Audrey Watson died at 22.

She was disfigured. Her legs were broken. Before she died, she had been confined to the basement for a year.

Abuse and torture happened to her every day. When she died, she was scrawny, her face unrecognizable.

Her body was dumped in a mountain. She died with her eyes open. But someone looked for her body day and night until he found her.

It was a man wearing a black overcoat. He appeared in the dark, creepy woods and strode over.

In the shadows under the night, Audrey, who had become a ghost, couldn't see the man's face. But he emitted an overbearing and menacing aura.

He bent and went down on one knee before the stinky body.

His slender and well-shaped fingers gently caressed Audrey's unrecognizable face.

Audrey's ghost went closer to him. Her gaze went upward from the man's Adam's apple.

With chiseled features, his face was impeccable, like a heavenly work.

Audrey looked at him in disbelief.

It was Sterling Howard!

In Audrey's senior year in high school, she had seen him as her archenemy.

Who would have thought that Sterling would be the one collecting her body?

Back then, Audrey was foolish and did unforgettable harm to him. She had thought Sterling must hate her guts.

Sterling stared at Audrey's swollen, rotting face with his black, intense eyes. Suddenly, he reached out and gathered the body in his arms.

Sterling took her to an island with chirping birds and blooming flowers. It was a resort called Dream Island, Audrey's favorite vacation destination when she was alive.

Then, it became personal property and was no longer open to visitors.

Now, the lively ambiance was gone. A patch of lilies and sunflowers, Audrey's favorite flowers, were grown before the fancy villa.

The body was so hideous that even Audrey was too frightened to look, but the tall and upright Sterling didn't seem to mind. Holding Audrey's body, he walked straight into the house.

After a moment of hesitation, Audrey also entered the villa.

A piece of news was being broadcast on the large liquid crystal display in the living room.

"An explosion took place in Soulpath Church at 10 a.m. on June 20, 2020. The bridegroom Corbin Howard and the bride Kelsey Cole died on the spot. The police have investigated the case. Sterling Howard, the new young head of the Darnell clan and the richest man in the world, is considered the main suspect..."

"Sterling is said to have suffered from severe depression. He's cold, eccentric, paranoid, and grumpy..."

Learning about the death of Corbin and Kelsey, Audrey shivered all over. She clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails stuck deep into her palms. Now that revenge had been taken, the pent-up hatred in her chest vanished, replaced by excitement and happiness!

The venomous Corbin and Kelsey, who tore her family apart and tortured her to death, finally got what they deserved!

It served them right!

But did Sterling kill them?

A commotion came from the basement. Audrey moved over.

Sterling had taken off his overcoat. He was wearing a neat, exquisite black shirt, the top two buttons unbuttoned. Audrey had been put in a glass casket. Bending, Sterling was changing her clothes and combing her hair.

The back of his shirt became taut when he bent, accentuating his aloof, sturdy, and tall figure.

Audrey hadn't seen him again after high school.

Her eyes reddened as she watched Sterling slowly smooth the tangles of her dry and yellow hair with his slender, clean fingers. Her lips slightly trembled when she said, "I hurt you deeply. Why don't you cut me to pieces?"

But Sterling couldn't hear her.

Seeing that Audrey was neat, he took out a cyan ceramic bottle and raised his smooth-lined and aloof jaw.

Audrey knew it was poison in the bottle from the smell. Panic and disbelief filled her eyes. "Sterling, what are you doing?

"You already avenged my death. And now, you're gonna commit suicide for me? I'm not worth it!

"Sterling, don't do this. Do you hear me?"

Audrey shouted and screamed to stop him, but it was useless.

Sterling gulped the poison and slowly lay down in the glass casket.

He turned his head, looked at Audrey with his abyss-like black eyes, and held her rotten hand. Then, he whispered in her ear in a deep, husky voice, "Audrey, I kept my promise."

To hell with the promise. When did Sterling make a promise to her?

Blood flowed out of Sterling's mouth. Audrey's head seemed to explode. A sharp pain seized her heart. She cried out in despair like a beast, "Sterling!"

Sterling!

Audrey held Sterling's hand tightly. Her fingernails almost pierced Sterling's skin. She sobbed. Her throat was dry and hoarse as if afire.

