sky, as a deep, primal scream tore from his chest. Tears streamed down his face as the weight of everything he and his father had endured crashed upon him. His father's theories, once dismissed as absurd, now echoed louder than ever, but no one would listen—not even those who had once called them family.
Shaking off the remnants of his despair, Chase pushed himself up from the ground. His ankle throbbed, but his will was stronger than the pain. Clutching his worn-out bag, he limped forward, the distant silhouette of his school offering the only semblance of routine in his fractured world.
A sleek black SUV rolled up beside him, purring like a predator on the hunt. The vehicle slowed, then came to a halt. Chase, determined to ignore it, kept walking, his pace unbroken. But the SUV's door opened, and a woman emerged—serene, almost ethereal, yet her expression quickly twisted into one of raw fury as she took in the sight of her son, battered and bruised, limping painfully.
It was Alice—his mother. The woman who had walked out on him and his father when they needed her the most. She had left, and in her absence, his world had crumbled.
Chase didn't stop. He didn't even look at her, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I tripped," he muttered, attempting to pass her, but Alice stepped in front of him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. Her voice was softer now, persistent but calm. "Chase, tell me the truth. Who did this to you?"
Her words pierced him, the flood of emotions that he had locked away for so long threatening to spill over. He could feel the anger and pain swelling inside him, his chest tightening. "Don't you dare," he spat, his voice trembling with fury. "You left us. You left us when we needed you most, and now you come back like everything's fine? No, you don't get to do that."
Tears, long suppressed, flowed freely now. A heavy, wrenching sob escaped him. His mother stepped forward, pulling him into her arms. The world seemed to pause as the hurt and longing of years without her filled the silence. "I'm sorry," she whispered through her own tears. "I never wanted to hurt you. I just...I couldn't stay."
Chase stood frozen for a moment, letting her hold him, feeling the warmth of her embrace for the first time in so long. Then, as the embrace broke, he kissed her cheek, his voice soft and uncertain. "Whatever you decide, Mom, I'll respect it. But... Dad misses you. We both do. I just wish you'd come back."
Chase turned away, the flood of emotions too much to bear. But his mother's voice called out to him, desperate. "Wait! Let me take you to school."
This time, he didn't refuse. He accepted her offer, stepping into the car. It was a fragile truce, a small bridge forming between them where a chasm had once existed. The car sped off, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Chase felt something other than anger—hope.
As the journey continued, his eyes landed on the lunchbox resting on the seat beside Alice. It smelled familiar, like home, and when she opened it, a sense of comfort flooded him. Inside was a warm meal—meat and stew, rich with flavor. It was a meal that spoke of care, of the mother he had lost.
"You can have it," Alice said, her voice soft, almost regretful. "I know you need it."
Chase's hands trembled as he took the food, his hunger taking over. He devoured the meal, savoring the taste of something so simple yet so meaningful. Between bites, he mumbled, "I'm sorry, Mom. I haven't eaten in three days."
The car came to an abrupt halt. Alice's eyes went wide as disbelief washed over her. "What did you say?"
Chase paused, looking at her, confused at her reaction. Then, slowly, the weight of his words settled on him, and his heart sank. "It's been three months, Mom. Since you left, we've been struggling. We had to sell the house. We're in a smaller place now, and...and we barely have enough to eat."
Alice's face twisted with anguish, guilt flooding her features. She looked at him, as if seeing him for the first time in a long while. But the weight of the revelation was too much for her. Without warning, she collapsed, her body going limp.
Panicking, Chase reacted instinctively, lifting her into his arms despite his injured ankle, racing toward the nearest medical center. Each step sent jolts of pain through his body, but his determination pushed him forward. There was no time to waste. The woman who had once abandoned him now needed him, and he wouldn't let her fall again.