CHAPTER 2

As soon as I entered the school building, one name echoed through the halls—Dylan.

I had been absent for a week, recovering from the harsh blow my dad had landed on my face, leaving a massive bruise.

Dylan was the new guy, a stunning figure whose mere presence turned heads. Yet, his eyes held an impenetrable hardness, silencing anyone who dared to meet his gaze. Attractive, yes, but unapproachable.

He had earned the nickname "The Devil." Any girl who attempted to ensnare him quickly found herself sprawled on the ground.

Natalie had learned this the hard way, left unconscious on the floor after a futile attempt.

The first class flowed smoothly until the door clicked open, revealing an exceptionally handsome young man.

"Mr. Seville. This is the second time you've been late to my class," scolded Mrs. Anderson.

He remained silent in response.

"This better not happen again, young man," she warned.

His name rang a bell in my memory. Dylan Seville.

And then it clicked—he was the same boy I used to play with when my mom was alive, Dylan Maxwell Seville.

Yet, he bore little resemblance to the young boy who once frolicked in the rain with me. His once radiant blue eyes had turned as cold and unyielding as stone. He remained beautiful, but now exuded a sense of maturity. His family must have returned.

During lunchtime, I sought solace in my favorite spot at the back of the school, my refuge from the troubles at home.

Arriving, I noticed someone else had discovered my hideaway. My irritation flared.

Approaching the stranger, I was met with the face that had become the talk of the entire school.