"Sterling, don't die for me. I'm unworthy!"

Suddenly, Sterling withdrew his hand forcefully and said in an icy voice, "Freak."

Audrey's eyes snapped open. Tears streamed down from the corner of her eyes as her thick and curly eyelashes fluttered.

A trace of bewilderment flitted across her clear doe eyes. Slowly, she turned her head. The boy sitting beside her was moving toward the door of the classroom. The back of his tall and thin figure gave an aloof and arrogant feeling.

Audrey didn't withdraw her gaze until the boy was out of sight.

As if something had dawned on her, her tearful, limpid eyes slightly widened, dripping with astonishment and disbelief.

"Audrey, what did you dream of? Why did you hold your archenemy's hand and say it was not worth it to die for you?" The boy sitting in front of Audrey had fluffy hair and wore a loose T-shirt. He was alarmed when he turned around and saw Audrey's red eyes and trembling lips. "Audrey, what's wrong? Are you possessed?"

Audrey blinked and said doubtfully, "Patrick?"

"Audrey, you don't seem all right. You're scaring me!"

Bright sunshine streamed into the classroom through the windows. The boy with a pimple on his face was looking at Audrey.

The surroundings were so familiar yet so strange. Memory from years ago rushed back into her head.

Under the desk, Audrey pinched her leg hard. Feeling the pain, she blinked and shed happy tears. "It's not a dream!"

The date was September 20, 2016.

She was 18 again and in her senior year in high school.

Audrey stood up, looked at her fair and slim legs, and touched her intact face. Everything happening was real. Blood was flowing in her body again.

Her heart leaped with excitement.

"Audrey, your deskmate must be smoking outside. Mabel has gone to inform the dean of students. Sterling will be kicked out of Class 10 for sure this time!"

Audrey was dumbstruck by Patrick Fenn's words.

The scene was so familiar to her...

Sterling transferred to Elsa Noble High School this semester. His arrival had caused a sensation in the school.

With an enchanting face and a gloomy and aloof air, Sterling replaced Corbin as the school hunk.

Audrey had adored Corbin since her freshman year.

She wouldn't let anyone take Corbin's fame.

At this time, the Watson family was large and famous in Cloud City. And Audrey's grandma doted on her. As a result, the girl became willful and overbearing. She was the well-known Bad Girl in Elsa Noble High School.

As soon as Sterling joined Class 10, Audrey threatened to kick him out and let him know the consequences of taking Corbin's title.

Before the dean of students caught Sterling smoking, she had already done a lot of horrible and stupid things to Sterling.

"Audrey, rest assured. The dean of students hated smoking the most. If he catches Sterling smoking..."

"Shut up!" Audrey kicked her chair away and ran out of the classroom.

She didn't know what Sterling meant by the promise when he died in her previous life. But Sterling avenged her death, collected her body, and committed suicide to be with her. Audrey felt she owed him a lot.

The news said Sterling had severe depression. Audrey decided to help him find the cause and cure him radically!

***

Less than 2 meters away behind the men's room was a high wall. Other people hardly went there, but it was a secret place for boys.

Many boys gathered there after class for a smoke, leaning against the wall.

The first class in the afternoon was about to begin. At this time, only a tall, thin figure remained there.

The boy wore a white shirt. The top two buttons were left open, faintly revealing his thin and delicate collarbones. His skin was sickly and pale.

He kept his head slightly bowed. His soft black hair hung before his forehead and covered his cold narrow eyes. The line from his nose to his chin gave a smooth and cold feeling. His face was flawless.

He smoked proficiently. Like a moving iceberg, he sent a chill to people at a distance.

Audrey ran to him, huffing and puffing. The hot wind blew and lifted the hair on Sterling's forehead. He raised his head and glanced at Audrey.

No warmth could be felt in his black eyes. There was only hostility.

Audrey's heart raced with nervousness and panic.

Sterling withdrew his gaze and flicked the cigarette with a poker face.

Audrey frowned.

In her previous life, she and Sterling hated each other. Each of them wished the other the worst.

She wondered why Sterling collected her body and killed Corbin and Kelsey for her.

