The cafeteria had gone deathly silent. Every eye was glued to the three of them—Adrian, Ryan, and Elena—like the opening act of a play no one wanted to miss. Trays clattered against tables as whispers spread like wildfire.
Ryan's grip on Elena's wrist was firm, protective, but not enough to hurt her. "You don't talk to her like that," he said, his voice low yet sharp, slicing through the room.
Adrian's gaze was colder than steel, his jaw clenched so tight the vein at his temple pulsed. He didn't look at Ryan—he looked straight at Elena. "So this is what you're doing now? Letting just anyone hold you?"
The words stung her more than she expected. Elena pulled her hand free, glaring at him. "You have no right to question me, Adrian Chen."
A ripple of gasps spread across the cafeteria. No one ever spoke back to Adrian, not professors, not prefects, and definitely not students.
Lila, sitting prettily a few tables away, leaned forward with an almost triumphant smile. "Ooooh, trouble in paradise," she said loudly enough for everyone to hear. Her voice carried, fanning the flames of gossip.
Ryan shot her a look of pure disgust before turning back to Adrian. "If you want to pick a fight, pick it with me. Not with her."
Adrian finally turned his gaze on Ryan. His lips curved into a smile that wasn't really a smile. "You think you can protect her? You don't even know what you're dealing with."
Something in his tone—cryptic, bitter, which made Elena's chest tighten. She remembered the betrayal in her past life, the cold knife in her back. Was Adrian hinting at something? Or was he just toying with her emotions again?
Before she could stop herself, Elena slammed her tray down on the nearest table. The sound cracked through the tension like a whip. "Both of you, stop it!" she snapped. "You're turning me into some prize to be fought over, and I'm not playing that game."
But her voice trembled at the end, betraying her.
The cafeteria erupted into murmurs. Some students smirked, others whispered about a possible love triangle. And Elena,standing at the center of it—felt exposed and fragile.
Ryan stepped closer to her, shielding her slightly from the weight of all those stares. "Elena, you don't have to deal with this. Come on, let's go."
Adrian's hand shot out, blocking their path. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flickered with something raw. "She's not leaving with you."
The challenge hung heavy in the air. For the first time, two of the most powerful figures in the academy were openly at odds—and Elena was the reason.
The head of student council, clearly sensing disaster, started toward them. But before he could intervene, Lila stood, her face lit with feigned concern. "Adrian, Ryan… please, don't fight over her. Elena isn't worth..."
The words never finished.
Elena turned sharply, eyes blazing, and for the first time, she snapped. "Shut your mouth, Lila."
The room froze. The quiet girl who rarely raised her voice had just silenced the most popular socialite in the academy. Lila's eyes widened, her fake sweetness dropping for a second, revealing something darker.
And Adrian… Adrian's gaze softened for the briefest heartbeat as he looked at Elena. Something flickered there, something almost human, before the ice slammed back into place.
"Careful, Elena Zhou," he said quietly, his voice carrying despite its softness. "You're playing a dangerous game."
The bell rang, breaking the moment. Students scattered, but the tension lingered like smoke after fire.
Elena's heart pounded as she brushed past them, refusing to look back. She needed to get out, to breathe, to think...
But just as she pushed open the cafeteria door, a folded note slipped from her bag. She froze. It wasn't hers. Someone had slipped it in without her noticing.
In neat, elegant handwriting, it read:
"You're repeating the same mistakes again. Meet me at the old library tonight if you want the truth."
Her fingers trembled as she clutched the note. Who knew her secret? And what truth were they promising?