On the other hand, Sirena settled down on a chair in the library. She didn’t know that status and position held so much value in this campus.Since the moment she returned to campus, she couldn’t stop receiving bullying and insults from other students, all because of Claudya and her gang's provocations. It was all due to her father’s company experiencing a drastic decline, the falling stock prices, and even her father’s tragic decision to end his life.“So tired of avoiding annoying people,” she murmured, closing her eyes as she sat there.*Knock! Knock! Knock!*Sirena lifted her head when she heard a knock on her desk. She saw a man standing in front of her.The man smiled sweetly at Sirena. “How are you?” greeted a man named Gavindra.“Gavin?” Sirena asked, looking at the person before her. He was also a student, one year above her.Gavindra, known as Gavin among his campus friends, was a cheerful and energetic figure. Amid the gloomy atmosphere that Sirena was enduring, his warm sm
James poured whiskey into a small glass already filled with ice cubes. With the glass in hand, he walked toward the window of his hotel room.One hand slipped into his pocket while the other held the glass. His gaze fell outside the window, taking in the bustling city at night.James inhaled the whiskey’s aroma, letting the chill of the ice flow through his fingers. His sharp eyes appeared calm, but his mind wandered, replaying Sirena’s voice from their recent phone call.Leaning his shoulder against the wall near the window, he stared at the shimmering city lights, a stark contrast to the silence enveloping his room. The world outside was alive, yet nothing could ease the longing quietly creeping into him.Every time he heard Sirena’s voice—even just brief conversations or teasing remarks—something inside him felt like “home.”He lifted the glass, letting the whiskey touch his lips, then sipped it slowly. A deep sigh followed, accompanied by the icy drink sliding down his throat. For
"Sirena!" Gavin called out, running toward her."Hey," Sirena greeted him with a small smile."Did something happen? I was near your class earlier and heard some commotion. Are you okay?" Gavin asked, concern written all over his face.Sirena sighed and gave Gavin a faint smile. "Oh, just a little drama. Nothing serious," she replied, trying to appear calm, though Gavin could see a flicker of weariness in her eyes.Gavin frowned, his worry deepening. "A little drama? But you look exhausted. Did they bother you again?" he asked gently, his gaze filled with genuine concern.Sirena shrugged, trying to act indifferent. "Same old, Gavin. But I’m used to it. Besides, I’m not letting them ruin my day," she said resolutely, even though deep down, she felt a bit relieved that someone cared.Gavin gave her a small smile and placed his hand on her shoulder, offering quiet yet meaningful support. "If you need someone to vent to, I’m here. You don’t have to face it all alone, okay?"Sirena looked
“James? That perverted man, what is he doing here?” Sirena thought to herself.“Well, there he is. So, what do you think? Handsome, right?” Elda asked with excitement.Sirena felt her heartbeat quicken. The man who had just turned his gaze was none other than James—the irritating bed partner who always managed to get on her nerves.James was the last person Sirena expected to see in this place, especially looking so formal and respected.She struggled to suppress her shock, though it remained internal. “That perverted man,” she thought irritably.Elda, oblivious to Sirena’s surprise, became even more enthusiastic. “Well? Isn’t he handsome?” she asked again, nudging Sirena’s arm.Sirena forced herself to maintain a calm demeanor in front of Elda, masking her sudden annoyance.“Uh… yeah, I guess,” she replied curtly, trying to redirect her focus and resisting the urge to stare at James too long.“Then let’s head inside and join the seminar,” Elda said, pulling Sirena’s arm, despite her
Sirena stared at her reflection in the mirror. She had applied light makeup and styled her hair as beautifully as possible, wearing a mocha-colored dress that contrasted perfectly with her fair skin. Tonight, she would have dinner with James, as he had requested.She let out a soft sigh, trying to calm the nervous flutter in her chest that refused to subside. She knew it was just a dinner, but an unshakable sense of anxiety always crept in whenever she was around James. His piercing gaze had a way of seeing deeper into her than anyone else ever could.After adjusting a stray strand of hair near her temple, she picked up a small clutch and stepped out of her room. Tonight, she resolved to keep her emotions in check, even though deep in her heart, she knew there was something different about being with James.As she left her room, Brianna's voice called out, "Oh, Siren, there's a car waiting in front of the house. They said they're here to pick you up. Are you going somewhere?""Yes, Mo
A waiter arrived and poured the finest wine into their stemmed glasses."Let's toast," James said, raising his glass.Siren hesitated momentarily but followed James's lead, raising her glass. Their eyes met briefly, and Siren could feel the intensity in James's gaze, as though he wanted to close the distance between them."To your success and everything we’ll go through together," James said with conviction, his eyes never leaving Siren.Siren simply nodded and gave a faint smile before sipping the chilled, rich wine. As the atmosphere grew calmer, Siren found a small glimmer of hope to confront her doubts. Though her emotions were still mixed, the moment gave her a semblance of peace.James set his glass back on the table and smiled, satisfied with the softening atmosphere. "I’d like to do this more often with you," he said, hinting at his desire to deepen their connection."Alright," Siren replied.“Oh, I have something for you,” James said, pulling a small square box from his jacke
