18years later
As she strolled through the school grounds, she found herself growing increasingly tired. Her mid-thigh skirt, paired with a blue shirt and a loose tie resting against her chest, made her stand out in the crowd.Clutching a map of the school in her hand, she was determined to familiarize herself with every nook and cranny of Westford High School.However, there seemed to be a disturbance in the school environment. Girls were yelling and dashing around aimlessly, creating chaos."Hey, transfer student! Why aren't you joining us? The wealthy boys have arrived." A girl extended her hand towards her before darting off in the direction where the crowd was heading.It was intriguing for her. She glanced back to see what kind of rich boys could captivate the attention of all the girls in the school in such a manner. Curiosity danced in her head, she decided to go and see for herself without any hesitation.As she approached the mob of excited students, she couldn't help but feel a slight sense of surprise. "What's happening here?"Her thought spoke out to her. She craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the boys and noticed two figures clad in black pants and blue shirts, with a black coat draped over one's shoulder. Their impeccably polished shoes moved gracefully as they walked away from the line of black SUVs parked in front of the school compound through the main hall. One was wearing a smiling face, appearing friendly and approachable to the crowd. The girls were literally drooling over them.She rolled her eyes at the sight of a girl throwing kisses at the friendly one. But the other exuded a cold, almost icy aura that could cut through the thickest of barriers."Wow, he's quite charming. Evan is really handsome," one of the girls remarked."I disagree, I prefer Phil. He has a carefree spirit, unlike his cousin. Evan Baristanas is as arrogant as always!" another girl chimed in.But the arrogant Evan halted in his tracks, automatically halting Phil in his tracks too.The girls' conversation had carried itself to the ears of Evan.The chatter in the hall abruptly died down as all eyes turned to the girl whose direction Evan had turned to.With his sleek jet-black hair and angular features, Evan Baristanas stood tall with an air of elegance. Wealth, popularity, and most of all, his strikingly handsome appearance. His deep, hazel eyes held a hint of disdain as he turned fully towards the girl, his gaze sending shivers down her whole being."I guess you are talking about me right?" He jolted his head, and his chilling voice reverberated through the air, causing everyone to fall silent.The girl stood frozen, unable to form a coherent response. It was common knowledge not to cross paths with Evan Baristanas, known for his arrogance, egoistic, and self-centered attitude."Did you even bother to look at yourself before speaking about me?" he sneered taking a quick glance at the girl. A devilish grin played on his lips."You look like you crawled out of a dumpster. Are you related to poverty?"The girl was unable to say a word. She dared not to nor to meet his gaze. She kept her head bowed. Her comment had earned her a sharp rebuke from Evan.The onlookers knew better than to intervene, well aware that the Baristanas family held immense power in the city."Evan..." Phil attempted to intervene, but his attempt was swiftly brushed off by Evan's icy glare.Tension permeated the hall, with everyone holding their breath, afraid to utter a single word.Suddenly, a voice pierced through the silence."That is too much arrogance, you know!"All eyes turned to follow the sound as Evan's gaze meticulously turned to lock onto the source.The girls in that direction shrank with fear. They started to pull away from the bold student who dared to challenge Evan.This paved the way for that particular student to step forward: It was the transfer student. She dared to confront the enigmatic Evan.A hush fell over the crowd as the students discreetly distanced themselves, unwilling to be associated with challenging Evan. Their family was not as rich as Phil's father, Spark Winterfill, not to mention Evan's father, Chad Baristanas.She advanced to the center, confronting Evan face to face, her hazel eyes meeting his cold stare. Her ebony hair cascaded down her back, slightly shorter than Evan's towering figure. Despite being only 18, her poise and the elegance of her mid-thigh skirt projected a maturity beyond her years, drawing admiration from her peers.Her bold demeanor clashed with the high school prince's aloof demeanor and stunning onlookers. She dared to retort while others cowered in fear."You didn't earn what you have, your father gave it to you. That means you rely on his efforts for everything. Shouldn't you reconsider your arrogance," she challenged.With arms crossed, she scrutinized Evan confidently. Philemon (Phil) Winterfell was a ladies' guy. He couldn't help but feel captivated by her beauty and audacity. He was taken aback. It was the first time someone had stood up against his cousin, and that