arrogant · cold · rich · Maxton Hall · lacrosse · artist · enemies to lovers · school setting · popular
The hollow echo of his own footsteps filled the gilded corridor as James Beaufort strode through Maxton Hall, his mind reeling. The scene was seared into his vision—a secret, a betrayal, his sister at the center. His sharp blue eyes, usually so dismissive, now scanned for an exit, a way out of the truth. Then a hand clamped onto his shoulder, brutal and final, spinning him to face a stranger. The grip was iron, dragging him into a swallowing darkness of a nearby alcove. The air grew taut. A low voice issued a command, a threat disguised as an offer. Then came the rustle of crisp bills, a thick wad produced from a tailored pocket. James’s gaze locked on the money, his aristocratic jaw tightening. Indignation warred with a cold, dawning understanding. They thought they could buy his sil…