The rain poured like confession. Thick drops slammed against the stained-glass windows of the elite faculty lounge as thunder cracked above. Inside, the dimly lit room was filled with tension—professors whispering, students spying, and secrets dripping from mouths like wine.
Mr. Huxley adjusted his tie, seated across from Professor Liliana Wren—35, graceful with sharp cheekbones, caramel-toned skin, and lips always painted a wine-red. Her reputation for seducing knowledge—and students—was whispered across departments.
"I hear there's a wedding proposal coming up," Liliana murmured with a smirk. "And it's not from one of our darling students."
Mr. Huxley didn't smile. "You shouldn't be spying on the children, Wren."
"Oh, darling," she leaned in. "They're not children anymore."
--
Bianca stood before the massive mirror, applying lipstick slowly, watching herself become someone else.
A knock on the door.
It was Elijah Moretti, 23—tall, sculpted, heir to the Moretti media empire. His Italian accent made even lies sound romantic.
"You asked for me?" he said, stepping in without invitation.
Bianca handed him an envelope. "Deliver this to Ivy."
"What's in it?"
"Heartbreak."
She smiled darkly.
"And a dress for prom."
--
Naomi Ambrose had arrived.
Dressed in torn jeans and a hoodie, she registered for classes like any broke student. No one recognized her. Not yet.
But as she passed by the computer lab, her phone buzzed.
> TEXT FROM: UNKNOWN
"You have 48 hours. Make Ochieng choose you—or destroy him."
Naomi closed her eyes, recalling the blood pact her family swore with the Zahra syndicate years ago. A pact made in glitter, sealed with betrayal.
--
Students lined up for prom invitations—only a chosen few were receiving them. The rest? Angry. Furious. Divided.
Jealousy brewed like a poisoned cocktail.
Inside the hall, Ivy clutched her golden envelope. But the name on it wasn't hers.
It was addressed to:
Miss Naomi Ambrose.
---
He was alone again.
Staring at the velvet box on the table.
Three knocks.
He opened the door to find Lena—drenched in rain, mascara ruined, breathing heavily.
"I need to tell you something," she said. "It's about Ivy… and the lie that started everything."
--
Professor Liliana Wren, 35 – Psychology Lecturer. Sensual, witty, sharp-tongued. Rumored to have affairs with both students and faculty. Unofficial counselor for broken hearts—but no one trusts her fully.
Elijah Moretti, 23 – Billionaire heir. Charming, cunning, fluent in seduction and secrets. Currently in a secret affair with Zahra but drawn to Ivy for reasons unknown.
Naomi Ambrose, 21 – Beautiful, quiet, dangerous. Hiding her wealth to bait Ochieng into a love triangle. Manipulative but haunted by her past.
---