She's in love with Raymond St Daniels

Philia nudged Mari Catherine Kings playfully.

"Raymond St Daniels is staring at you," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Mari's cheeks flushed. She felt a shiver run down her spine.

Her spoon froze midway as she was about to sip her soup.

She choked on her breath and Philia rushed to hand her a bottle of water.

The school cafeteria hummed with excitement as students chattered with their friends.

But one group commanded everyone's attention__ the St Daniels brothers.

They're heirs to the biggest conglomerates and a worthy catch. It was no surprise that the cheerleading squad flocked around them, giggling and vying for their attention.

The St Daniels brothers' table was always mostly crowded. They're always surrounded with admirers.

So it was unthinkable that Raymond would notice her amidst the chaos, especially with Sara, his stunning girlfriend, by his side.

"Come on, Mari, just look," Philia urged excitedly. "He's been staring at you for like five minutes now."

Mari shot her best friend a skeptical glance.

Her nerves betrayed her, fluttering wildly in her chest.

Her breath caught in her throat at the mere possibility that Ray might actually be looking at her.

Mari harbored a hopeless love for Raymond St Daniels, the first son of the esteemed St Daniels dynasty. And they were also close family friends of her own family, the Kings.

As members of the same elite social circle, Mari and Raymond frequently crossed paths at high society events, accompanied by their parents and siblings.

Mari's family, the Kings, had long struggled to maintain a comparable level of wealth and status. But it was a futile attempt.

The St Daniels were the epitome of old money, with a legacy that spanned three generations of past presidents. Their wealth was like a bottomless well that showed no signs of drying up.

They drove the latest luxury cars and resided in breathtaking penthouses and Manors.

They have an impressive portfolio of businesses, including fleets of airlines and shipyards. Which solidified their position as one of the most influential and affluent families in the country.

With only two sons, Raymond and Grayson.

The St Daniels' legacy rested squarely on the shoulders of these two eligible bachelors, making them the ultimate catch.

Mari's older sister, Charlotte Kings, was incredibly close to Grayson. But Raymond barely even spare Mari a glance all the years she had known him.

Mari took a deep breath and turned to look at Raymond, but her hopes were immediately dashed.

He wasn't looking at her, his gaze was fixed intently on Sara, his jaw clenched in a tense line.

Mari felt a familiar pang of disappointment and shot Philia a wry glance.

"See, I told you. He's not even looking at me. He's too busy staring at Sara."

Philia shrugged, her expression stubborn.

"I could've sworn he was looking at you," she whispered.

As if on cue, Raymond's gaze suddenly shifted. His emerald eyes locking intensely onto Mari's.

She felt a jolt of electricity run through her veins as their eyes met.

Mari's face burst into flames as she hastily looked away, her heart racing with shyness.

Raymond's presence had always have an utterly embarrassing effect on Mari, leaving her a nervous wreck each time.

A single glance from him was enough to unleash a swarm of butterflies in her stomach.

She stared blankly at her tray of food, her appetite suddenly vanishing.

With a sense of desperation, Mari pushed back her chair, grabbed her backpack, and prepared to make a hasty exit.

"But we only just got here," Philia grumbled, her face crunched up in a frown. She looked at her plate that is still filled with food.

"You can stay and finish up, as for me, I'm already filled up."

Philia face lit up, even being called chubby, couldn't diminish her appetite.

She was used to people's scornful remarks about her appearance, but Mari's acceptance and kindness always made her feel seen, valued, and beautiful just the way she was.

"Okay, where can I find you when I'm through?"

"The library," Mari replied. "I need to study for my upcoming physiotherapy exams."

"I'm sure you'll ace it with distinction," Philia said, her mouth full of food.

Mari nodded at the boost of moral Philia gave her, but her stomach crunched with anxiety.

She wasn't so sure.

She heard the last exams are always so hard. That's why she must study hard.

Her education was her ticket out of the Kings family.

Mari's mind often envisioned her future self abroad, working for a top tier sports company, living in her own terms.

Mari sighed, she could barely wait to taste such freedom.

Her eyes drifted back to Raymond's table, only to find that he'd left with his Sara.

She felt the unmistakable pang of jealousy course through her heart. Maybe when she finally leave, her stupid crush for Raymond St Daniels would stop with time. She hoped so.

Mari spent over two hours intensely studying her books, her mind racing with the complex concepts of physiotherapy.

As the study session wore on, her head began to spin and her throat grew parched.

Finally, she closed her books and packed them away in her backpack.

She stood up.

Mari felt a sudden pressure in her bladder.

She hurried to the bathroom, urgently needing to relieve herself.

Rushing into an empty stall, she let out a sigh of relief as she finally eased herself.

A soft, feminine giggle and a low moan suddenly pierced the silence.

Mari's ears perk up.

A masculine growl followed. A chill skittered down her spine.

Mari froze, her heart skipping a beat. What was going on?

The moans and groans grew louder and more urgent, accompanied by frantic breathing and the unmistakable sounds of sex.

Mari's face burned with embarrassment as she realized she had stumbled upon a intimate moment.

Mari's eyes widened in shock. She had heard rumors of students getting intimate in bathroom stalls, but she never thought she'd witness it firsthand.

A wave of disgust washed over her. Who does that in a female toilet?

It wasn't like they didn't have better options. The dormitories were always a possibility, even if the girls' and boys' dorms were separate.

Everyone knew that lovers often found ways to sneak around their supervisors' watchful eyes.

"Yes, Raymond, fuck me harder. I'm growing so crazy for you." The female cried out loudly.