too a girl. Apart from the fact that he had never seen her in the school before, he was sending smiles towards her direction.Evan's icy stare remained locked on her yet she didn't back down. The unforeseen confrontation sent shockwaves through the audience, as such defiance had never transpired within the school's walls.She had no idea of the school's unspoken rule: "Do not cross Evan Baristanas.""Who the fucking hell you are?""Oh, I'm a newly enrolled student here, having arrived just yesterday...""How much is the worth of your father? Trillions, billions, millions, thousands, hundreds, or... nothing?" Evan taunted with arrogance. The girl clung tight to her fist. Her expression turned sour over his comment. Evan was not blind to this. A faint devilish smirk escaped the corner of his lips."Why, do you want to punch me? Can you afford that? I bet selling your whole family will not be worth the dust under my feet!"This poked the anger of the girl. She looked frustratedly annoyed with Evan. Moved with anger, she closed the distance between them."Listen, we, the less privileged, place a higher value on humanity than rich people like you! Despite our financial limitations, we still respect others' emotions!" she spatted to his face, her voice fierce and drilling with anger.Evan let out a soft scoff, directly making eye-to-eye contact with the girl. His face turned so dark."I don't mingle with worthless people like you! So if you need to vent your frustrations about your poverty-stricken life, talk to the walls next time!" He remarked coldly.Brushing past her, he left her seething with anger.Her jaw clenched in frustration, and her hand balled into a fist tightly. Phil observed her closely, noticing the tension in her fingers."I apologize for his behavior," Phil interjected swiftly, causing the girl to turn her attention towards him."You're a new student, right? I'm Phil Winterfill, a third-year student," he introduced himself, extending his hand toward the girl to cool the air.She took a second to calm down. "Hi, I'm Angel, Angel Rodriguez, and I'm in the fourth year," she replied to the shock of Phil."Wait, could that mean you and Evan will be in the same class?""Welcome, Miss Rodriguez. Please come inside; your classroom awaits."With her textbooks in hand and bag slung over her shoulder, Angel entered the room."Good day, everyone." greeted the principal, "We have a new addition to our class. I will allow her to introduce herself," The principal declared, beckoning Angel forward with a welcoming smile.She pivoted herself in front of the class. The attention of the class turned to her."Hello, I am Angel Rodriguez, a scholarship student transferring here," she said, maintaining a constant smile on her face. The class welcomed her in unison, "Welcome Angel.""Wow, we have a beauty in our class.""Do you want to be my friend?""Scholarship? Then you must be brilliant!" Students murmured, impressed. The principal was done with her work and left Angel to her teacher."Any empty seat?" the teacher asked."Yes Miss Mandy, one is .... here" A girl from behind motioned with her hand, an empty seat at the back.However, silence fell over the class
Exactly 10 minutes later.A sleek SUV glided into the school's premises.Taking his time to get down, he appeared charming in his grey suit, his broad and sturdy shoulders commanding attention.His dark, slightly tousled hair, the hint of muscles underneath the coat, and his authoritative strides resonated through the school corridors. His stern expression belied a beauty not to be underestimated.Upon perceiving him, one might easily mistake him for a man in his twenties. The declaration of his true age, 43 years, would undoubtedly spark a debate. Perhaps his slender frame hindered the natural aging process, or perhaps his striking appearance bestowed upon him an air of immortality.He knew the principal's office and needed no guide. The hallway was empty, a suitable environment to address Evan's matters.As he entered the principal's office, Evan was already stationed, impatiently awaiting his arrival— or should we say, Chad Baristanas, as he calls it.The minute he locked a stare w
"The time has come"Angel vividly recalls her strategy. "It appears fate is finally on my side. Now he is in the school, I can't lose this chance" she heaved a heavy sigh. She also checks her uniform, adjusting it well.Confident in her decision yet, anxiety crept in. She glanced at her reflection once more in the washroom mirror, and her heart raced. She was prepared, but as the moment approached, her nervousness exceeded expectations, perhaps even fear. A sharp inhale escaped her lips. The question of whether it was going to work or not lingered in her head. "It has to work... no matter what, I have to meet Chad Baristanas today." She remembered her mother's words clearly. "You must make a lasting impression on him, so he won't forget you every time he sees you, or better yet, dream of holding you in his arms, my darling Angel."Seducing someone as distinguished as Chad Baristanas, a 47-year-old, was no trivial matter, especially for an 18-year-old girl like Angel Rodriguez. But
