The Public Accusation
The school auditorium was packed again, this time for the annual student council assembly, where announcements, awards, and "special recognitions" were handed out. Serena had been quietly seated with Evie beside her, Lucien not far behind, Damien in his usual calm-but-alert mode.
And then… Cassandra made her move.
She walked to the center stage with a dramatic flair, perfectly timed heels clicking against the polished floor. The room fell silent—her confidence radiating like a spotlight.
"I just… can't stay quiet anymore," she began, voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Everyone keeps talking about Serena Blake and Lucien Reed. And I think it's time someone told the truth."
Heads turned. Phones lifted. Cameras zoomed.
Serena's stomach sank, but she didn't move. Not yet.
Cassandra raised a perfectly manicured hand. "Serena hasn't been truthful at all. She claims she's been engaged to Lucien Reed since childhood. She claims she's known him forever. But that's not true! Right, everyone?"
A few curious students murmured. "Is that true?"
Serena's jaw tightened. She opened her mouth, but Cassandra continued before she could respond.
"And let's be honest," Cassandra added, eyes sparkling with calculated deceit, "look at how she flutters whenever he looks at her! She's pretending to be special, pretending to have this magical past, all to get Lucien's attention."
Then Cassandra executed the final act of her theatrics: she tripped deliberately, stumbling forward as if injured. Gasps erupted. Students murmured, and a few rushed toward her, but Lucien and Damien were already moving.
Lucien and Damien Intervene
Lucien didn't wait. He strode onto the stage, eyes sharp, body tense. Damien followed, blocking anyone from getting too close.
"Back up," Lucien said, voice low but carrying across the room. "Everyone, back up."
Cassandra flailed, attempting to gain sympathy. "He didn't even care! He didn't even look—"
Lucien's voice cut through like a whip. "Enough."
He reached Serena's side first, placing a protective hand lightly on her elbow. "She's fine," he announced, calm but deadly. "If anyone touches her, I will make sure they regret it. Understand?"
A ripple of awe and fear ran through the crowd. Whispers: Lucien Reed… protective… dangerous.
Damien stepped forward, arms crossed, calm yet imposing. "And for the record, Serena has known Lucien since she was seven. This isn't a lie, and anyone claiming otherwise should reconsider very carefully what they're saying."
Cassandra tried to speak again, but Lucien raised a hand. Silence. The entire auditorium fell still.
Lucien Publicly Declares Their Engagement
Lucien leaned closer to the microphone, gaze locking on Serena's, voice carrying clearly across the hall.
"For anyone unclear, Serena Blake has been my fiancée since we were seven years old. This is a fact, notarized and witnessed by our families. Anyone who thinks they can undermine her, insult her, or touch her in any way will face my wrath. Let me be very clear: I will not tolerate it. Ever."
The words echoed like a verdict.
Cassandra's face turned pale. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Students whispered, shocked. Phones flashed. Someone muttered, "She's dead in the social media sense."
Serena felt her heart pound, but under Lucien's protective presence, she also felt… relief. Calm. Safety.
He didn't need to shout. He didn't need to threaten violence unnecessarily. The sheer authority in his tone, the aura around him, and the way Damien stood silently beside him communicated it all: Cassandra had no power here. None at all.
Aftermath
Cassandra retreated, stumbling slightly—part humiliation, part fury—but Serena didn't even look at her. Evie clutched her hand, eyes wide with awe.
"You're… amazing," Evie whispered.
Serena exhaled softly, the tension melting. She looked at Lucien, heart thumping, and for the first time, she let herself smile. "Thank you."
Lucien's lips quirked. "You don't need thanks. I just deal with people who cause trouble."
He gave her a soft squeeze on her hand, protective, grounding. And in that moment, Serena realized something: no matter what the world threw at her—Cassandra, rumors, jealous classmates—she wasn't alone. And Lucien Reed? He wasn't just teasing, flirting, or showing off. He was hers, in the way that mattered most.