?Chapter 1095:


    While some girls might have melted at such a public disy, Elena felt nothing but mild irritation. Her years at Imperial University had left a trail of broken hearts and shattered romantic dreams.


    “I’m not leaving him. You’re wasting both our time,” Elena stated with finality.


    Armando’s ego refused to ept defeat. How could any man possibly outshine him? He was the undisputed campus heartthrob, the prize every girl dreamed of winning. Desperation fueled his persistence. “Is your boyfriend actually better looking than me? Does he love you more than I do? Why settle for that guy when you deserve someone better?”


    Elena’s response came without hesitation, each word delivered like a perfectly aimed arrow. “He’s infinitely more handsome than you. And his love makes yours look like a child’s crush.”


    Wesley was undeniably good-looking—Elena wasn’t about to argue with that. Honestly, it was his face that had drawn her in. She fell for that first and then, slowly, for the man behind it.


    Armando’s smile dropped like a rock the second Elena spoke. He froze, awkward and at a loss for words.


    Elena was just about to walk off when a girl with a wild mess of curly hair came stomping over like a storm. “Armando! How the hell could you fall for someone else?” she shouted, clearly on the edge.


    Armando was still smarting from Elena shutting him down. He didn’t even look at the curly-haired girl andpletely brushed her off.


    The girl stomped her foot like a toddler throwing a tantrum and then shot Elena a zing re. “You old hag! What makes you think you get to reject him?” The girl had been in love with Armando since they were kids—years of waiting. And now, some older woman just walked in, and suddenly he was in love? Her jealousy practically boiled over. Her eyes narrowed like she wanted to set Elena on fire. In her head, Elena was the rival—the woman who stole her man.


    The girl’s voice shook with fury, eyes red like she was about to cry. “You’re so old, yet still pretending to be young! Someone as outstanding as Armando liked you, but you turned him down? Are you serious?”


    Elena’s brows pulled together. Old? That was a first. No one had ever said that to her face before. She looked the girl straight in the eye. “So what—you’re saying I should have said yes?”


    . brings magic to life


    “Don’t you dare!” the girl snapped, instantly panicking. “Armando’s mine! No one else can have him!”


    Elena gave the girl a tiny, amused smile, like she was watching a soap opera unfold live. So, she couldn’t say no, but she also wasn’t allowed to say yes? She had no idea what kind of twisted logic this girl was running on.


    The girl must have caught on to how dumb she sounded, because sheshed out again. “What are you looking at? I can say whatever I want! It’s none of your business!”


    Elena casually checked her watch. 8:55. Javier was probably about to walk onstage right about now. She narrowed her eyes, her tone sharp but calm. “Move. I need to get in.”


    The girl got even more worked up from Elena’s dismissive tone. “Oh, you think I’ll just move because you said so? Say it—swear right now that you won’t pester Armando, and maybe I’ll think about letting you pass.”


    Elena’s eyes hardened, a clear sign she was running out of patience. “Move. I’m not saying it again.” Her voice was sharp, icy.


    “Oh, who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” the girl snapped, rolling up her sleeves like she was about to throw down. “No girl around here’s ever had the guts to talk to me this way.”


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