Break time turned the campus into a mini festival. The sun was out, and the entire courtyard buzzed with excitement. Seniors were reconnecting like they hadn't seen each other in decades, some laughing, others squealing in dramatic embraces. First-years wandered around clutching flyers, trying to decide which club to join like their lives depended on it. Sterling College didn’t play when it came to first impressions.

Micheal, Talia, and I sat in the cafeteria by the wide glass window. Our table overlooked the courtyard, giving us a front-row seat to the campus chaos.

“I swear if one more person shoves a flyer in my face, I’ll scream,” Talia muttered, eyeing the cheer squad setting up a booth outside.

“You? Cheerleading?” I teased.

“Please. I’d rather join the wrestling team,” she scoffed.

Just then, a sudden wave of movement caught our attention. Heads began to turn. Whispers filled the air like static.

“Lucien is here,” someone breathed like a prayer.

The shift was immediate. Girls began fixing their hair, adjusting their tops, sitting up straighter. Even some of the guys stiffened, suddenly alert. The cafeteria practically held its breath.

And then he walked in.

Lucien.

He wasn’t just handsome—he was impossible. Like a Greek god carved out of moonlight and fire. Tall, with broad shoulders and a lean, powerful frame. His skin was pale, almost porcelain, but not in a sickly way—it glowed like silver under sunlight. His jawline was razor-sharp, lips full and set in an expression that screamed *untouchable*. His hair was raven black, tousled in a perfect mess, and his eyes… they were like storms—icy, deep, dangerous.

He didn’t look human. He looked like he had walked out of a forbidden storybook.

Next to him was another guy, equally tall but warmer, more approachable. People whispered his name too—*Damon*.

Lucien passed by our table like we didn’t exist. Not even a glance. Like we were beneath his notice.

He walked to the VIP table at the far end, where only the elite seemed to gather. The room seemed to move around him, parting like the sea. As he sat, two girls practically floated over to his table—absolutely stunning, like models pulled off the cover of a high-end fashion magazine. Long legs, curves, confidence in every step. One of them leaned in, and he hugged her casually before pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.

I didn’t know what annoyed me more—the way he ignored me, or the way my chest twisted seeing him with her.

“He’s not even that hot,” I said, a little too loud.

Talia snorted into her drink. “Says the girl who’s been staring like he owes her rent.”

Micheal raised a brow. “Don’t get involved with guys like that, Aria. They’re trouble.”

He was right.

But somehow, trouble had never looked so tempting.

“I heard he’s the heir to a billion-dollar empire,” Micheal said, his voice dropping slightly as if the walls had ears.

I turned to look at Lucien again, sitting like royalty at the corner of the cafeteria, surrounded by students who practically worshipped the ground he walked on. The girl he hugged had now moved to sit beside him, leaning into him like she belonged there.

Micheal leaned closer, lowering his voice even more. “And that guy beside him—Damon—that’s his best friend. His family owns one of the biggest private hospitals in the country. The guy’s got money, power, connections. Total trust fund babies.”

“Nepo babies,” Talia corrected with a laugh, sipping her drink.

Micheal chuckled. “Exactly. And from what I’ve heard, Lucien doesn’t just act like he owns the school—he practically does. His family funds part of Sterling’s research wing. That’s why no one dares cross him.”

“How do you know all this?” I asked, raising a brow.

He shrugged casually. “I like to know where I’m stepping into. I did my research before applying here. Sterling is prestigious, but the social hierarchy is real. And those two? They're at the very top.”

Talia tilted her head, watching Lucien’s table. “You’d think guys like that would go to some exclusive European prep school, not slum it here with us commoners.”

“Yeah, well, Sterling is known for producing future elites. Their parents probably sent them here to flex on the rest of us,” Micheal muttered.

I was quiet, staring at Lucien without meaning to. There was something... unsettling about him. Not just the beauty or the arrogance—there was a coldness in his eyes, like something ancient. Like he was more than just a spoiled rich boy.

Micheal’s voice broke my thoughts. “Just be careful, Aria. I’ve heard stories. Lucien doesn’t like people in his space. And anyone who crosses him… well, let’s just say they don’t last long here.”

I blinked. “What do you mean by that?”

“Some students mysteriously transferred out, others disappeared from campus life completely. Some say he got them expelled. Others—” he hesitated, “—say worse.”

Talia rolled her eyes. “Come on, Micheal. That sounds like a bad teen drama plot.”

He held up his hands. “Believe what you want. But mark my words—don’t get tangled with Lucien. He’s bad news.”

I nodded, but inside, I felt something stir. A pull. 

Despite every warning, every red flag, every whispered rumor…

…I couldn’t look away.

Classes for the day finally ended and I bid my friends goodbye.

The walk from the school building to the apartment was like 15mins 

I took time enjoying the serene beauty of the school, I really wished my mom was alive.

She worked hard to leave us a fortune that could last us a lifetime that's how we were able to afford sterling college.

I couldn't help but think of my mom as I walked to my room , 

As I approached the door , I heard voices coming from inside , as I stepped inside I saw him right there.