But currently, the priority was to tell him to leave at once.

"Sterling, the dean of students is coming. Hurry to stub out the cigarette..."

Before Audrey could finish speaking, the angry voice of the dean of students came, "I emphasized at the regular meeting on Monday that students aren't allowed to smoke. If what you said is true, I'll punish him!"

"Sir, it's true. But I can't go there with you. If he finds out I snitched on him, he'll get back at me!"

The dean of students got angrier at the student's words and quickened his pace as he walked toward the men's room.

However, standing there like an ice statue, Sterling didn't budge. His eyes showed no sign of fluster. Audrey was anxious. The dean of students would arrive any minute. Suddenly, Audrey had an idea.

When the dean of students passed the men's room, a basin of dirty water was poured on his feet.

His leather shoes and suit pants got wet.

"Sorry, sir. I was asked to clean the restrooms as a punishment. I was cleaning the mops. I didn't mean to drench you with dirty water..."

Audrey was carrying a bucket of dirty water. She wore a miniskirt and too much makeup and didn't look like a student at all. The sight of her made the face of the dean of students livid.

"Audrey, just because your family is rich doesn't mean you can disobey school discipline. Look at your clothes and colorful hair. Is this a proper outfit for a student?"

The dean of students didn't like Audrey. In his eyes, Audrey was a troublemaker, a bad student without any merits. Her grandma had donated a library for the school. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been admitted to Elsa Noble High School, the best private school in Cloud City. She was disqualified regarding her conduct and academic achievements.

Audrey got lectured by the dean of students from time to time. She mollified him with a grin when she was in a good mood. But when she was upset, she talked back at him. The dean of students was often fuming because of her.

"Sir, I used the water to mop the floor of the restrooms. Will you get changed first? You can continue to lecture me afterward."

There was a stink in the air. The dean of students stared at Audrey angrily. If looks could kill, she would be dead already. "Audrey, since you enjoy doing manual work, clean the windows of the teachers' offices this afternoon!"

Then, the dean left hastily.

After a while, he paused with a frown.

He seemed to have forgotten something. But after looking at his wet shoes and pants, he walked on and quickened his pace.

When the dean was gone, Audrey looked toward the wall.

Sterling had finished his smoke. He straightened up and walked over.

When he passed Audrey, he said coldly, "Get lost."

When Sterling looked at Audrey before leaving, his eyes were full of coldness and hostility.

Audrey stood there and puffed out her cheeks.

Sterling was harsh!

But thinking of the things she had done to Sterling since he joined Class 10, Audrey frowned.

Who could she blame but herself?

She deserved it!

The bell rang. Audrey didn't go to the classroom but walked toward the faculty's office building.

There were five floors. It would take her the whole afternoon to clean all the windows.

Audrey began from Floor 5. On Floor 3, she bumped into Corbin, who had just taken part in the preliminary round of the artificial intelligence competition on behalf of the school.

He was graceful and gentle. There was always a warm smile on his charming face.

Compared with Sterling, who constantly had a grim look in his eyes, Corbin was like an angel.

Audrey had been deceived by Corbin's masquerade in her previous life.

He pretended to have feelings for Audrey. In fact, he was the most ruthless. Being nice to Audrey was only his means to get revenge and take the Watson family's property.

In the end, he colluded with Kelsey. They killed Audrey's father and grandma and took the Watson Group. Audrey was all alone.

She trembled with rage at the sight of Corbin.

"Audra, why are you here?"

Anger surged in Audrey. She suppressed her emotions, rubbed her slim and fair wrist, and said in a coquettish and sweet voice, "The dean of students asked me to clean the windows. It's a punishment. I've been doing this for over an hour. My wrist is sore."

"Let me do it for you." Corbin was an expert in pretending. He acted caring and thoughtful. But deep down, he knew Audrey was a fool. She'd rather be exhausted than let Corbin do the slightest work.

However, this time, Audrey handed him the rag and smiled sweetly, "OK."

Looking at the dirty rag in his hand, Corbin frowned and held back his confusion and anger.

Audrey took a stool and sat aside. Corbin said gently, "Audra, there are bananas and a carton of milk in my bag."

Audrey nodded with a smile.

