The morning sun stretched across the driveway of LAU, casting long, warm beams over the pristine neighborhood. Birds chirped, and the faint hum of distant traffic floated through the air. But for Brad, none of it mattered. His mind was elsewhere, spinning with the impossible reality he had encountered the day before.He stepped out of the car. The limited edition, flawless vehicle gleamed in the morning light, the metal catching every ray and reflecting it back like a polished mirror. Brad’s hands hovered over the steering wheel as he inhaled deeply, still trying to reconcile the impossible: it was his car, and yet it wasn’t the one he had seen destroyed just hours ago.Behind him, Becky froze mid-step, her eyes widening so dramatically that it looked like she had seen a ghost. “Wha—what… what is happening?” she stammered, clutching her backpack to her chest.Jared leaned casually against the side of the driveway, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He crossed his arms an

While Jared and his friends were wrapped up in their dramatic lives, Monica had been doing some underground work of her own. While she didn't want to openly confront Jared again, she had her own ways of making sure she got what she wanted.She watched Jared crouch under the car. She heard his exchange with the mystery number. Was someone trying to get in the way of what she wanted yet again. When Jared walked off and towards the bus stop, Monica rushed to follow him but someone grabbed her wrist.“Who—” her voice cut off when she noticed who was holding her.Monica laughed mirthlessly, “you really, really shouldn't be here.”Lisa let go of her wrist and dusted of ger hands like she'd just picked up something filthy, “neither should you.”Monica broke out in full laughter and Lisa was tempted to slap her into silence.“That's honestly insanely rich coming from you, Lisa. The fuck do you want?!”Lisa sighed, “you're being a creep. Why are you stalking him?”Monica eyed her disdainfully,

By late afternoon, LAU was practically vibrating with gossip. The morning’s confrontation had spread like wildfire—half the school had heard about it, the other half had already exaggerated it beyond recognition.Some said Monica had confessed to Jared publicly.Others said Becky slapped Monica in the courtyard.A few dramatic ones even claimed Jared had accepted Monica's proposal.All of it was wrong, but none of it mattered. Rumors didn’t need accuracy. They only needed fuel.And Monica Simons was gasoline.Shelly Adams heard every version by the time she entered the business faculty lounge, her heels tapping sharply against the marble floor. Her hair was pinned back into a sleek ponytail, her outfit crisp and expensive, but nothing glowed brighter than the fury radiating off her.She didn’t walk, she prowled.Three girls lounging on a couch near the vending machine quieted instantly. They had been laughing over a live audio someone recorded of Monica trying to convince Jared to tak

Becky’s heart skipped a beat as she walked beside Jared, her fingers still tangled with his. She could feel the warmth from his hand seeping into hers, steadying her in a way that made everything else around her fade into the background. For a fleeting moment, the courtyard noises, the chatter of passing students, the clanging of dishes from the outdoor café—all of it ceased to exist.He had called her his date. Her date.Her lips curved into a smile before she even realized it. Her mind raced, spinning scenarios that felt more like a dream than reality. Gala lights, chandeliers, music, dancing… Jared and Becky, side by side. For once, she imagined herself not as a supporting player in his dramatic world but as someone who truly belonged by his side.“Wow…” she breathed, almost whispering. “You… called me your date.”Jared’s lips quirked upward, a small, slightly awkward smile that only made him more endearing.“Yeah,” he said, though his eyes flickered with something that wasn’t qu

The grand hall shimmered under the chandeliers, every crystal reflecting the warm, golden light across the polished marble floors. Guests mingled in clusters, champagne flutes in hand, their laughter rising and falling like music in the background. Jared led Becky through the crowd, his hand still resting gently at the small of her back, keeping her close as if guiding her through a field of predators.Becky tried to maintain her composure, her smile polished, her eyes aware of every lingering glance from the women who lingered too long on him. Her mantra kept her grounded, though her heart still leapt every time Jared’s fingers brushed hers, every time his eyes flicked toward hers with that familiar warmth.It was then that she felt it before she even saw her. Shelly Adams, in her signature designer ensemble, gliding through the crowd like a predator stalking its prey. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, a deliberate, rhythmic sound that drew attention without seeming to.