Lila's POV
I trudged down the hallway from my science class, exhaustion weighing heavily on me. Last night, I had succumbed to the gripping allure of "Haunting Adeline," losing myself in its pages until three AM. Now, here I was, running on a mere two hours of sleep, and the reality of today’s exams loomed ominously overhead.
What a stupid decision. I could almost hear my mother lecturing me about maintaining a proper sleep schedule, and I rolled my eyes at the thought. Why did I always do this to myself?
As I continued walking, I could hear snippets of gossip filtering through the crowd of students. They were all animatedly discussing some cafeteria drama that I couldn’t care less about. Seriously, why was everyone so obsessed with other people's lives? It was all so tiresome.
While rummaging through my bag, trying to locate my notes, someone abruptly shoved me into a locker. Instinctively, I winced at the jarring impact. Bruises would surely be the least of my worries. I looked up to unleash my annoyance, only to find myself face-to-face with Asher Ace Monroe, the star football player.
Ugh. Why did it have to be him? Every girl in the school idolized him: athletic, brilliant, and, at least on the surface, a gentleman. But I knew better; behind that charming facade was a cold, arrogant brat like all the other popular kids.
His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, exuding an air of confrontation. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mrs. Perfect! Should I blow your little wounds?” His mocking tone only fueled my irritation.
I shot him a glare that could slice through steel, dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, please, Ace. If I wanted a clown like you to blow my wounds, I’d just visit the circus. At least those clowns know how to entertain.”
His surprise was brief; his anger quickly resurfaced. “Clown? Funny coming from a bookworm with no social skills or boyfriend!”
I scoffed at his feeble comeback. “Oh, you mean your girlfriend, who spreads her legs for anyone with a heartbeat? What a winning relationship that must be!” My words dripped with sarcasm as I caught the flicker of fury in his eyes.
“What? Can’t handle the truth? Let me think—how many times has she cheated on you? Ten? Right?” I laughed, relishing in the sting of my insults. “Must be tough being so popular with a girlfriend who sleeps around. Sounds like a real win for you!” I smirked and gave him a little shove back. “Sorry, Ace, but I’m not interested in your pity. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a class to attend.”
I stalked off, my mood soured further. The way girls threw themselves at him baffled me. He was just another spoiled rich kid who happened to get good grades. Sure, I came from a wealthy family too, but I had worked hard for everything—no handouts or coddling for me.
Today, though, my thoughts were not just about school or Ace. I was planning to confront the girl who had broken my brother's heart. We may not talk often, but he was still my brother, and I hated seeing him in pain.
Ace's POV
I watched Lila storm away, my frustration boiling over as her biting words echoed in my mind. She didn’t hold back, and, hell, she had a point. But something about her delivery only made me angrier.
I ran my fingers through my damp hair, trying to shake off the irritation. It didn’t help that whispers from other students floated around me, dissecting the confrontation like it was some sort of spectacle. Lisa had been a colossal mistake, and Lila was all too happy to remind me of that.
Why did she have to look so damn captivating when she was glaring at me? I shook my head, ridding myself of that ridiculous thought.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from my father, reminding me of our dinner with some of his friends tonight. Great. I had completely forgotten about it. Another tedious evening of pretending to give a damn.
With a sigh, I shook off the annoyance and headed to my next class, praying that I wouldn’t get scolded again for being late.
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# At the Monroe Mansion
I stepped into the sprawling Monroe mansion, feeling more out of place than ever. Why did my father insist I wear a suit? It was irritating enough to have just come from grueling football practice, and now this.
“Ace, are you ready?!” my mother called from downstairs, her voice cutting through the silence.
“Yes, mother, I’m ready!” I shouted back, fighting off the rising boredom.
Descending the staircase, I caught sight of my father, beaming like a proud peacock. I couldn’t help but describe him that way; his expression was so utterly ridiculous. The doorbell rang just as I reached the bottom, snapping me out of my thoughts.
We opened the door, and my breath caught in my throat. Standing there was the last person I expected to see.
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