Chapter 3

Kamila hovered at the edge of the crowd, but I caught the flash of triumph in her eyes. She knew exactly how much power Jason wielded at this school. One word from him, and I'd be public enemy number one.

She launched into her usual performance, all sweet concern. "Jason, please don't be harsh with my sister Serena."

She threw me a look of fake panic, then dropped her voice so only the three of us could hear. The smugness dripped off every word.

"Serena told me you fell for her the moment you saw her. She said you're completely obsessed, that you'd rather die than live without her love."

Seriously? Who even thought of this stuff? I almost laughed out loud.

But before I could react, the system pinged in my head. 'Wish detected: The lie "Jason fell for Serena at first sight and would rather die than live without her love" has been validated. Executing.'

Jason, who'd been staring at me like I'd committed a crime, went rigid. The cold fury in his eyes flickered, then shifted into a burning, almost desperate obsession, and pain.

The classroom went dead silent. Students exchanged bewildered looks. No one knew what was happening.

Even Kamila looked confused, her smug expression faltering as she watched Jason's face transform.

Then, in front of everyone, Jason dropped to one knee.

He gazed up at me, his handsome features twisted with desperate longing, tears glistening in his eyes. "Serena... No. My queen.

"I was wrong. I never should have spoken to you like that.

"The truth is, I fell for you the instant I saw you. I'm helplessly, hopelessly in love with you.

"Please. Give me a chance to love you. If you won't..." His voice cracked. "Then I'd rather die."

Tears streamed down his face. Every word carried the weight of absolute sincerity.

The classroom was so quiet I could hear a pin drop. Everyone was frozen, stunned beyond belief.

Kamila's confident smirk had evaporated, replaced by pure shock and panic. She couldn't tell what was happening.

The classroom erupted like someone had dropped a bomb.

"Holy shit. Did Jason kneel for Serena ?"

"Did he say he'd rather die than live without her?"

"Have I entered some kind of alternate reality? Jason hates girls like her!"

"Look at Kamila's face. She looks like she swallowed a wasp. This is amazing."

The whispers hit Kamila like waves, each one a fresh slap.

Her face went white. She swayed on her feet, muttering under her breath, "No. This can't be real..."

Poor thing. Her whole world imploded.

I looked down at Jason, still kneeling there, staring at me like I hung the moon and stars. This was giving me a headache.

Was this system for real? It was a little much, right?

"Get up," I said coldly.

"No. Not until you say yes." Jason dug in, his eyes practically glowing with devotion. "Please, Serena. Let me protect you. Whatever danger comes your way, I'll face it for you."

Was he seriously having his cringe era right now? I pressed my fingers to my temple.

"I said, get up." My voice came out sharper this time.

Jason flinched, clearly rattled, but still didn't move. "I..."

"Leave," I ordered.

He scrambled to his feet like I'd granted him a pardon, but instead of walking away, he planted himself behind me like a human shield. His eyes swept the room with a fierce glare, silently daring anyone to look at me wrong.

The whole class was silent. They wouldn't mess with Jason. Everyone turned their heads, pretending to read, but their ears were straining to catch every word.

I shifted my attention to Kamila, who looked like she was about to shatter.

A few girls who used to be her closest friends propped her up, but their eyes had gone cold and distant.

A fake heiress, especially one who'd been publicly humiliated by the school's golden boy, was social poison. Nobody wanted to catch whatever she had.

This was how things worked in elite schools. Harsh, but that was reality.

Kamila felt the shift. She shot me a look of pure venom, then burst into tears and ran from the classroom.

Already running? Guess she couldn't take the heat. I looked away and didn't think about her again.

For the rest of the day, Jason stuck to me like glue.

At lunch, he grabbed my tray and carried it to a table. In the library, he saved me the best seat. During PE, he hovered nearby with water and a towel, ready to spring into action at any moment.

The whole school stared at us like we were a circus act. I acted like he didn't exist.

When classes ended, I headed for the exit. Jason pulled up in his flashy Lamborghini and cut me off. "Goddess, let me drive you home."

I walked around the front of his car and headed straight for the curb, where the Lane family's driver was already waiting.

Jason wasn't about to give up. He hurried after me, calling out, "My queen! Tomorrow, I'll bring you a homemade lunch. It's made with love, for you."

I got in the car without looking back.

As we pulled away, I caught his reflection in the side mirror, still standing there, waving like an idiot, wearing the sappiest, most lovesick grin I'd ever seen. What a disaster.