Never Just Freedom

Student Success Series # 1

No one wants to be controlled. No one wants to be caged. Freedom is a natural right-yet, for some, it feels impossible to grasp.

For Sariyah Villaruel, control is everything. With a stepmother who sees her as nothing more than a bargaining chip and a father too burdened by work to notice, she clings to the one thing she can control- her academic success. Becoming a class valedictorian is not just a goal, it's her escape. A perfect record, a flawless reputation, and a future she can build on her own terms.

But then comes Icarus Naharris. A worthy opponent, an infuriating presence, and a student leader determined to pull her into the student body. He's everywhere-challenging her, provoking her, dragging her into the very chaos she swore to avoid. And somehow, against all logic, she lets him.

With him, time slips through her fingers like sand. Because the closer he gets, the more she realizes... maybe it's not just freedom she's afraid of losing.

School has always been her haven, the only place where she can truly express her skills and passion. But what happens when the place that grants her freedom threatens to take it away?