**Broken by Destiny by George Orwell**
**Chapter 398: The First Dance**
As Danny’s gaze fell upon Amelia, he couldn’t shake the feeling of rejection that washed over him. She was standing there, seemingly oblivious to his presence, lost in her own world. Fueled by a mix of desperation and determination, he boldly reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist as he attempted to grasp her hand.
In an instant, Amelia’s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing with a chill that could freeze the air around them. Just as she prepared to pull away, a sudden force wrapped around her, pulling her into a different embrace entirely.
Her instincts screamed for her to break free, to escape this unexpected hold, but then she caught a whiff of a familiar, cool scent that brought her to a halt. It was a scent she recognized all too well, one that had haunted her thoughts more than once.
A calm, icy voice resonated above her, slicing through the tension like a knife. “You think you can dance with her? Do you even know your place?”
Danny’s heart dropped as he recognized the voice. “J-Jeremy? S-she’s your girl?” he stammered, his bravado evaporating as he took in the sight of the imposing figure before him.
Instantly, he shrank back, the tough facade crumbling in the face of Jeremy’s intimidating presence. Among their peers, Jeremy had an uncanny ability to instill fear. The rich kids in their circle, who often flaunted their wealth and status, found themselves shrinking into the background whenever Jeremy made an appearance.
The origins of this fear were unclear—was it a legacy passed down from their fathers, or perhaps a strange curse that seemed to follow Jeremy? Their fathers held a healthy respect, if not outright fear, of Jeremy’s father, and now their sons found themselves in the same predicament with Jeremy.
What the heck! This guy is so annoying! Danny thought, frustration bubbling beneath his surface.
“What else could it be? You think she’s yours?” Jeremy looked down at Danny, his voice dripping with disdain.
It wasn’t just the arrogance in his tone; it was the sheer height advantage he had over Danny, looming over him like a shadow.
Danny coughed awkwardly, attempting to regain some composure. “Right, my bad. I’ll disappear right now.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned on his heel and bolted away, his feet pounding against the floor as he fled the scene.
No one in their right mind would dare confront this maniac.
As she watched Danny scurry away like a frightened rabbit, Amelia slipped out of Jeremy’s grasp, a soft laugh escaping her lips. “Look at how scared you made him,” she teased, amusement dancing in her eyes.
“Scared? No. He just doesn’t know his place,” Jeremy replied, his voice calm and self-assured.
“Honestly, I was being nice. I could’ve kicked him across the room,” he added with a hint of playfulness, a smirk playing on his lips.
Earlier that evening, Amelia had been engaged in conversation with Truman, her laughter ringing like music in the air. Jeremy, wanting to give them some space, had quietly stepped away to handle a few discussions of his own.
It hadn’t been long, just a brief interlude, but when he returned, his heart sank. Amelia was no longer with Truman; instead, he found a rather inept rich kid attempting to charm her into a dance.


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