Tangled Hearts

Chapter 16

The next day Noah's eyes scanned the university cafeteria, his gaze settling on Alex, who was sitting alone at a table, studying. A sneer spread across Noah's face as he walked over to Alex, his footsteps echoing through the room.

"Hey, loser," Noah said, his voice dripping with malice. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a hole to crawl into?"

Alex looked up, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "Noah, leave me alone. I'm trying to study."

But Noah just laughed, pulling out a chair and sitting down next to Alex. "Oh, poor baby, can't handle a little distraction?"

Why don't you do something fun for a change?"

Alex's heart pounded in his chest as he bent down to pick up his book. One of Noah's friends shoved him roughly, causing him to stumble and fall to his knees. The boys laughed louder, their voices echoing off the walls.

"Leave me alone," Alex muttered, trying to stand back up, his hands trembling as he clutched his book tightly to his chest.

But Noah just laughed, his eyes glinting with cruelty. "Oh, Alex, you're so predictable. You're always so easy to push around."

Leave me alone," Alex muttered, trying to stand back up, his hands trembling as he clutched his book tightly to his chest.

"What did you say?" Noah asked, his tone suddenly turning dangerous. He stepped closer, his face inches from Alex's. "I didn't quite catch that."

"I said, leave me alone," Alex repeated, louder this time, his eyes meeting Noah's defiantly.

Noah's expression darkened, and he shoved Alex back down started beating alex with strong punches as the mean time Rhea and kathrine cafeteria

The laughter of Noah's friends echoed cruelly as Noah landed a kick to Alex's side.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Katherine's voice rang out, tinged with fear. She and Rhea rushed towards the scene, eyes wide with alarm.

Just then, Nicholas walked into the cafeteria, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Noah and Alex. A slow smile spread across his face as he walked over to them.

"Hey, Noah, what's going on here?" Ethan asked, his voice dripping with amusement.

Noah grinned. "Just having a little fun with Alex, Nicholas You know, the usual."

Nicholas chuckled. "Ah, yeah. I love watching you work, Noah. You're such a master manipulator."

Katherine was about to step forward, a hand clamped down on her wrist. She spun around to find Nicholas standing behind her, a sinister smile curling his lips.

"Chill, baby," Nicholas drawled, his grip tightening. "This is all just because of you, Katherine. Don't be so shocked."

Katherine's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to pull free. "Let go of me, Nicholas!" she demanded, her voice trembling.

Rhea stepped forward, trying to help. "Nicholas, stop it. This has gone too far."

What do you want, huh? Leave my friends alone!" Katherine cried, tears streaming down her face.

Rhea stood beside her, her eyes wide with shock but also blazing with fury. "Stop this now!" she shouted, her voice trembling with emotion.

Noah sneered but hesitated when he saw the determined looks on their faces. Nicholas, who had been watching with a sinister smile, stepped forward. "Say sorry, and we'll end this like you want," he said smoothly, his eyes fixed on Katherine.

Sorry for what? I didn't do anything wrong!" Katherine shot back, her voice breaking with emotion.

Nicholas's smile twisted into a scowl. "For thinking you're better than us you can cross us amd insult us.

Nicholas shrugged. "Apologies will make this go away. Otherwise, things might get worse."

She clenched her fists, her body trembling with a mix of fear and defiance. "No," she said, her voice firm despite her tears. "I didn't do anything wrong.

Nicholas's scowl deepened, his eyes gleaming with a dark promise. "Okay then," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Be ready to see Ethan wreak havoc because he won't go easy on Aiden."

Katherine's breath hitched, her fear palpable. She knew Ethan's reputation all too well-he was even more ruthless than Nicholas and Noah.

Rhea's eyes widened in shock and anger. "You can't do that, Nicholas! This is already out of hand. Leave Aiden out of this!"

Nicholas smirked, unfazed by Rhea's outburst. "Too late. Should have thought about that before you decided to defy us."

Katherine's heart pounded in her chest as she hurried towards the group. The moment she reached the courtyard, her breath caught in her throat. Aiden was lying on the ground, a pool of blood spreading around him.

"Oh my God, Aiden!" Katherine screamed, dropping to her knees beside him.

Ethan stood over Aiden's bleeding body, his face twisted with cruel satisfaction. "Beat him," he ordered his friends, who moved to obey without hesitation.

Katherine, filled with desperation, ran forward and shouted, "Stop! Please, I'll apologize! Just stop hurting him!"

She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Ethan. Please, I'm begging you. Just stop this."

"I don't know what I'm sorry for, but please, I'm sorry!" Katherine cried out, her voice trembling with emotion.

Ethan's expression hardened, but he signaled his friends to stop. They hesitated, then backed away from Aiden.

Noah and Nicholas exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncomfortable with seeing Katherine so broken.

Rhea, who had been watching in horror, rushed forward with a few other students. They carefully lifted Aiden, who was barely conscious, and began to carry him towards the school gates.

"We need to get him to the hospital " Rhea said urgently, her face pale with worry.

Katherine stood up, her legs shaky, and joined them. "Let's go," she said, her voice steadier now.

The three of them stood there, feeling hurt as they saw Katherine's tear-streaked face.