TROUBLE ARRIVES

After the hallway incident, Lila enters the cafeteria. Everyone keeps staring at her. Some students admire her for standing up to the girls. Others hate her for being close to Julian.

Lila sits alone.

Then Julian unexpectedly sits across from her.

The entire cafeteria goes silent. One girl even drops her tray.

Lila looks at him in confusion.

"Why did you sit here?"

Julian replies casually,

"We're dating. This is normal."

Lila nearly chokes on her drink.

The whispers around the cafeteria instantly grow louder.

"Did you hear that?"

"He called her his girlfriend!"

"They're really dating!"

Lila lowers her voice and glares at Julian.

"This is your fault."

Julian looks completely unbothered.

"How?"

"You just made the rumors worse."

"They were already talking."

Lila opens her mouth to argue but stops.

Unfortunately, he has a point.

She continues eating.

But after a while, she notices something strange.

Julian is staring at her.

Again. And again. And again.

Finally, she slams her fork down.

"Stop staring."

"I don't want to."

Lila blinks.

"What kind of answer is that?"

Julian shrugs.

"The honest kind."

Before she can respond, a sudden wave of screams erupts from the cafeteria.

"OH MY GOD!"

"THEY'RE BACK!"

"ETHAN! NOAH! MASON!"

Students rush toward the entrance. Even teachers look surprised.

Lila turns around.

Three boys enter the cafeteria.

The first is tall with dark brown hair and a confident smile that instantly draws attention.

The second has golden-blond hair and a charming magazine-like smile.

The third is quieter, sharp-featured, and effortlessly elegant.

The cafeteria erupts.

"They're even more handsome in person!"

"I missed them!"

"Look at Noah!"

"No, Ethan!"

But even with all the noise, Julian remains calm.

In fact, he looks bored.

Compared to them, Julian Carrington still stands out more.

He doesn't attract attention.

He commands it.

The three boys walk to the table.

The tallest grins.

"Miss us?"

"No," Julian replies instantly.

The blond laughs.

"You're so warm."

The quiet one shakes his head.

"You deserved that."

The tall one suddenly notices Lila.

His eyes widen.

"You're the girlfriend?"

Silence falls instantly.

Everyone leans in.

Lila feels all eyes on her.

"Why is everyone looking at me?" she mutters.

"Because you're dating him," the blond boy says.

"Unfortunately," Julian adds.

Lila kicks him under the table.

Julian winces.

Then the boys laugh.

"Oh, this is good," Ethan says. "The rumors are true."

They sit down without asking.

They introduce themselves:

Ethan Walker.

Noah Hayes.

Mason Reed.

Lila sighs.

"So the whole school knows me now?"

"The whole world might soon," Ethan says.

Lila groans.

"I want to transfer schools."

"Too late," Noah replies. "You're famous."

Phones begin appearing around the cafeteria.

Julian stands immediately.

"Put the phones away."

Silence.

Every phone disappears instantly.

Lila stares at him.

"They actually listened."

"They usually do," Mason says calmly.

Ethan leans forward suddenly.

"We made a bet while we were away."

Julian narrows his eyes.

"What bet?"

"About who would get a girlfriend first."

Noah laughs.

"Don't say it."

Ethan ignores him.

"We all thought Julian would be last."

Lila freezes.

"What?"

"Nobody expected Mr. Ice Prince to date."

Julian looks ready to kill him.

But Ethan only grins.

Then he looks at Lila.

"You're different from the others."

The table goes quiet.

Lila feels something shift.

Then Noah smiles.

"So… how did Julian fall for you?"

Julian nearly spits his drink.

The cafeteria explodes again.

"Ethan."

"Yes?"

"If you value your life…"

"Too late."

All eyes turn to Lila.

She smiles slowly.

"Oh, it was easy."

Julian narrows his eyes.

"Lila."

She ignores him.

"He became completely obsessed with me."

The cafeteria erupts.

Ethan shouts, "I KNEW IT!"

Julian sighs.

"I did not become obsessed."

"He followed me everywhere," Lila continues.

"I did NOT."

"He couldn't stop thinking about me."

"Absolutely false."

"He probably has pictures of me—"

"Enough."

Everyone laughs.

Then Ethan suddenly claps.

"I have an idea."

"No," Julian says immediately.

Ethan ignores him.

"Let's test them."

Lila blinks.

"Test?"

"One question each."

Julian looks done with life.

Ethan points at him.

"What is Lila's favorite color?"

Without hesitation:

"Purple."

Silence.

Lila freezes.

"How do you know that?"

Julian hesitates.

"You mention it."

"I don't."

"...I noticed."

For some reason, her heart skips.

Then—

A voice interrupts from the entrance.

"Well."

Silence falls instantly.

A beautiful girl stands there.

Long dark hair. Elegant clothes. Cold confidence.

Her eyes lock on Julian.

Then Lila.

"So she's the girl."

Julian's expression changes instantly.

"Lila," he says quietly.

For the first time…

He sounds worried.

The girl steps forward.

Click. Click. Click.

"So this is her," she says.

Julian moves slightly in front of Lila.

"Amelia. Don't start."

Now the name is revealed.

Amelia Hartwell smiles faintly.

"I didn't come to start anything."

Her gaze sharpens.

"I came to see the girl who thinks she can take what's mine."

Gasps spread through the cafeteria.

Engagement.

Whispers explode everywhere.

Julian's voice drops.

"That's none of their business."

Amelia smiles.

"Everything about you is my business."

She looks at Lila.

"You should be careful."

"This was never yours to begin with."

Silence.

Julian's voice turns cold.

"Leave."

Amelia holds his gaze.

Then smiles.

"See you soon, Julian."

She turns and walks away.

The cafeteria slowly comes back to life, but the mood is heavy now.

Ethan leans back.

"…Okay."

Noah exhales.

"That just got serious."

Mason says nothing.

Lila looks at Julian.

"I think I understand that phone call now."

Julian doesn't answer.

He just stares at the door Amelia left through.

And for the first time since this whole arrangement began…

It no longer feels like a game.

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