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
“Siren!” Ronald called out as the class had ended and all the students were leaving the room one by one.Siren, still sitting in the classroom, turned toward Ronald with a cold gaze.“Do you have to look at me like that? This is our first meeting after everything that happened,” Ronald said, looking irritated.“What do you want? I don’t have much time,” Siren replied, still with a cold tone.“I’m sorry for what happened to your family, especially the death of your late father,” Ronald said.“Oh, yeah. Thanks,” Siren answered, standing up from her seat while grabbing her bag.“Excuse me, I’m leaving,” Siren said as Ronald blocked her way.“You’re being so cold to me. Do you really have to act like that?” Ronald asked.“Because I have no reason to be friendly with you,” Siren answered, walking away, leaving Ronald feeling frustrated.“Damn! She’s still so arrogant, even after losing everything!” Ronald grumbled.Siren stepped out of the classroom with mixed feelings. Every corner of the
"So, what do you want to watch?" James asked as he and Sirena arrived at the cinema. "Hm... I want to watch a horror movie," Sirena answered confidently. "Not scared? Oh, or is it so you can cling to me out of fear?" James teased. "Keep dreaming. That will never happen," Sirena replied with absolute certainty. "Alright, we'll see about that," James said with a smirk. "Wait here, I'll get the tickets." James smiled as he walked toward the ticket counter, occasionally glancing back at Sirena, who was enthusiastically scanning the movie listings. He could sense her excitement about this outing. "Does she really need to look that excited? Such a cute little tiger," James thought to himself with a small smile. While selecting the tickets, James couldn't help but imagine how funny it would be if Sirena ended up getting scared and clinging to him, despite her earlier confident denial. Meanwhile, Sirena stood casually, looking around the cinema area. She couldn't remember the last tim
Without letting go of her hand, James led Sirena out of the cinema area and started looking for a sushi restaurant in the mall. As they walked, Sirena felt a surprising sense of comfort with James's demeanor. They resembled an ordinary couple. She glanced at James briefly—always captivating and handsome. Her heart suddenly raced, prompting her to quickly avert her gaze from him.Eventually, they found a quiet restaurant and went inside. After sitting down, James picked up the menu and handed it to Sirena. “Order whatever you like,” he said with a smile. Sirena smiled faintly. “Alright then, I won’t hold back. Be prepared for a hefty bill,” she joked, making James chuckle. “Are you doubting my wealth?” James teased. Sirena shrugged nonchalantly. “Aren’t I the perfect match for you?” James continued with a playful grin. “I’ve got plenty of money, which I know you like. If you’re with me, you get the money and me. A buy-one-get-one deal.” James smirked proudly while Sirena chuckled
“This tigress, really,” James muttered, feeling utterly ridiculous for not being able to control his pounding heart and blushing face.James tried to focus on the road, but it was nearly impossible to ignore Sirena's intense gaze and her soft hand still cupping his cheek. “Siren, come on, sit properly. It’s dangerous if you keep this up,” he said with a tense smile.Sirena chuckled, her gaze unapologetic. “You really are handsome, James. Especially like this—it’s even more obvious,” she teased.James bit his lip, struggling to control his erratic heartbeat. He knew Sirena was drunk and probably wouldn’t remember any of this tomorrow, but for some reason, her words and gaze were so enticing, breaking down his defenses.“If you keep this up, I might completely lose control,” he whispered softly, knowing full well Sirena might not fully grasp what he was saying. Gently, he took her hand away from his face and guided her to sit properly.“Siren, if you want to keep praising me, save it fo
Currently, James and Sirena were in the car. During the drive, James's phone kept ringing, but he refused to answer it. He stayed focused on driving, while Sirena occasionally glanced at him, confused.After the fourth call, Sirena finally spoke."Why don’t you answer? It might be important," the beautiful woman suggested.“It’s not important!” James replied, his eyes fixed on the road.Hearing his firm response, Sirena chose to stay quiet and turned her gaze to the window.“I want to revise our contract,” James suddenly said, catching Sirena off guard.“Why so sudden?” she asked, genuinely surprised.“I’m strictly forbidding you from drinking with any other men besides me!” James declared firmly.“W-what? Why would you do that?” Sirena protested, clearly unhappy.James turned to her with a serious expression, trying to convey his feelings.“Because I don’t want any other men seeing you when you’re drunk,” he said with conviction. It was clear James didn’t want anyone witnessing how a
"Sirena!" called Elda, running toward Sirena, who was napping in her favorite spot, resting her head against a shady tree trunk."Sirena, wake up! It's urgent!" Elda said, gently tapping Sirena's shoulder until she opened her eyes."What is it?" Sirena asked, frowning in confusion, still half-asleep."Look at this!" Elda showed her phone screen. On it was a picture of Sirena kissing a mysterious man inside a car. The camera clearly captured Sirena's face, but the man's face was blurry and unrecognizable."Do you know that because of this photo, the entire campus is in an uproar? They're claiming you're some sugar daddy's kept woman!""What?" Sirena gasped, utterly shocked.She sat up straight, her face turning pale with panic. "Are you serious, Elda?" she asked, grabbing the phone from her friend's hand to get a closer look at the picture. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and confusion."I'm serious, Sirena! Everyone's talking about it. Some are even placing bets on who the myste
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