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Part 42
The campus buzzed with excitement. The upcoming fashion competition was on everyone's lips, and rumors spread like wildfire about the guest list. Anna had been quiet about it, but deep inside, she knew something huge was going to happen.
Kylie Sinclair walked through the corridors, her heels clicking like a metronome. Heads turned as usual — boys stared in awe, girls whispered behind their hands. Kylie was the perfect definition of "rich and sexy." She never wasted her attention on random faces; she gave her time only to people who mattered. And lately, one of those people seemed to be Nick Carter.
Nick wasn't like the other boys chasing her. He was different — calm, confident, almost untouchable. That was why Kylie's attention lingered on him. During breaks, she'd lean closer when talking, her manicured hand brushing his arm like it was an accident. Nick never reacted much; he smiled politely, sometimes laughed at her jokes, but he never went overboard. Still, to everyone watching, it looked like Kylie and Nick were forming a connection.
Anna noticed. She didn't say a word, but her chest burned. She had told Nick before that she didn't like him, that she loved Ethan. She had lied, but now that lie chained her down. She couldn't complain, couldn't show her feelings. All she could do was watch Nick smile faintly while Kylie's glossy lips curved into her signature smirk.
Ethan, however, noticed something else. His eyes never left Anna. Whenever Kylie leaned closer to Nick, Ethan's possessiveness roared alive. He tightened his hold on Anna's hand whenever she was near. If Anna tried to walk away, Ethan would pull her back softly, whispering in her ear, "You're mine. Only mine."
Anna would roll her eyes, pretending to be annoyed, but part of her heart melted. Ethan's protectiveness felt suffocating sometimes, yet she couldn't deny it made her feel wanted.
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The talk of the week wasn't just the competition — it was the special guests. Rumor had it that Mrs. Emma Rosé herself was coming. Everyone knew Anna was beautiful, but many had no idea about her powerful background. Kylie especially carried the belief that she was the richest, the one with the strongest presence.
That belief shattered the moment Mrs. Emma Rosé entered the campus.
She arrived in a sleek black limousine, followed by two cars full of security. Her presence was magnetic — tall, graceful, with elegance flowing in every step. The pearls around her neck were no ordinary pearls; the gown she wore wasn't just designer, it was custom-made, one-of-a-kind. Teachers rushed to greet her, the principal himself bowed slightly out of respect.
Whispers filled the crowd:
"Is that really Anna's mom?"
"She looks like royalty."
"I heard the Rosé family owns hotels in three countries."
Kylie stood among the students, her confident smirk faltering for the first time. She had always been admired for her wealth and beauty, but in front of Emma Rosé, she felt something she had never experienced before — competition.
Emma wasn't just rich; she radiated power. She didn't need to flaunt it; it simply poured out of her like sunlight. And when she stepped forward to speak, her voice carried warmth and authority.
"For this competition," Emma announced, smiling graciously, "I've prepared something special for all of you."
Gasps erupted when staff rolled in racks of high-end designer outfits, each piece worth thousands of dollars.
"These dresses," Emma continued, "are from one of my personal collections. I want every participant to feel like a star on stage. Talent deserves to shine, and I want each of you to shine."
The students nearly lost their minds. No parent had ever done anything like this. Kylie's jaw tightened. She thought only she could bring such luxury into this school, but Emma Rosé had just stolen the spotlight effortlessly.
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Meanwhile, Nick had been watching silently from the sidelines. Kylie quickly slipped beside him, brushing her hair back, whispering with a grin, "Looks like Anna's mom knows how to make an entrance."
Nick chuckled softly. "Yeah… she really does."
Kylie leaned a little closer, her perfume wrapping around him. "You know, Nick… people like us understand these circles. Rich, powerful families. Not everyone belongs here." Her eyes flicked toward Anna for a split second before meeting his again.
Nick frowned slightly. "Anna belongs more than anyone, Kylie. Don't underestimate her."
Kylie smirked, but inside, she felt a sting. She wanted Nick to see her as the only one worth noticing, yet every time Anna's name came up, there was a shift in his voice, a softness he couldn't hide.
Across the hall, Anna stood frozen. She had heard enough of the whispers, had seen enough of Kylie hovering near Nick. Jealousy burned like acid in her veins. She bit her lip, forcing herself not to storm over. What right did she have? She was with Ethan. She had chosen Ethan. She had told Nick she didn't love him.
But her heart… her heart didn't listen.
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Later, during lunch, Ethan's possessiveness sparked again. Kylie had laughed a little too loudly at something Nick said. She touched his wrist, leaning in close. The entire cafeteria noticed.
Anna froze with her tray, jealousy and confusion swirling inside her. She wanted to yell, to scream, but she stayed silent, sitting down without a word. Ethan, however, slammed his hand on the table. The sound echoed.
Everyone turned. Ethan's jaw was tight, his eyes locked on Kylie and Nick. He wasn't angry at Nick — strangely, he knew Nick wasn't encouraging it. He was angry because Kylie was trying to use Nick to create tension… and because Anna was watching all of it with a broken expression.
Ethan stood, walked across the room, and without hesitation, wrapped his arm firmly around Anna's waist. He leaned down, his voice low but sharp, making sure Kylie could hear:
"Don't waste your time, Sinclair. She's mine."
The cafeteria went silent. Kylie blinked, surprised at his boldness. Nick sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, muttering under his breath, "This is going to get messy…"
Anna blushed furiously, both embarrassed and strangely reassured. She didn't want a scene, but Ethan's words echoed in her chest. She's mine.
Kylie only raised an eyebrow, smirking like the challenge excited her. She wasn't going to back off that easily.
And Anna knew one thing for sure — the competition in the coming week wasn't just going to be on stage.
It had already begun.
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