A long line of private luxury cars stretched outside Wistonia High School, dropping off its pampered golden children in a noisy rush.
I stood by the road in my uniform, clutching my old schoolbag, feeling like something that did not belong.
"Chloe!"
Ethan stepped out of a black sedan and jogged over to me.
He had changed into a dark blue uniform today, his tie perfectly straight, looking so bright and polished he could have walked out of a magazine.
He stopped in front of me and took my wrist as naturally as breathing.
His palm was warm.
I tried to pull away without thinking, but he tightened his hold gently.
"Come on. I'll take you inside." He led me through the school gates.
Countless eyes turned toward us. Some were curious, some assessing, and some openly hostile.
The teacher at reception paused. "Ethan, who is this..."
"Chloe Parker." Ethan handed over my transfer documents and raised his voice. "A guest of my family, and also my future..."
I shot my hand up and covered his mouth.
"Don't say nonsense!" I hissed, the tips of my ears burning.
He laughed under my palm, his eyes curving like crescent moons as he looked at me.
I snatched my hand back as if I had been shocked.
The paperwork went through quickly. When the teacher led me into the classroom, morning reading had just ended.
Everyone looked up.
"This is our new transfer student, Chloe Parker," the homeroom teacher introduced me briefly to the class.
My gaze swept over the room.
In the last row by the window, Liam was asleep with his head on the desk.
The seat beside him was empty.
The homeroom teacher pointed. "Chloe, sit beside Liam for now."
I walked over, pulled out the chair, and sat down.
Liam shifted but did not open his eyes.
He slept through the entire class.
I opened my notebook and tried hard to keep up.
The second class was a group discussion. The professor had just assigned the task when whispers began buzzing around us.
I turned my head.
Liam had finally woken up. He rubbed his neck, his gaze drifting over before landing on me.
"I don't team up with parasites."
Everyone nearby heard him clearly.
Someone burst out laughing, followed by more muffled snickers.
My fingers tightened around my pen.
"That's fine." I heard my own voice, calm and steady. "At least parasites know how to adapt."
The laughter stopped.
I turned and looked him straight in the eye.
He lifted a brow, as if a little surprised.
"And you, Mr. Hayes?" I went on. "If the Hayes family name were stripped away, what would you have left?"
The classroom fell completely silent.
Liam stared at me. His eyes were very dark, clouded with emotions I could not read.
A few seconds later, he suddenly smiled. It was not mockery. It looked more like interest.
"Interesting." He muttered the word, turned back around, and said nothing else.
The professor happened to come over and glanced at our blank discussion notes. "Where's your conclusion?"
"Not yet." Liam dragged out the words. "I just got warned by a parasite."
The professor glared at him, looked at me, shook his head, and walked away.
At lunch, I had just found a corner seat with my tray when a group of students surrounded me.
The girl in front had curled hair, perfect makeup, and a cheerleading skirt.
She sat across from me with a sweet smile.
"You're Chloe Parker? I'm Vanessa Collins, captain of the school cheer squad."
She was exactly the kind of girl who always appeared in the school paper, adored by everyone and raised in comfort.
"Okay." I took a bite of my sandwich.
She propped up her chin, her tone probing. "The Hayes family suddenly has someone new living with them. Everyone's curious. What does your father do?"
My fork tightened in my hand.
"I..."
I had no idea how to answer when Ethan's voice came from behind me.
"Her father is an important guest of my father. It isn't convenient to discuss."
He set his tray down beside me as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then slipped an arm around my shoulders with the ease of someone who had practiced it a thousand times.
Vanessa's smile froze.
She gave a dry laugh. "What kind of important guest needs to live at Hayes Manor?"
"Vanessa." Ethan was still smiling, but his tone had cooled. "Curiosity has limits."
Color rose and drained across Vanessa's face.
The girls beside her exchanged looks and tugged at her sleeve.
Vanessa took a deep breath and forced her smile back into place. "Since you've said so, Ethan, I'll leave."
The group left unwillingly.
My shoulders loosened, and I turned to Ethan. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He put a piece of rib into my bowl. "Eat more. You're too thin."
I took a few bites of rice. The tight string inside my chest finally loosened a little.
What I did not notice was Liam sitting alone three tables behind us.
He had flattened his straw between his teeth and was staring in our direction.
Liam watched the girl go from tense to relaxed. He watched her smile at Ethan.
A strange irritation shot through him.
Ridiculous.
He actually thought the way she had held herself together and refused to bow her head was almost pleasing.
Liam forced himself to look away.
That girl was just an outsider the old man had brought home. She had nothing to do with him.
Whether she was close to Ethan or being targeted by Vanessa, none of it had anything to do with him.
He stood, picked up his tray, and walked toward the return station.
When he passed Ethan and Chloe's table, he did not stop.
But his gaze still flicked over from the corner of his eye.
Ethan was putting food into Chloe's bowl and murmuring something.
Chloe lowered her head, the tips of her ears a little red, her lips pressed together as if she were holding back a laugh.
Liam looked away and dropped his tray into the return bin with a heavy clatter.
The metal crashed loudly.
Several nearby students jumped and looked up at him.
Expressionless, he walked out of the cafeteria and left Chloe and Ethan's laughter behind him.
