---
Part One: The First Meeting
The first day of the new school year was always filled with excitement and chatter. Students rushed through the gates, laughing, gossiping, and catching up with friends. Among them walked Annarosé, her books clutched close to her chest. She wasn't the kind of girl who liked attention—her quiet nature often kept her in the background.
But that morning, something unusual happened. A black luxury car stopped right in front of the school gates. The sound of its engine caught everyone's attention. From it stepped out a tall boy with striking features and an air of confidence. Whispers spread quickly among the students.
"That's Nick Carter," someone murmured. "The son of the man who owns Carter's Creation."
Nick didn't seem to care about the whispers. He adjusted his blazer, scanned the campus, and walked in. His eyes, however, paused for a moment when he saw Annarosé. She wasn't surrounded by friends, nor was she trying to draw attention. She simply walked past him, her eyes focused on her book as though the world outside didn't matter.
For a reason he couldn't explain, Nick's gaze followed her.
Later that day, fate played its part again. In the library, Nick was searching for a book on architecture when he noticed her at the corner table, scribbling notes in her diary. The silence of the library, the sunlight falling on her hair, and the way she was lost in her own little world—it all intrigued him.
He walked closer, his usual confident self, and said softly,
"Is this seat taken?"
Annarosé looked up, surprised. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat. She had seen him earlier, the boy everyone was talking about. She simply shook her head.
And so, their story began—with a simple question in the quiet corner of the library.
---