On her way to class, Sirena kept overhearing female students talking about James, who had visited the campus yesterday. James had suddenly become a campus celebrity with a swarm of admirers. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if they knew she had once been James’s bedmate.As Sirena approached her classroom, she caught snippets of a conversation between Claudya and her friends.“Are you serious? Your parents know Mr. James's family?” Ana asked.“Of course,” Claudya replied with a broad smile. “And apparently, James is single right now. Hmm... isn’t this the perfect opportunity for me?” she chuckled.“Wow, if you and James got together, you’d be the perfect match,” said Glade.“Totally! He’s handsome, and you’re gorgeous. You two would be a power couple,” Cherry added.“Absolutely,” Ana agreed.Sirena listened to their conversation about James and Claudya. Although she didn’t care, her heart felt strangely unsettled and irritated.She tried to maintain her composure despite their e
“Siren!” Elda ran towards Siren, who was sitting under her favorite tree on campus, wearing earphones and listening to calming music.“Siren!” Elda tapped her shoulder.Siren was momentarily startled when her shoulder was tapped. She quickly removed her earphones and turned, finding Elda crouching next to her, her face full of energy."Elda, what's up?" Siren asked with a faint smile. She was used to Elda's always cheerful energy."I have good news, Siren! You won't believe it!" Elda said, grinning, her eyes sparkling with excitement.Siren raised an eyebrow, curious. "What? Tell me!"Elda took a deep breath, ready to share the news that seemed so important to her.“Ronald, he’s back at campus after taking a year off.”Thud!Siren was utterly shocked to hear that. Yes, who doesn’t know? Everyone on campus knew that Ronald was Siren’s ex. They met when Siren first started college, and Ronald was her senior."Ah, so he’s back after such a long break?" Siren asked.Elda nodded enthusiast
Sirena applied her makeup naturally, enhancing certain features with slightly bolder touches. Once satisfied with her appearance, she stood up and admired herself in the mirror. She was dressed in a sleeveless red dress that perfectly complemented her elegant aura, while her softly curled hair cascaded over her shoulders.Sirena examined her reflection carefully, ensuring every detail was flawless. Her natural yet captivating makeup accentuated her fresh and graceful look, with a delicate focus on her eyes that made her gaze sharper and more mysterious. The sleeveless red dress highlighted her elegance and confidence, while her loose, softly wavy hair added a glamorous touch, making her appearance refined yet understated.She took a deep breath, ready to face the evening’s party with quiet confidence and charm. Leaving her room, she headed toward the exit."Are you going out, Siren?" asked Briana."Yes, Mom. I have an invitation to a party," Sirena replied."Who are you going with—?"
“Eat as much as you like,” James said, placing a piece of grilled shrimp and sliced salmon in front of her. The aroma was tantalizing.“I noticed earlier you were enjoying the seafood before you fainted,” James remarked, earning a nod from Sirena.“By the way… thank you for saving me,” Sirena said.“Is a simple ‘thank you’ all I get?” James raised an eyebrow.“Then, what do you want?” Sirena asked.“Hmm… let me think,” James replied, pretending to ponder.“What?” Sirena pressed, growing impatient.“Accompany me to a party the day after tomorrow. Since you’re my girlfriend, you need to play the role well there,” James said.“Fake girlfriend,” Sirena corrected.James smirked slightly, his gaze unreadable as it lingered on Sirena. “Fake girlfriend, huh? But at least you can pretend, right?”Sirena sighed and turned her face away. “I never agreed to be a fake girlfriend with all these demands.”James chuckled softly, drawing her attention back to him. “But you’re enjoying this role, aren’
"What are you doing here? Stop bothering me!" Elliot shouted."Too bad, but I have to put an end to your vile activities. That woman is my girlfriend. She belongs to me. And do you know? Anyone who touches what belongs to James meets a gruesome end," James said, his sharp gaze piercing through Elliot."Oh, the drugs set to arrive at the port, warehouse number 13, at 4 PM? What if I make them disappear? Or report them to the police?" James smirked, his tone laden with menace.Elliot turned pale, realizing that James knew one of his darkest secrets. "You don’t have any proof of that, James!" he retorted, his voice trembling."Really?" James sneered, stepping closer to Elliot, whose unease was now evident. "I have plenty of ways to ensure evidence surfaces, Elliot. Just one phone call, and your life could become a nightmare."Elliot stood frozen, cornered. He knew well that James never made empty threats. James was infamous in the underworld for never sparing anyone who dared to touch wh