Corbin meant to get off the chair after cleaning a window. Audrey peeled a banana and threw the peel on the floor.

A scream came.

Corbin slipped and fell hard.

Audrey stood up abruptly and ran to him with a flustered and innocent expression. "Sorry. I meant to throw it into the dustbin but missed it. It doesn't hurt much, does it?"

Corbin felt like his tailbone almost broke.

Meeting Audrey's clear, innocent doe eyes, Corbin couldn't blame her. He shook his head and said, "I'm OK."

"That's a relief. Let me help you up."

Audrey reached out her hands, but she staggered before Corbin got up.

"Ah!" He screamed again.

His face twisted with pain. Looking at him, Audrey teared up with a guilty and sorry expression. "Corbin, it was an accident. I slipped. Are you OK? I'll give you a hand."

Corbin wouldn't let Audrey help him again. It hurt so much that he wished to strangle Audrey. But he couldn't afford to offend the stupid rich girl. He had to endure the pain and clench his teeth as he tried to get up on his own.

Crouching, Audrey buried her face in her arms. Her narrow shoulders moved now and then.

Corbin thought she was crying. Enduring the pain all over his body, he held back his anger and patted Audrey on the shoulder. "Audra, I know it was an accident. I don't blame you."

"Corbin, I feel bad for hurting you. Are you really OK?" Audrey looked up at him with tearful eyes.

"I really am."

"Great. Then, you can continue to clean the windows for me. I'm going to buy your favorite beverage."

Before Corbin could say anything, Audrey had left with an apologetic expression.

On the landing of the staircase, she saw Sterling coming up with his hands tucked in his trouser pockets. His face presented a carefree and gloomy expression.

Audrey tensed up immediately, her toes tightening. She wished the floor would crack so she could hide underneath.

Did Sterling hear her conversation with Corbin? How much did he hear?

Audrey opened her mouth to explain that she didn't care about Corbin anymore, but the words were frozen on her lips.

With an indifferent expression and a grim, icy look in his eyes, Sterling had a terrifying aura.

He walked into the head teacher's office on the fourth floor.

Audrey quietly followed him. Hiding behind the door, she heard the head teacher complain, "You've just been transferred here, but a sophomore girl and a senior girl have already fought for you. You're Corbin's twin brother. He's outstanding, but you sleep and play video games in class. Can't you learn from him?"

It was years before Audrey found out Sterling and Corbin weren't blood-related. Sterling had a much more distinguished origin.

He was a genius and became the head of the Darnell clan in his twenties. He disdained to compete with Corbin. In fact, he was much more capable than Corbin.

Sterling's slim figure leaned against a desk. The head teacher rattled on, but the boy didn't seem to care. He just looked out the window with a gloomy and sluggish air, coldness gathering in his eyes.

"The monthly examination comes next week. Work hard, or you'll still sit beside Audrey, the worst student in this class."

Hearing these words, Sterling looked at the door. Under his short, black hair, a cold look flitted across his eyes as a sneer crept onto his mouth.

Audrey withdrew her gaze hurriedly and touched her thin arms. She had goosebumps all over.

If looks could kill, she'd be dead already.

Too afraid to peek, she left in a fluster.

Audrey didn't go to the classroom but walked into the restroom of a beverage store on campus.

She looked disdainfully into the mirror at the girl who wore heavy makeup and had colorful and fluffy hair.

She made herself look like this only because Corbin said she was too beautiful and he was afraid another boy would take her away from him.

Audrey thought it would make her cool and special. However, in Corbin's eyes, she was just a fool.

Audrey borrowed makeup remover from a clerk in the store. When the makeup came off, her fair face was revealed.

Like grapes in water, her doe eyes were clear, bright, and keen. Without makeup, she was as pretty as a fairy.

She didn't need makeup. Her skin was fair, rosy, and delicate.

Audrey wore her unbound hair in a bun before coming out of the restroom.

Patrick found her.

He was surprised to see Audrey had removed the makeup. It was a while before he spoke.

"Oh my! Are you Audrey?"

Audrey smiled, revealing her neat teeth. "You think?"

Patrick touched the back of his head. Looking at Audrey's beautiful face, he grinned, "You're the Audrey I know."

