~••~••
~•Westwood International College•~
The start of the second semester at Westwood International College was chaos wrapped in elegance. Everywhere you looked, glossy cars lined the gates, students flaunted designer luggage, and maids trailed behind their masters like obedient shadows.
Westwood wasn't just any school. It was the school—the playground of the wealthy, the elite, and the spoiled. Here, having a dozen maids fussing over you wasn't unusual—it was expected. And with money came arrogance. The rich chewed on the poor like candy, bullying every scholarship student who dared to breathe in their space.
To be poor here was to endure. Endure humiliation. Endure cruelty. Endure, or be chewed alive.
The hostels were already buzzing, students moving into their shared dorms of four. But of course, not everyone shared. The rich ones—the untouchables—rented private apartments within the school grounds, complete with marble floors and servants on call.
And then, there were them.
The King's U.
Five names, five shadows that ruled Westwood. Girls screamed their names, boys envied them, and teachers turned a blind eye to their sins.
Kayden Cross – The hot, merciless jerk who didn't just avoid girls, he hated them. His wall of trophies proved his brilliance, but his cold glare promised hell to anyone who tried to touch him.
Levi Robinson – Quiet, detached, buried in novels no one else dared to touch.
Felix Burnett – The extroverted life of every party, charming even the professors.
Nigel Cullen – Reckless, wild, obsessed with chasing skirts. If it had a pulse, Nigel would bang it.
Vernon Marshall – The youngest, softest, the group's baby—but even he was untouchable.
They lived together in the largest apartment Westwood had to offer, their kingdom within the kingdom. Rules meant nothing to them; fines, punishments, suspensions—everything could be paid off.
They weren't just students. They were gods.
~•Airport•~
Straight, long legs descended the plane stairs, a sleek purple suitcase dragging behind. She paused, sweeping her black hair away from her face, her dark eyes narrowing as if she owned the ground she walked on.
Aria Yanta was back.
Six months in Canada hadn't softened her. Her white crop top peeked out beneath a black jacket she hadn't bothered to zip, baggy sweatpants swishing as she walked. She pulled her phone from her pocket, dialed, and pressed it to her ear, expression blank as her eyes scanned the chaotic airport.
"Why is the public so… public this early in the morning?" she muttered, rolling her eyes.
The line clicked.
"Hi, Aunt. I'm in New York," Aria said, voice flat, no hint of excitement.
"Darling! How was your flight? I tried calling earlier, but the line wouldn't connect." Aunt Emory's refined British accent floated through the phone.
"My flight was fine… kinda. There was this idiot behind me who wouldn't stop opening the damn window. We fought over it the whole trip. My window, his hands. Pathetic humans."
"Aria! Language."
"Sorry. Bad day." She sighed.
"I'm on my way to get you. But explain to me—why didn't you fly first class?"
"You always nag me not to waste money, remember?" Aria shrugged, weaving through the crowd. "Guess I listened. Congratulations."
~•The Divas Group Chat•~
Aria: Yo, I'm back.
Nelly: You're kidding, bitch.
Aria: I wish I was.
Iris: WAIT FR?? FINALLY AHHH!!! (≧▽≦)
Nelly: She just said she's back, you clown.
Aria: Still fighting each other, I see. Where's Syril? Where's Karen?
Karen: They'll never stop. Syril's not online.
Aria: Figures. Anyway, I'm sleepy. See you losers later.
Nelly: The rush? Got a boy yet?
Iris: Ha! As if. She's too much of a prude to even look at one.
Aria: Hilarious. Truly. Logs off
Iris: SHE LEFT.
Nelly: LMAO I told you.
Karen: Aria!!
Syril: Heard the school's already buzzing.
Karen: Where have you been?
Syril: Miss me, princess?
Karen: Don't flatter yourself.
Nelly: Ouchhh LMFAO.
Syril: Fuck you, Nell.
Iris: For once, I agree.
Nelly: (〃￣ー￣〃)
Syril: Who chased my baby away?
~•Morris Mansion•~
"Is Richard coming back today?" Chairman Morris asked, eyes still fixed on his laptop.
"Yes, sir. His plane should have landed," the secretary replied.
The chairman gave a curt nod.
"Young master Kayden will also be returning—"
"I didn't ask," Morris snapped, his voice as sharp as glass.
The assistant fumbled. "I… I thought you'd want to know—"
"Out."
Minutes later, Courtney waltzed in, all perfume and poison, her smile dripping as she sank onto his lap.
"Richard just landed," she purred, stroking his beard.
"Send the new car for him. Let him test it first," Morris said, a ghost of a smile flickering across his lips.
Courtney kissed his cheek sweetly. "What about… Kayden?"
"Noah can handle him," Morris dismissed. Courtney's lips curved into a secret smile.
~•Airport Again•~
Aria looked for an empty bench. Instead, she bumped into someone.
"Fucking watch it, dog!" she snapped, stepping back.
The man turned, stunned. Hazel eyes glared from behind a mask, dreadlocks spilling from his hood.
"Dog?" he repeated, offended.
"Blind much? You ran into me."
"You literally crashed into me," he shot back.
"Oh really? Should I kneel and beg for forgiveness then?" Aria sneered.
He smirked. "A sorry would've been enough."
Her mouth opened, ready to spit fire—
"Richard!" a woman's voice called.
The man turned, grin spreading. "Mum!" He ran to embrace Courtney.
Aria scowled, flipping him the middle finger as he winked at her.
"Till we meet again," Richard mouthed.
"Ugh." She stalked off.
Minutes later, she collided with another figure. Both recoiled at once.
"Can't you idiots stay in one place without crashing into me?" she yelled.
He looked up, cold foxy eyes pinning her in place. His voice was sharp, low. "Yelling shortens your life expectancy."
"What?"
"You should be apologizing, not screaming."
Her jaw tightened. "We were both in the wrong. If your brain wasn't slower than your legs, you'd have moved."
He stared at her, unblinking, like she wasn't even worth the oxygen. "Move."
And just like that, he walked past.
"Aria!" Aunt Emory called, rushing into view.
"Aunt!" Aria instantly softened, sprinting into her arms. Kayden froze mid-step, eyes narrowing.
How could she switch from viper to angel in a blink?
He glanced at his wrist. Red blotches spread across his skin. His jaw clenched.
"That weird girl touched me," he muttered under his breath. "Shit."
~•Kayden's Suite•~
Kayden stripped off his mask and cap, dark hair spilling down his face. He brushed it back, but strands still clung stubbornly. Tossing his shirt aside, he headed for the shower—when a knock came.
He opened the door.
His expression hardened instantly.
"Why are you here?" His voice was deep, dangerous.
Courtney's smile curled like a serpent. "Do you know how many months I've fantasized about hearing that hot voice again?"
Kayden's lip curled in disgust. "If you've got nothing useful to say, leave."
He tried to shut the door, but her leg jammed it. She slipped inside, locking it behind her.
"Are you insane?" he barked.
Her gaze dropped to his bare chest, hungry. "Mmm… you smell so good. I've missed you."
"Don't fucking start." His skin already burned where she brushed his arm, red blotches spreading like fire.
She leaned close, whisper hot against his ear. "Don't bother pretending. I know you still fear me."
His pulse spiked, but his face was stone. "Get. Out."
Courtney's blouse loosened, her eyes glinting with lust. "We'll be quick. I promise."
Kayden's fists clenched. Every nerve screamed. His greatest nightmare was back.
And this time, she wasn't leaving easily.