Sirena had just arrived at one of the upscale restaurants. A waiter escorted her to the private room where Mr. Elliot awaited."Here you are, Miss," the waiter said, opening the door to the private room. Sirena stepped inside to find a distinguished man of mature age seated within.As Sirena entered, Mr. Elliot rose from his seat and greeted her warmly. His demeanor was courteous, and he carried himself with the gravitas of experience."Welcome, Miss Sirena. Thank you for taking the time to meet me," he said in a calm and cordial tone.Sirena returned his smile with a slight nod. Though she tried to remain composed, the prospect of meeting someone of Mr. Elliot's reputation and stature made her slightly nervous."Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Elliot," she replied, striving to maintain her composure.Mr. Elliot gestured for Sirena to sit. "I trust your journey here was pleasant?"They began conversing in a formal but amicable atmosphere. Mr. Elliot displayed a genuine interest in gett
“Just got home, dear?” Brianna asked as Sirena entered the house.“Yes, Mom.” Sirena gave a sweet smile.“Your uncle is waiting in the backyard,” Brianna said.“Uncle Luke is here?” Sirena asked.“That’s right. He came to see you,” Brianna replied.“Alright, I’ll go meet him first.”Sirena walked toward the backyard, where Luke was sitting at the garden table, fiddling with his phone.“Uncle,” Sirena called as she stood before him.“Oh, Sirena. Have a seat,” Luke invited.Sirena took a seat across from him.“Is everything alright, Uncle?” Sirena asked.“Yes, of course. I just wanted to discuss our next steps. I believe that simply renting out our buildings isn’t enough to cover the shortfalls. We might need to consider investing in some major companies. Although it seems risky because of the large initial costs, if we succeed, the returns could be substantial,” Luke explained.Sirena nodded, carefully absorbing every word. She understood that the company’s financial condition wasn’t g
Sirena had just arrived on campus, and the atmosphere was noticeably different from the previous day. The students’ stares toward her were more intense, especially the glares from female students, making her feel extremely uncomfortable. Their gazes were filled with envy, disdain, and condescension.However, Sirena chose not to pay attention and continued walking toward her class.As she entered the classroom, the stares became even sharper. Although the bullying antics from the day before weren’t repeated, the piercing looks from her peers made Sirena feel suffocated.She took a seat by herself and occupied her mind by fiddling with her phone, putting on her earphones to drown out the discomfort.“Sirena!” Elda called out as she arrived, taking the seat next to her. Sirena turned to Elda and removed her earphones.“Just got here?” Sirena asked.Elda nodded. “By the way, what’s going on? Everyone keeps staring at you. Did something happen yesterday while I wasn’t here?” she asked, cle
Currently, the two of them were in the car. James leaned back against the car seat, focusing on driving."So, you really want to paint, huh? I thought you’d prefer to pose," James teased with a grin, even though he knew Sirena was more serious about art.Sirena responded with a slight tease of her own, "You’re wrong. I don’t like being in the spotlight and letting everyone see me. I prefer painting, observing beauty, and capturing it on a canvas. Oh, if you want to be my model, maybe I could give you some inspiration.""Hmm... okay, but that’s not for free," James said playfully."So, what do I have to pay with?" Sirena asked."You’re older," James winked."Really easy to guess what's on your mind," Sirena said, making James chuckle."It’s because you’re my joke, so I keep thinking about it," James teased.Sirena bit her lip, trying to hold back her smile. "Yeah, yeah. Really naughty!" Sirena sighed, turning her face to look out the car window, while James could only smile.As the rid
Sirena put down her paintbrush for a moment and walked over, her gaze sweeping across the dish in front of her. "This looks amazing, James," she said, smiling broadly, clearly impressed by James' cooking.James smiled proudly and pulled out a chair for Sirena. "Of course, I'm perfect," he said with a sense of pride."Tch… you're so full of yourself," Sirena teased."Sit down, let's have lunch," James said, and Sirena agreed.They sat down at the minibar table. Sirena began eating the pasta with her fork."Mm… delicious," Sirena said, taking another bite. James smiled, watching Sirena eagerly enjoy the meal.James felt a sense of satisfaction watching Sirena enjoy his cooking. He leaned back comfortably, observing every expression on Sirena's face as she tasted the pasta he had made."You really enjoy this, huh?" James asked, grinning as he picked up his fork.Sirena swallowed her bite and looked at James. "Yes, because I'm someone who knows how to appreciate things. I'll finish your c
"Wow, what a coincidence, meeting you two here," David said with a sweet smile. "I didn’t know you knew my cousin, Miss Sirena."Sirena was more surprised. "Cousin?" she asked, quite taken aback."It seems you didn’t know that James is part of the Scout family," David chuckled."Shut up, David. There’s no point in you saying that," James said firmly."Why are you mad, brother? I was just telling Miss Sirena," David grinned."Enough, David. You should stop talking so much," James tried to suppress his emotions, clearly wanting to maintain his family’s privacy.Sirena, still in shock, started to observe their expressions. "So, James is David’s cousin?" she asked, trying to defuse the tension.David answered enthusiastically, "Yes! The Scout family can be a bit complicated sometimes. But we always support each other." He glanced at James, who still seemed uncomfortable with this revelation."Thanks for sharing, David, but maybe we could talk about something else now," Sirena tried to eas