CEO frío, deseo prohibidoES

CAPÍTULO 1: Arrojada a los Lobos

El Punto de Vista de Leah

Me quedé helada en medio del abarrotado auditorio de la escuela, con el vestido roto en el hombro, pegajoso por el jugo de color naranja rojizo que alguien me había lanzado.

El pecho se me oprimió con cada risa que resonaba a mi alrededor, y las rodillas me temblaban tanto que pensé que me desplomaría. Me aferré a los bordes de mi vestido, intentando cubrirme, pero no sirvió de nada. Nadie estaba de mi lado.

El proyector zumbaba detrás de mí, arrojando luz por todo el auditorio. En la pantalla, mi rostro devolvía la mirada a todos, sonriendo de una manera que yo no lo había hecho. Pero la sonrisa no era real.

El video había sido tergiversado, editado para que pareciera que había seducido a mi hermano de acogida, Gavin. Había mensajes, textos, fotos… todos falsos, todos diseñados para destruirme.

Se me hizo un nudo en la garganta.

—Esto… no es real —susurré, aunque la voz se me quebró como un cristal frágil.

—¡Mentirosa! —gritó alguien desde el fondo, y una botella tintineó contra el suelo cerca de mis pies. Me estremecí. La habitación daba vueltas, cada rostro a mi alrededor torcido por el regocijo o el asco.

Desde un costado del auditorio, vi a Clara Moore observando... angelical y serena, su larga cabellera brillando bajo las duras luces. Su sonrisa era suave, pero yo sabía lo que había detrás.

Esa sonrisa tenía dientes. Era arrogante, fría y afilada. Clara amaba este momento. Lo había planeado, orquestado, y ahora estaba obteniendo su recompensa.

Me giré hacia Gavin. Estaba de pie cerca del frente, pálido, con los labios apretados en una fina línea y las manos inquietas en los bolsillos. Busqué en sus ojos algo... cualquier indicio de que pudiera defenderme.

—Leah... —comenzó, con voz insegura.

—Eres patético, Gavin —gritó alguien desde el fondo, con risas que burbujeaban como ácido—. ¿De verdad te quedas ahí sin hacer nada?

El pecho se me oprimió aún más. El corazón se me hundió. Lo sabía. No me defendería. Ya había tomado su decisión.

—Yo… yo no sabía… —tartamudeó Gavin, intentándolo de nuevo.

La risa de Clara atravesó el auditorio, afilada como un cristal roto.

—Ay, Gavin. ¿De verdad crees que podrías defenderla ahora? —Su tono era empalagosamente dulce, pero yo escuché el veneno debajo—. Tienes que elegir un bando... y ya lo hiciste. Ese bando no es el suyo.

Sentí como si el suelo bajo mis pies hubiera desaparecido. Mi propio hermano de acogida había elegido a Clara antes que a mí... había elegido a la chica que me había destruido, a la chica que había susurrado mentiras y había hecho que toda la escuela se las creyera.

Mis padres de acogida estaban al borde del auditorio, con los rostros enrojecidos por la humillación. La voz de mi madre de acogida temblaba con una mezcla de ira y vergüenza.

—Leah, ¿cómo pudiste hacer esto? ¿Después de todo lo que hemos hecho por ti?

Se me cerró la garganta.

—¡Mamá! ¡Papá! ¡No es verdad! ¡Yo no hice esto!

My father shook his head, disappointment etched into every line of his face.

"We believed in you, Leah. And this... this is unacceptable. We can't protect you from the consequences of your actions."

Words were like knives. Every eye in the room burned me, every whisper, every giggle was a reminder of what I had lost. I opened my mouth to speak again, to defend myself, but the words died on my lips. No one wanted to listen to me. Not the students, not my professors, not even my own family.

Clara stepped forward, her smile still perfect, her voice soft but sharp.

"Don't worry, Leah," he said. "Everyone will understand soon enough. Your place... will become very clear."

My chest burned with anger and humiliation. I wanted to scream, to fight, to push Clara to the ground... but my legs felt like jelly. The room was spinning. The laughter, the whispers, the pointing fingers... it was too much. I had to get out. I had to survive.

The auditorium was becoming stifling, and when the final bell rang and the students began to leave, I slipped away silently, my bag clutched to my chest. I didn't go home. I didn't even think about home.

My old life... the one I had known and trusted... was over. I wandered through the empty streets, past lit shop windows and flickering lampposts, feeling numb but burning inside.

I didn't know where I was going, only that I had to leave. I ducked into a small corner store, bought a few essentials with the little cash I had, and kept walking, staying in the shadows, avoiding the familiar streets that had become the scene of my public humiliation. I had nowhere to go, but it didn't matter. I had a plan.

My thoughts were a storm, but beneath the fear and anguish, a spark of fire ignited. I would not remain broken. I would not remain humiliated. Not now. Not ever. One day, I would return... and reclaim everything that had been stolen from me.

My hands were trembling as I sat on the steps of a quiet alley, trying to breathe, trying to make sense of the chaos that had swallowed my life.

I could still hear the laughter echoing in my ears. I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms, as I whispered softly, almost as a promise to myself.

—I'll be back. And when I do… I'll take back everything you've taken from me.

My voice was little more than a whisper, but it carried the weight of my pain, my anger, and my determination. I would leave tonight alone... but I wouldn't run away forever. This wasn't the end... it was the beginning.

Somewhere in the dark corners of the village, Clara Moore leaned against a brick wall, still perfectly composed, still wearing that angelic yet deadly smile. Her eyes gleamed with calculation. It wasn't over... not even close. She had played her cards perfectly tonight, but this was only the beginning.

"She won't see this coming," Clara whispered, short and menacing, to a figure just outside the dim lamplight. The shadow nodded silently, listening. I didn't know it yet, but forces far greater than I could imagine were already at work.

I stood up from the alley steps, brushing the dirt off my torn dress, adjusting my bag closer to my side. I didn't look back. I couldn't. Every step I took away from the auditorium, away from my old life, was a step toward something bigger, something stronger.

I walked into the night through empty streets, past sleeping houses and flickering streetlights, and made my vow again... higher this time, stronger.

—I'll be back.

The city was dark and silent around me. The hum of distant traffic and the occasional bark of a dog were the only sounds. The air was cold, pricking my cheeks, but it woke me up.

Every step I took was determined. Every breath I took was a reminder that I would survive. I would return. And I would make all those who had humiliated me pay…