Chapter 5: Welcome to the Sparkling Main Stage

The gates of St. Jude Elite Academy looked less like a school and more like a royal palace. Towering marble pillars, manicured rose gardens, and a parking lot filled exclusively with sports cars that cost more than a mansion.

I stood at the entrance, pulling at the stiff, gold-trimmed collar of my new uniform. "I don’t belong here. I definitely don't belong here," I muttered under my breath.

"Oh, stop being a gloomy potato, Toby! Adjust your posture! Radiate confidence!"

A hand slapped my back so hard I nearly bit my tongue. I spun around to look at Sissy, and my jaw instantly hit the floor.

Adrian’s styling team had spent the entire night working on her, and the transformation was nothing short of miraculous. Gone was the oversized hoodie and neon beret. Sissy was wearing a breathtaking, pastel-lavender tailored dress that hugged her perfectly, her hair cascading down her shoulders in flawless, glossy waves. She wore a diamond bracelet that practically caught the morning sun and threw tiny rainbows everywhere.

She wasn't just pretty. She was dazzling. She looked like an actual princess masquerading as a student's older sister.

"S-Sissy?" I blinked, stunned. "You actually look... normal. Elegant, even."

"I am always elegant, Toby," she said, giving a soft, perfectly practiced high-society laugh before immediately ruining the vibe by winking aggressively at me. "But today, we begin our grand performance. Operation: Save the Wallet!"

"Keep your voice down!" I hissed, looking around nervously.

Right on cue, a sleek silver sports car purred to a stop right in front of us. The door swung upward, and Adrian Vance stepped out. In his tailored student-council blazer, he looked impossibly handsome, sending a literal wave of gasps through the crowd of nearby students.

"Vance! It’s Adrian!" the whispers started instantly. "Who is that girl he's walking toward? Is she a new transfer? A model?"

Adrian ignored the crowd, walking straight up to Sissy. He offered his arm with a flawless, aristocratic bow. "Good morning, my beautiful fiancée. Did you sleep well?"

Sissy didn't skip a beat. She placed her delicate hand on his arm, tilting her head back to flash him a smile so bright it felt like it had its own lens flare. "Perfectly, my love. Though I counted every second until I could see you again."

I stood next to them, physically shuddering at the sheer amount of fake sweetness dripping from their voices. These two are terrifyingly good at acting, I thought.

"Good," Adrian murmured, his eyes flashing with a mix of amusement and something darker—something competitive. He looked at me. "Your classes are in the East Wing, Toby. Don't cause trouble."

"I'm not the one you need to worry about," I muttered back.

As Adrian and Sissy turned to walk up the grand marble steps together, the entire student body went dead silent, staring at the stunning new power couple. But just as we reached the top of the stairs, a sharp, cold voice cut through the courtyard.

"Adrian! What is the meaning of this?!"

We all stopped. Standing at the top of the stairs was an elderly man with a cane, flanked by four bodyguards. His sharp, stern eyes locked directly onto Sissy, his face twisting into a mask of pure disbelief.

It was Chairman Vance. Adrian’s grandfather. The man who held the fate of Sissy's fifty thousand euros in his hands.

The Chairman marched down the steps, his cane clicking heavily against the stone. He stopped right in front of Sissy, staring at her face. For a terrifying three seconds, nobody breathed.

Then, the Chairman’s stern face suddenly cracked into a massive, booming grin. He threw his arms up in the air.

"Aha! The Glitter Girl! Adrian, you magnificent boy, you actually managed to catch her!" The Chairman laughed, pointing his cane at Sissy. "Excellent! I was worried you'd marry a boring businesswoman! Tell me, young lady, did you bring any pink glitter today? Our boardrooms are dreadfully dull!"

Adrian froze. Sissy blinked. I stared in absolute shock.

Wait... I thought, a slow realization dawning on me as Sissy’s eyes lit up with chaotic joy. The billionaire Chairman doesn't want an elegant lady. He’s just as crazy as she is!

Sissy’s dazzling smile returned, ten times wilder than before. "Chairman Vance! As a matter of fact... I have two bottles in my purse."

Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a heavy, defeated sigh. "Oh, no."

I smiled, suddenly feeling a lot better about my new school. High society wasn't going to change Sissy. Sissy was about to absolutely shatter high society.

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