Audrey said, "Get to the point."

"Audrey, you were punished because of Sterling. Mabel and I are furious about it. We thought of a new idea for you to teach that guy a lesson.

"Sterling will wet his pants with fright. Audrey, rest assured. He'll be out of Class 10 this time!"

Audrey almost strangled Patrick when she heard his new idea.

"I'll reckon with you later."

Audrey was irritated. But on second thought, she couldn't blame Patrick. He meant well. Audrey was suddenly back in high school. How could Patrick know what she wanted?

After all, Audrey hated Sterling before.

Sterling bought a bottle of water in a store and came back to the classroom. Standing before his desk, he raised his head and drank several mouthfuls of water. The girls sitting in front couldn't help looking back at him with shyness and admiration.

The stare of his admirers had happened so often he was used to it. Without turning his head, he put the lid back on the bottle and opened the drawer of his desk.

Audrey ran to the classroom. When she reached the back door, she happened to see Sterling open the drawer.

"No, wait..."

But her warning came too late. The stone-faced boy had opened the drawer.

Audrey's heart was in her mouth.

"Don't be afraid. I'll help you!"

When Audrey finished speaking, Sterling had reached his hand into the drawer.

A 10-cm-long pure green snake was in his hand. He was holding the heart spot of the snake.

Timid students screamed at the sight of the snake.

Despite being the Bad Girl, Audrey was a girl, after all. Her legs went soft when she saw the snake.

She couldn't help taking a few steps back.

Sterling glanced at Audrey. His eyes were dark as if light couldn't get in. They sent a chill in the heart of anyone meeting them.

"Let me explain. Actually..."

The rest of Audrey's words were left unsaid. The struggling snake was killed when Sterling tightened his grip.

Then, he raised his hand. The dead snake flew above Audrey's head into the dustbin behind her.

Blood drained from Audrey's face. A chill crept down her spine as if an invisible hand was choking her.

The tail of the dead snake seemed to have touched her forehead.

She wasn't the only scared one. The faces of the girls in the classroom all went pale with fright.

But the aloof Sterling took a wet napkin and calmly wiped his fingers. His chiseled face betrayed no sign of nervousness. The cruelty he just displayed sent a chill to everyone present.

He pulled out the chair and sat down.

The bell rang. The last lesson in the afternoon began. Audrey finally sat down slowly.

Patrick also came and saw the scene.

It was surprising that Sterling wasn't even scared of snakes. He even squeezed it to death. Not anyone was capable of that.

Sterling was a horrible freak with a dark personality!

It took Audrey half the lesson to slow down her racing heart.

When she was finally calm, she summoned the courage to look at Sterling.

To her surprise, the guy was bending on the desk asleep as if nothing had happened.

His face was buried in his arms. Audrey could only see his neat, short hair and smooth, long neck.

She had always seen Sterling as her archenemy in her previous life and considered him a pushover. When Sterling became campus king, Audrey finally realized he was just too proud to fight a girl.

Sterling was capricious and paranoid. His cold and slovenly air seemed innate. He had more admirers after becoming school king. However, neither he nor his admirers made trouble for Audrey!

...

"Audrey."

Mabel, who sat in front of Sterling, handed Audrey a note.

Audrey opened it.

"Audrey, your deskmate is a pervert. We must drive him out of Class 10."

Audrey replied.

"How is he a pervert? I think he's manly!"

Audrey balled the note and threw it to Mabel.

After reading Audrey's reply, Mabel bent and wrote back angrily.

Coldness appeared in Audrey's eyes when she looked at Mabel's pretty side face.

Mabel followed Audrey everywhere every day. She flattered Audrey like a loyal minion.

Mabel suggested ideas to hurt Sterling in the name of helping Audrey. The real reason was that Mabel liked Corbin and wanted to get back at Sterling for him.

Before long, Mabel tossed the note back to Audrey.

"Audrey, I have an idea. Let's tell him to come to an alley after class. We can cover his head with a sack and beat him up to make sure he won't be able to take part in next week's monthly examination. What do you think?"

Audrey replied: "He killed a snake singlehandedly. You think we can harm him?"

Even ten Corbins couldn't handle Sterling in a fight.

