(Sierra's POV)
The next morning, campus life swallowed us again. Angel ran to class. Sebastian got dragged to football practice. Ethan left with him. Leaving me and Marko alone near the architecture building. He sat on a bench, flexing his bandaged hand.
"You didn't take out the dressing," I chided. "Good."
He raised an eyebrow. "Were you expecting I'd mess it up again?"
"Yes," I said honestly. He laughed. "Fair." I leaned down to examine the bandage. "Does it hurt today?"
"Not as much… thanks to you."
"You're welcome," I smiled softly. "Just take care, okay? Infection isn't a joke."
His face softened in a way I hadn't seen before. He asked quietly, "Why are you so concerned?
I shrugged, adjusting his bandage. "Because friends care. And… you deserve someone to worry about you." He swallowed hard.
"Sierra. I want to say u something." And he looked so tensed.
"What"
Before he could even finish, Ethan and Sebastian came back, panting. "Stefano wants the team," Sebastian said. "We have to go. Marko stood. "See you after class, Bella."
And the talk between us remained uncomplete…..
I waved. "Bye"
Then Angel hooked my arm, pulling me into our architecture lecture — laughing, not having any idea how heavy my heart felt. I didn't know Luciana's secret.
I didn't know why Stefano almost kissed me. I did not know why Marko stared at me that way.
But one thing was clear:
Everything was changing.
Fast. And dangerously.
(Stefano's POV)
I watched Sierra walk into class with Angel. Something about her today made my chest feel too tight. The gentleness she had. The way she checked Marko's bandage. The way she smiled at Sebastian earlier. The way her hair fell on her shoulders. And the almost-kiss last night was still haunting me like a ghost. I ran a hand through my hair. "I'm losing my mind," I whispered.
Luciana appeared suddenly beside the tree where I leaned. "Hey stranger," she purred. I didn't look at her. "Not now." She smirked. "I missed u."
"But I didn't" I was about to walk away, but then
" yeah, maybe because u're busy preparing something."
My jaw clenched. "What I was preparing?" I demanded.
She winked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Then she walked away, as if she had successfully planted a bomb under my feet. And maybe she had. Because for the first time… …I felt fear. Not for myself. For the girl I wasn't supposed to care about. The girl I almost kissed last night. The girl who was slowly destroying every wall I'd built. Sierra.
(Sierra's POV)
The halls on campus were loud, bright, and full of gossip. I continued walking, Angel hooking her arm through mine once we met. "You okay, babe?" she asked. "Yeah… just tired."
We walked to the studio, but the noise behind us gradually grew into whispers. I didn't notice at first. Until someone laughed. A sharp, deliberately hurtful laugh. We turned.
Luciana.
Her makeup perfect, her lips shiny, her eyes cold-as if she had been waiting for this moment. And around us-students surrounded, phones out, murmuring. From the other end of the hallway came Sebastian, confusion etched on his face.
"What's going on—?"
But Luciana stepped forward. "Everyone!" she announced dramatically.
"The college's new charity case has arrived."
My heartbeat dropped. Angel stiffened. "Don't—" But Luciana cut her off.
"Tell us, Sierra… how does it feel to live in a millionaire's house without earning it? A gold-digging mother… and a daughter following her footsteps?"
The corridor broke out into gasps. Something in me broke. "Luciana, stop," rumbled Marko's voice from behind, his face hardening.
"You know what's funniest? She really thinks she fits here. How adorable."
My throat tightened, my palms grew cold, and the humiliation was sharp, stabbing, unbearable. I wished I could disappear. Angel grasped my hand. "Sierra—"
"Rich - Daddy brought her college from slum" she said and my mind went blur. "Shut-up, Luci" Marko said.
But I shook my head and walked away, not looking at anyone. I heard Marko swear under his breath. I heard Ethan murmur, "We shouldn't have let her walk alone…
But Luciana wasn't done.
She smirked at Stefano and then at me.
I heard Sebastian swear softly. But the loudest of all-the sound that sliced through me- was Stefano's silence. He didn't defend me. Not once, even. Not a single word. And that hurt more than anything Luciana said.
(Stefano's POV)
Her voice echoed even when she was out of the corridor, but I didn't hear a single word. All I saw was Sierra… walking away with that broken expression. That expression shouldn't exist on her face. Something inside of me snapped so violently I felt dizzy. Marko looked at me. "Stefano," he muttered, "you okay, man?" No. I wasn't. I wanted to drag Luciana into a corner and tell her to shut her mouth forever. I wanted to chase Sierra, make her look at me. I wanted—I didn't know what I wanted. But the scariest part? I wanted her.
More than yesterday.
More than last week.
More than any damn logic I had. Luciana's Words Hit Me Like a Frag Grenade
"She really thinks she fits here…"
"Gold-digging daughter."
"She's adorable…" She had embarrassed Sierra in front of the whole hallway. And I didn't stop her. Because the moment I saw Sierra's face… my chest locked up. I froze like an idiot. And when Sierra left, something inside me went with her. Sebastian ran after her. Angel followed. Marko cursed again.
Ethan looked at me suspiciously. "You look like you want to kill someone."
"I do," I growled. Luciana turned to me with a sweet, poisonous smile. "Stefano… don't look at me like that. I was just telling the truth. She's—"
"Shut up." Her eyes widened. I'd never spoken to her like that. Ethan 's mouth fell open. Marko grinned. "Oh… he's gone. I ignored them and walked out of the building, trying to find Sierra. I didn't know what I'd say. I didn't know what I should say. All I knew was— The more she hurt…. the more I hurt. And I hated that.
(To be continued.....)