<b>Chapter 54 </b>


    “The photos were uploaded yesterday. If you want to take part, you’ll have to wait until next semester. Just in case you missed it, let me remind you again–make sure you wear your uniform tomorrow.” Lance’s tone was all business, as always. Tact just wasn’t in his vocabry.


    Years of teaching had made him immune to students‘ little tricks. He’d seen them all. Ileana’s feeble attempt at mischief didn’t even merit a reaction, but he figured he should issue a warning anyway.


    Steughed out loud, not bothering to hide it, and a ripple of snickers ran through the ssroom.


    Ileana flushed scarlet and dropped heavily back into her seat, eyes fixed on her skirt as her fingers twisted the fabric. Humiliation and bitterness burned in her gaze. Lucy caught the look, ncing over at Alessia with aplicated expression.


    Their eyes met. Lucy looked like she wanted to say something, but hesitated. Alessia smiled–a smile with a meaning Lucy couldn’t quite grasp, but it sent a chill down her spine.


    “Alright, everyone, tidy up your things and get ready for ss.”


    “Thank you, sir.”


    The bell finally rang, signaling the end of homeroom, but the chatter didn’t stop. Small groups formed, voices rising and falling as they discussed thetest designer releases, swapped stories about their summer vacations, orined about being forced to “gain experience” running one of the family’spanies.


    Ileana sat apart, like an outsider–no one bothered to talk to her. All the attention was on Alessia, the supposed “imposter heiress,” who still had a crowd gathered around her.


    “Ste, how’s your family’s bar doing these days?”


    “We just got in a new shipment–want to check it out?”


    “Only if the quality’s top notch. I don’t do cheap.”


    “Please, as if I’d offer you anything less.”


    “Lessie, any luck finding that thing I asked


    <i>you </i>for?”


    “Yeah, and mine too!”


    <b>14.41 </b>


    A rush of people swarmed Alessia. For everyday stuff, they could manage on their own, but Alessia always seemed to have ess to things no one else could get their hands on. Every break, they’d beg her to bring back a few rare curiosities, and this time was no different.


    “Like I’d forget? Don’t worry, I’ve got them. But I left everything at Cole’s ce–I’ll have him bring them overter.”


    “Miss Morton, am I just your errand boy now? You only remember me when you need a favor?” Alessia had barely finished speaking when a boy appeared at the ssroom door, dragging a suitcase behind him. He wore a in white tee and faded jeans.


    He had sharp features and a clean–cut look. When he wasn’t smiling, he seemed older than his years, but the moment his lips curled up with that mischievous grin, every eye in the room- even Ileana’s–was drawn to him.


    The Morton boys–there were four of them–were famous for their looks. Even the youngest, Ivan, already showed signs of striking handsomeness. Ileana had always measured other boys against them, and for a long time, being associated with the Mortons was part of her own social glow at Crestview High. She was the untouchable ice queen,rgely because none of the other guys couldpete with the Morton brothers. Even the ones with decent backgrounds didn’t interest her.


    Now, as she looked Cole up and down, she automaticallypared him to the Mortons–and this time, Cole came out on top.


    But as her eyes lingered on his understated outfit, she frowned, a flicker of disdain crossing her face.


    “So he’s just a delivery boy after all.” The familiar suitcase at his side irked her, but she smirked anyway. He might not be good enough for her, but if she could lure him away from Alessia…


    In her mind, Ileana built a perfect little fantasy, never realizing that Cole’s in–looking jeans were actually Louis Vuitton, worth thousands, and that his shoes and essories together could buy a house on the outskirts of any major


    city.