(Austin Chen's POV)
The car I sent to get her stalled five minutes from the school gate.
Bad call.
I don't wait for anyone—especially when it comes to Ava.
So I took the Bugatti.
Matte black. Custom built. Bulletproof. Growled like a panther on steroids. I parked it directly in front of the school gates, ignoring the guard frantically motioning for me to use the "parent lane."
I'm not most parents.
I stepped out. The sun caught on my watch—Patek Philippe, black leather strap, the kind of thing people kill to wear. My sleeves were rolled just enough to reveal the twin tattoos on my forearms: a dragon down the right, a string of numbers down the left. Names, dates. Things I don't forget.
The students gawked.
Some whispered.
Some pulled out their phones.
"Oh my god, is that her brother?"
"No way, he's gotta be her boyfriend—he looks twenty-five max."
"Isn't that the CEO of Chen Corporation? Why is he at a high school?"
"That's Ava's dad? Shut. Up."
And then I saw her.
Running.
Hair bouncing. Bag flapping. That stupid glittery phone charm she begged me for flying behind her like a streamer.
And of course—she tripped.
Because she always trips.
I moved before she hit the ground, reaching her just in time to catch her elbow and steady her against my chest.
"Careful," I muttered.
She didn't care.
She threw her arms around my neck like she'd been away for a decade.
"DADA!" she squealed. "I missed youuuu! Did you drink water? Did you eat? Did you sleep? Your eyes look tired—oh my gosh, are those new bruises?! Who hit you?! Do I need to call your guards?! I swear—"
I blinked. "Ava. Breathe."
She pouted, pulled back just far enough to kiss both my cheeks dramatically, then snuggled into my chest like she was six, not sixteen.
"Hi," she whispered, smiling up at me like the world disappeared every time I showed up.
And just like that, my entire day reset.
---
Meanwhile…
I was aware of the stares.
Of the idiot boys pretending not to look.
One in particular stepped forward.
Tall. Blonde. Tries too hard.
"Hey, Ava," he said, eyes darting to her hand in mine. "So… um, you never replied to my DMs—"
I didn't say anything.
Didn't even look at him.
I just tilted my head slightly, and my right-hand man, Jin, stepped forward from the shadows.
The kid stepped back so fast he tripped over his own shoe.
"Still wanna flirt?" Jin asked lazily.
"NO, sir—uh—just, y'know—friendly greeting."
Jin looked at me. I nodded.
The kid disappeared.
Ava tugged my sleeve. "Be nice."
"I am nice," I said flatly.
"You're scary."
"Good."
She just grinned, proud as ever, and dragged me toward the car like she didn't notice the dozens of eyes locked on her.
Like she didn't know the entire school was recording us.
Like she didn't care.
Because she was with me.
And I was her home.
And anyone who ever thinks of hurting her?
They'll learn the hard way—
I don't forgive.
And I don't miss.