Few people were as ruthless as Sterling.

Mabel wrote: "Audrey, what's wrong with you today? You usually hate Sterling and want him gone. Why are you defending him today? Is this your new strategy? Oh, I got it. You plan to seduce him and dump him coldly after winning his heart, don't you?"

Audrey almost laughed out loud.

No wonder Mabel became a scriptwriter afterward. Her head was full of imagination.

It was not that Audrey didn't want to seduce Sterling. But now, he was cold and hated her. Wouldn't she fail for sure?

Audrey decided not to reply to Mabel's note. She balled the note and was about to tear it when a strange feeling came from her leg.

She looked down. Sterling had shifted his position. He was sleeping with his legs apart. One of his legs touched Audrey's. The material of Sterling's uniform pants faintly rubbed her fair skin.

The touch was slight, but it gave Audrey an electric shock sensation.

She looked at Sterling and happened to meet his black eyes.

He had woken up.

Sterling had typical hooded eyes. They were narrow, long, and pretty with upturned ends. His eyelashes were long and thick, making his pupils blacker and gloomier. At a glance, one might think he had natural eyelines.

Audrey shivered. The note dropped when her hands shook.

It rolled down Sterling's sturdy, long leg, fell at his feet, and stopped beside his skate shoe.

Audrey gasped. The humiliation was such that she wished to die!

Bending on the desk, Sterling still fixed his cold eyes on her.

The corners of Audrey's mouth froze. In a sweet, soft voice, she said, "I want to tell you something. I was childish and did a lot of stupid things to you before. I hurt you. I promise it won't happen again..."

Meanwhile, Audrey extended a leg with feigned composure to get the note back.

"I apologize to you formally. Let's make peace..."

Audrey looked at the note out of the corners of her eyes. She was about to reach it when Sterling's leg moved. He stepped on it.

Audrey's heart skipped a beat.

If Sterling read the note, he'd think she was planning to seduce him...

No. He couldn't see it.

Audrey bent and went under the desk.

She pushed Sterling's firm shin and said, "Sterling, you stepped on my thing."

Sterling seemed to have not heard what Audrey said.

He sat straight and crouched under the desk with Audrey.

He picked up the ball of paper with his beautiful long fingers and slowly unfolded it.

Audrey wanted to grab it back, but Sterling extended his other hand and pressed his palm against her forehead, preventing her from getting closer.

His palm was as cold as his face.

Out of the corner of her eye, Audrey saw Sterling unfold the paper and glance at what was written on it. She closed her eyes and sighed bitterly in her heart.

Rome wasn't built in a day.

Audrey knew very well that she couldn't mend their relationship in a short time.

But she wouldn't allow the misunderstanding between them to deepen.

"Listen..."

Sterling glimpsed Audrey with deep eyes and smiled coldly, "Do you plan to reject me after seducing me?"

As the two were very close, Sterling could smell a faint scent.

It was Audrey's, but not from any unpleasant makeup or perfume.

Sterling's eyes fell on Audrey's makeup-free face.

Audrey had tender skin.

She was usually uncool with heavy makeup, but now she looked ethereal.

Unaware of the deep look flashing through Sterling's eyes, Audrey knitted her brows as she found it pretty hard to explain.

The geography teacher noticed something unusual behind him and knocked on the podium. "What are you guys doing in the last row?"

Audrey's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to stand up, but Sterling chucked her under the chin.

He moved closer to her.

Audrey smelt Sterling's refreshing scent. His handsome face was right in front of her. She was forced to look into his eyes.

"Audrey." He gritted his teeth. He called Audrey by her name for the first time and warned, "Don't provoke me again, you know?"

As the teacher was about to reach the last row, Sterling sat down in his chair.

"What did your guys do just now?"

Audrey stood up with a stiff face. She was embarrassed and nervous, but Sterling looked calm. He stood up slowly from his chair, his hands in his pockets, and squinted at the teacher. "She confessed her feelings for me," he sneered with a faint smile on his face. "But I rejected her. A flatterer like her doesn't deserve my love."

All the students at Elsa Noble High School knew who Audrey liked.

The classroom fell silent for a few seconds, followed by a burst of laughter.