"So she was faking it?" Mark questioned inwardly. He turned to look at her properly and then he realized the loose shirt. Her pale skin was staring at the man. And her cleavage...?That was not too good a sight for Mark. His jaws tightened. He shut his eyes to shield him from what he was seeing. He had a choice to shove the girl away.But, Evan was also approaching. And Mark could feel the nervousness of the girl in his arms. She had no choice but to tug her face into his coat. "Who is she?" Evan didn't spare the chance to ask. Her face might be hidden but he was not dumb not to notice her features. It hadn't been long since they met each other."Her?... What the hell! " He scoffed irritably, "Of all people, how come she is here?" The displeasure on Evan's face was evident."Wait, you know her?" Mark inquired, surprised by the situation. While Mark was aware they attended the same school, Evan rarely acknowledged girls, let alone interacted with them more than once. He couldn't care
It seems the sun always sets in the south for Evan. He came out of his car with his usual 'I am an angry bird' mood! Home was not a better comfort to his annoying mood.Having had to control himself from confronting Angel in the day was making him angry not to mention the scowl he wore when a servant greeted him."Welcome, young master," said the servant. Evan merely adjusted his coat and ghosted past her into the mansion as if she were a spirit.Standing by the door was an old woman, Vien, in her 60s, waiting for his return. They had all been worried about Evan since they heard the incident that happened in the school. So when old Vien(Nanny) saw Evan through the plain glass door, she hurried her old legs to welcome him."Marlie, Marlie, your son is back." Vien's husky voice came out of the mansion as Evan walked in."Evan, my son," Marlie exclaimed. Evan's expression gave away his sour mood, a fact noticed first by Vien but not by his mother."Son, how are you feeling? What happened
Upon releasing her hands, he gently cradled her face and locked eyes with her."It appears that we have located her," Chad stated.Marlie was shocked at this revelation. She had waited for this day to come but she wasn't expecting this news all of a sudden. "H...h...how?...when.... how did this happen all of a sudden?" she managed to stammer."I chose to confirm it as a surprise, to spare you from any further distress. It was necessary to verify if she was truly our Evelyn.""And now...?" Marlie inquired.Chad nodded. "Indeed, she is. The DNA results are a match. We have finally found her."Tears of joy streamed down Marlie's face, her emotions overflowing. Vien, too, couldn't contain her happiness and shed tears of joy. After the mourning days, there is light for them to rejoice. Marlie fell into the embrace of Chad in tears."Hush, now... you can finally let go of the tears," he comforted while rubbing her back."I always believed my little princess was alive. I just knew it," Marl
"Evan, my dear son," Her words interrupted Evan's movements. "What would you say if your dear sister were here with us today?"A hush fell over the room. All eyes were fixed on Evan, even the servants' eyes were on him. Everyone eagerly awaited his response.Evan calmly set down his utensils, taking his time to process the question. A smirk curled at the corners of his mouth."Who? The dead one? Has she suddenly come back to life?"The tension in the room was palpable. Vein and Marlie had stopped eating, but Chad continued to devour his food."Ahh, You went through yet another pointless test, didn't you? Or perhaps... you found your beloved child... mother." Evan's eyes blazed with anger, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice."Evan..." Vien spoke, her voice filled with caution.Evan let out a cold, sardonic laugh that sent shivers through the room. Chad tried his best to focus on his food, but his grip on his cutlery tightened. Evan then turned to his father, as if the next words were
With an impassive face, Evan turned to face Angel, who stood poised and waiting for a reaction. She was deliberately pushing his buttons.Evan's gaze settled on Angel, and he couldn't help but smirk at her pathetic attempts to rile him. "Do you believe your petty attempts will grab my attention?" he sneered, his eyes flashing with annoyance.Angel's response was one of disbelief. "What?!" she exclaimed, her tone indignant."These desperate attempts... " Evan jeered, his contempt plain on his face. "You think you're the first to try to manipulate me?""Desperate? You?" Angel burst into laughter. That was mocking, her eyebrow raised in challenge. "You're one to talk, Evan Baristanas. You think highly of yourself." Her tone was laced with scorn. "I look for men, not a pretty, annoying girl like you!"Evan steadied himself not to react to being called a girl. But rather retorted. "I suppose you think my uncle will be impressed with something like you?"That was swift and biting."Something