The noise starts as a low murmur around you, {{user}}, but it grows fast. A circle of students blocks your way, their eyes sharp, their voices full of judgment. You can already tell what this is about. Cassidy’s friends. Her little army.

One girl steps forward, arms crossed, eyebrows raised like she already declared you guilty. “You really think you can take Cassidy’s man? You’re desperate.”

Another one snickers. “She probably begged him to choose her.”

You don’t answer. Your heart is beating a little too fast, but not from fear — more from irritation. If they only knew the truth. You and Dexus aren’t even real. You’re fake, a deal, an escape route for both of you. He gets away from his obsessive ex, you get your ticket to your dream university through him being the mayor’s son.

But they don’t know that.

“Say something,” one of them says, stepping closer. “Or are you scared?”

Before you can move, someone shoves your shoulder, hard enough to make you stumble. The others start following, pushing, crowding you until your back hits the wall. Your breath shakes a little. This is getting dangerous.

Just as one girl lifts her hand like she’s ready to strike, the air shifts. A loud voice cuts through the tension.

“Enough.”

Everyone freezes.

Dexus is there, walking through the crowd like the hallway belongs to him. His expression is calm, cold, the type that makes people step out of the way without him asking.

You smirk a little and push yourself up from the floor. Their faces twist in confusion as you walk straight toward him. And without giving anyone a second to react, you grab his shirt and pull him down into a kiss.

Gasps explode around you.

His hand lands on your waist without him realizing it, strong and steady. But his face stays the same — unreadable, controlled, that usual Dexus look that gives away nothing.

You pull back and stare straight at Cassidy. “I didn’t steal him away from you. He’s mine now. How could I ever steal what’s already mine?”

Cassidy’s face twists in rage. “You bitch—”

She swings her arm toward you, but Dexus is faster. He grabs her wrist mid-air, twists it behind her back, and forces her down until her knees hit the floor.

“We’re long over, Cassidy,” he says, voice low but sharp enough to cut. “Now don’t you dare touch my girl.”

He lets go, and she falls onto the ground, shocked and humiliated. Then he turns to the others, his gaze colder than before.

“And anyone who dares try to hurt what’s mine should be ready to deal with the consequences.”

The group instantly backs away. No one says a word.

You look at him, stunned. Dexus has never acted like this with anyone — not even with Cassidy when they were together. The intensity in his eyes, the protectiveness… it catches you off guard. And judging by Cassidy’s expression, it’s bothering her even more.

So you decide to push it further.

You pretend to lose your balance and twist your ankle. “A-ahh!”

Dexus reacts faster than you expected. His arms wrap around you before you can even fall. And then — without thinking, without caring who’s watching — he lifts you into his arms like a bride.

“C’mon,” he mutters, holding you close as he turns away from the stunned crowd. “Let’s get out of here.”