INICIAR SESIÓN"I came here to study," Elara said firmly, looking Asher straight in the eye. "I didn't come here to play high school politics or hide behind anyone's jacket." Asher blinked, clearly surprised by her stubborn defiance, before a slow, genuinely fascinated smirk spread across his face. "You really are something else, Little Red." "Don't call me that," she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. Before Asher could tease her any further, the heavy wooden door of the private VIP room swung open. A young waiter stepped inside carrying a tray of fresh drinks, but as the door hovered open, the noisy chatter from the main bar area leaked in, and along with it, a group of tall, broad-shouldered students standing near the counter outside caught Elara's eye. Sitting right at the center of the bar counter outside was Julian. He was surrounded by his usual arrogant inner circle, laughing loudly with a whiskey glass in his hand. But as the VIP room door opened, Julian casually turned his
Asher chuckled, leaning his head back against the sofa cushions. "This pretty lady was sitting all alone, looking utterly bored. We had to give her some proper company." Reaching over to the table, Asher picked up a glass of bright amber juice and pushed it toward her. "Drink up. Don't worry, everyone here is just chilling." Without waiting for her, Asher grabbed a bottle filled with a dark red liquid and poured himself two continuous glasses, chugging them down one after the other. The drink didn't look like wine, but it definitely didn't look like fruit juice either. Elara eyed the strange red drink suspiciously. Asher caught her looking and smirked behind his empty glass. "Want a sip? Though I doubt a delicate girl like you could handle pure stamina liquor without passing out." He chuckled, drowning a third glass in one smooth gulp. Setting the glass down with a heavy clink, Asher leaned forward, his playful tone shifting into something slightly more serious. "Listen
A sharp, amused voice suddenly filled the air.Brandon stopped dead in his tracks. He whipped his head around, his eyes locking onto a tall figure leaning casually against the hallway archway.It was Asher.Asher had his hands shoved loosely into his uniform pockets, a brilliant, highly amused smirk playing on his handsome face. His sharp eyes flicked over Brandon with a lazy, dangerous glint that carried the undeniable weight of an elite top-tier senior.The moment Brandon recognized who was standing there, all the arrogance and anger drained from his face in less than a second. His face turned deathly pale. Asher... from the elite faction... Brandon thought in sheer terror.Realizing that continuing his embarrassing scene would instantly ruin his carefully crafted reputation in front of the academy's top elites, Brandon swallowed hard. He didn't dare say another word to Elara, nor did he dare challenge Asher. Giving Asher a quick bow, Brandon turned on his heel and frantically scu
The remaining classes of the day passed by without any major incidents.Elara managed to survive the lectures by keeping her head down, taking diligent notes, and deliberately avoiding eye contact with anyone. Even her dinner at the cafeteria went surprisingly smoothly. Although she could still feel dozens of sharp, piercing gazes digging into her back like needles, no one approached her table to pour soup or hurl verbal abuse.Exhausted from the emotional roller coaster of her first official day, Elara stepped out of the academic building and began walking back toward the dormitory block. Her legs felt heavy, and all she wanted was to crash onto her bed and sleep for a week.Grab!Without any warning, a strong hand shot out from the shadows of a stone pillar, wrapping tightly around her wrist and yanking her forcefully into a secluded side hallway."Ouch! Hey!" Elara hissed in sharp pain as the person's fingers dug deep into her soft skin, practically bruising her.She violently tor
The office became dead silent.Adrian's dark brows almost imperceptibly furrowed. His ice-grey eyes rested quietly on her downcast face. He didn't speak immediately. Instead, he simply looked at her, his gaze thoughtful and deep. What he was thinking behind those quiet eyes, Elara had no idea.After a long, stretching moment, he asked another quiet question. "So... you've been living completely alone?"She nodded faintly. "...Yes."Another quiet silence settled over the room. Then…"You may leave."Elara froze. "...That's it?"She looked up at him in absolute disbelief. He wasn't going to question her? He wasn't angry? He wasn't going to threaten her to keep her mouth shut? He wasn't asking about that night in the hotel? He was just... letting her go like that?She stood up awkwardly, but her feet refused to actually move toward the door.Adrian looked up from his desk, resting his chin on his hand. "Anything else?"Elara bit her lower lip nervously. In that moment, her overwhelming
The lecture felt endless. Every single second dragged by like an entire hour.Elara didn't hear half of what Adrian Kingsley was teaching at the front of the room. His calm, deep baritone voice echoed rhythmically through the lecture hall, yet not a single word managed to enter her mind. She sat as straight and rigid as a statue, her fingers gripping her pen so tightly that her knuckles had long turned stark white.Every time she accidentally felt his sharp, ice-grey gaze sweep across the classroom, her heart would skip a violent beat. The sheer, suffocating pressure he carried as an elite man was simply too overwhelming. She felt as though she were sitting on thousands of tiny, sharp needles, and even basic breathing felt like a struggle.Finally…RING!The sharp echo of the school bell resonated throughout the room. The gruelling lecture was finally over.Elara secretly let out a long breath she hadn't realised she was holding. "...Finally," she whispered under her breath.She hur







