Axel's mom, Victoria, sat in her plush office, sipping a cup of coffee as she stared out the window. She was a woman who always got what she wanted, and she would stop at nothing to ensure that her son, Axel, did the same.

Victoria's thoughts turned to Stacy, the girl who had been distracting Axel from his studies and his future. She had always disapproved of Stacy, and now she was determined to put an end to their relationship once and for all.

Victoria picked up her phone and dialed Axel's number. He answered on the first ring.

"Axel, darling," Victoria said, her voice sweet as honey. "I need to talk to you about something important."

Axel's tone was cautious. "What is it, Mom?"

"It's about Stacy," Victoria said, her voice dripping with disdain. "I know you've been spending a lot of time with her, and I have to tell you, Axel, I don't approve. She's not good enough for you, and she's distracting you from your studies."

Axel sighed. "Mom, we've talked about this before. I care about Stacy, and I'm not going to just drop her because you don't approve."

Victoria's tone turned icy. "Axel, listen to me. If you don't leave Stacy alone, I'll make sure she regrets ever crossing me. I'll make her life a living hell, Axel. I'll ruin her reputation, I'll make sure she fails her classes... I'll do whatever it takes to make sure she's out of your life for good."

Axel felt a chill run down his spine. He knew his mom was capable of doing exactly what she threatened.

"Mom, please..." Axel started to say, but Victoria cut him off.

"No, Axel. I won't listen to your excuses. You'll do what I say, or you'll face the consequences. Do I make myself clear?"

Axel hesitated, feeling trapped. He knew he had no other choice but to do what his mom ordered him to do.

"Yes, Mom," Axel said, feeling a sense of resignation. "I'll leave Stacy alone."

Victoria's tone turned sweet again. "Good boy, Axel. I knew you'd see things my way. Now, go and tell Stacy that you're not interested in her anymore. Make it clear, Axel. Make sure she knows that you never felt anything for her."

Axel felt a pang of guilt, but he knew he had to do what his mom said. He took a deep breath and made his way to Stacy's dorm room.

When he arrived, Stacy was sitting on her bed, looking happy and carefree. Axel's heart twisted with guilt as he realized what he was about to do.

"Hey, Axel," Stacy said, smiling up at him. "I was just thinking about last night... about our kiss..."

Axel's face felt like it was on fire. He knew he had to pretend that the kiss meant nothing to him.

"Stacy, look... I don't know what you're thinking, but I have to be honest with you. I don't feel anything for you. Last night's kiss was just a mistake, okay? It didn't mean anything."

Stacy's face fell, and Axel felt a pang of regret. He knew he was hurting her, but he had no other choice.

"I'm sorry, Stacy," Axel said, trying to sound convincing. "I hope you can understand."

Stacy looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "I understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it hurts, Axel. It hurts a lot."

Axel felt a lump form in his throat as he looked at Stacy. He knew he was hurting her, and it killed him. But he had to do what his mom said, no matter how much it hurt.

Axel turned to leave, but Stacy's voice stopped him.

"Axel, wait," she said, her voice trembling.

Axel turned back to face her, feeling a pang of guilt.

"What is it, Stacy?" he asked, trying to sound detached.

Stacy looked up at him, her eyes searching.

"Why are you doing this, Axel?" she asked. "Why are you pretending like you don't care about me?"

Axel shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

"I'm just being honest, Stacy," he said. "I never felt anything for you. You were just a friend to me."

Stacy's face fell, and Axel felt a pang of regret. He knew he was hurting her, and it killed him.

"But what about last night?" Stacy asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What about our kiss?"

Axel shrugged again, trying to appear indifferent.

"Like I said, Stacy, it was just a mistake," he said. "It didn't mean anything."

Stacy looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears.

"You're lying, Axel," she said, her voice trembling. "I know you felt something for me. I saw it in your eyes."

Axel felt a lump form in his throat as he looked at Stacy. He knew he was hurting her, and it killed him. But he had to do what his mom said, no matter how much it hurt.

"I'm sorry, Stacy," he said, trying to sound convincing. "But I'm telling the truth. I never felt anything for you."

Stacy looked up at him, her eyes filled with sadness.

"I don't believe you, Axel," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But even if I did, it wouldn't matter. Because even if you didn't feel anything for me, I felt something for you. And that's all that matters."

Axel felt a pang of regret as he looked at Stacy. He knew he was hurting her, and it killed him. But he had to do what his mom said, no matter how much it hurt.

"I'm sorry, Stacy," he said, trying to sound convincing. "But I have to go."

Stacy nodded, her eyes filled with tears.

"Go, Axel," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But don't think that this is the end. Because it's not. This is just the beginning."

Axel felt a shiver run down his spine as he looked at Stacy. He knew that he had hurt her, and he knew that she would never forgive him. But he had to do what his mom said, no matter how much it hurt.

As he turned to leave, Axel felt a sense of regret wash over him. He knew that he had made a mistake, and he knew that he would never be able to go back to the way things were before.

But it was too late now. He had already hurt Stacy, and he had already made his choice. All he could do now was live with the consequences.