The teacher looked at the two weakest students in the class with a stern expression and asked, "Audrey, is what Sterling said true?"

Audrey clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and nodded. She replied in a crisp voice, "Yes."

The teacher looked at Audrey, who had a pretty face but was arrogant and unruly, and snapped, "Go stand outside. You don't need to attend this class!"

"Okay, no problem," Audrey agreed with a sweet smile.

The teacher burst into anger.

Watching Audrey walking toward the door, Sterling narrowed his eyes. No one could tell what he was thinking.

Audrey stood outside the classroom until class was over. The teacher brought her to the office and reprimanded her.

Elsa Noble High School was a day school. It was time to finish school.

Almost all the students in Class 10 had left. Patrick looked at Audrey with worry at the door of the classroom. "Audrey, are you okay? I heard from Mabel that you changed your plan, but there was no need to let the teacher know!"

"Wait for me at the coffee shop. I'll talk to you later." Audrey glanced at Sterling, who was playing a mobile game on his chair with his knees spread widely apart, and walked toward him.

Audrey had a lot to say to Sterling, but upon seeing his indifferent expression, she bit back all the words.

She knew it would be challenging to melt his heart and find the source of his illness.

Audrey wanted to kick Sterling out of Class 10 yesterday and kept causing trouble, but she changed her mind today. It was unexpected, wasn't it?

She decided not to further annoy Sterling today.

Audrey returned to her seat and packed her things without glancing at the cold young man beside her.

"Do you want to give up so quickly?"

A low and frigid voice mocked.

Patrick, who stood at the door of the classroom, rushed over and glared at Sterling. "That's enough. Audrey was punished several times because of you today!"

"Shut up, Patrick." Audrey stared at Patrick. "You go first."

Patrick didn't know what was wrong with Audrey today. Maybe she really wanted to seduce Sterling. Patrick never said no to Audrey, so he left as he was asked.

Audrey gazed at Sterling, who was playing a mobile game beside her, and cleared her throat. "Well... I won't be a sucker for Corbin anymore," she declared.

Sterling nonchalantly raised his eyes and uttered expressionlessly, "It's fucking none of my business."

Audrey frowned at Sterling's four-letter word. "Please mind your language."

She might be unruly, but she rarely used dirty words.

"It has nothing to do with you," Sterling retorted, with a hint of resentment in his eyes.

"Yes, indeed." Under Sterling's gaze, Audrey's eyebrows danced. She was tender and sweet, and her smile seemed to be able to melt the snow in winter, rendering her incredibly beautiful.

Sterling looked deeply into Audrey's eyes and asked sullenly, "Why are you smiling? You look ugly when you smile."

Audrey's smile froze.

Sterling still treated Audrey as his enemy, so his insolence was expected.

Audrey blinked. Her long and thick eyelashes drooped as she wrung her slender fingers. "Believe it or not, I'll only like you in the future."

Sterling stared at Audrey for a few seconds as if he had encountered a monster.

He put away his phone, draped his black schoolbag over his shoulder, and held a basketball in his other hand. "You must be out of your mind," he said before standing up and leaving.

But he halted after taking a few steps.

Corbin stood at the door of the classroom, his refined and gentle countenance reflecting complexity and seriousness. "Audra didn't mean to offend you. Please forgive her."

Sterling sneered with a scowl, "Oh? Are you here to defend her?"

"She is protective of me. You know, I'm not interested in being the most handsome guy in school..."

Sterling's expression grew even darker. He swiftly and forcefully flicked the basketball in his hand, causing it to hit the doorframe. "Shut up, damn you!" he barked.

The basketball rebounded, and Sterling extended his long and strong hand to grab it.

He looked coldly at Corbin, who had turned pale from fear. "Since you don't like me, how about fighting with me outside?"

Corbin was known to be a good student at Elsa Noble High School. He was a gentleman who never did anything against the rules of the school.

"If you refuse to mend your ways, I'll inform our parents and let them handle it."

Sterling sneered. Without looking at Corbin, he stepped out of the classroom and left.

Corbin gazed after Sterling's rebellious figure, suppressed his displeasure, and turned to look at Audrey in the classroom.

What he saw left him stunned.

***