Monteverdi University wasn't a school.
It was a kingdom.
And everyone inside knew exactly where they stood in it.
Isabella Moretti stepped out of her car like she owned the air around her.
Blonde hair. Calm expression. Eyes sharp enough to cut pride in half.
Whispers followed instantly.
"That's her…"
"The Moretti heiress is back…"
"She's even colder in person."
Isabella didn't react. She never did.
Not until she saw him.
Matteo De Luca.
Leaning against the stone steps like the world was built for him to lean on. Dark eyes. Lazy posture. Dangerous charm he didn't even try to hide.
He looked at her like she was nothing.
A problem.
Not a person.
"You're in my way," he said.
Isabella paused.
"I'm standing still."
A beat.
Matteo smirked slightly. "And yet still irritating."
The air tightened.
She stepped closer. "Walk around."
His gaze dropped briefly to her face like he was memorizing an insult.
"You're new here."
"I'm not."
"You are to me."
That should've ended it.
It didn't.
Isabella smiled faintly. "Try harder to remember me."
Something flickered in his expression — gone just as fast.
"You're going to regret speaking to me like that."
"Was that a threat?"
"Yes."
"Noted."
She walked past him.
And didn't look back.
But Matteo De Luca did.
Long after she disappeared into the building.
Like something had just interrupted his peace… permanently.
TEASER FOR CHAPTER 2:
Matteo doesn't forget her name… but he does something worse — he makes sure she hears it in front of everyone.