Kiara Winson

Seven years passed like a gust of wind. Life slowly changed for the better, but the walls between Lisa and Eron remained unshakable. For Aryan's happiness, she suppressed her hatred for years, refusing to let it control her.

A Regular Morning at the De Vilan Mansion

Lisa woke up early as usual and went directly to the kitchen after freshening up. The servants had already started their work, but she still insisted on warming the milk for Aryan herself.

Ensuring that it was at the perfect temperature, just as Aryan liked it, she poured it into a glass and headed toward his room.

She knocked on the door, but upon hearing no response, she entered and almost slipped on Aryan's t-shirt lying on the floor. "This kid," she muttered.

Carefully walking through the room, she placed the glass on the table and then went to open the windows. Sliding the curtains aside to let sunlight enter, she gently called out to her son.

"Aryan… wake up. You'll be late if you sleep any longer." She ran her fingers through his hair as she sat beside him.

"Five more minutes, Mom…" Aryan mumbled in his sleep, resting his head on her lap.

Unable to resist his cuteness, she let him stay like that for a few moments, gently massaging his head.

"Lisa…" Adam's voice called out from downstairs.

"Five minutes are over now. Wake up." She helped Aryan sit up and handed him the glass of milk before heading downstairs, warning him, "No more sleeping."

But who was listening? After finishing the milk, Aryan fell back onto the bed, hugging his favorite pillow as he drifted off to sleep again.

Meanwhile, in Eron's Room

Compared to the basement-like room he once had, Eron had now transformed his space into his own small world. He had hung his paintings on the walls and placed small indoor plants around the room. It felt like a little piece of heaven—fresh and peaceful.

Hearing the alarm, Eron woke up. He neatly folded his blanket before heading to complete his morning routine.

Dressed in his ironed uniform and polished shoes, he looked in the mirror and muttered confidently, "Perfect."

After packing his school bag, he added an extra drawing book, as he often liked to sketch. Then, he headed to Aryan's room.

Without knocking, Eron entered and smiled, already expecting to find his sleepyhead brother still in bed.

Switching off the air conditioner, he turned on the lights. "Brother, it's time to wake up," he said while pulling the blanket off Aryan.

"Just five more minutes…" Aryan groaned.

"No more minutes. Get up." Eron grabbed Aryan's hand and pulled him up from the bed, pushing him toward the bathroom.

He even helped him spread toothpaste on his brush. "Quick," he urged, encouraging Aryan.

Eron then stepped out, returning moments later with a towel just as Aryan finished brushing. Tossing it to him, Eron closed the bathroom door behind him.

...

Aryan's POV

After getting ready, Eron and I went downstairs. Mom and Dad were already waiting for us at the dining table. However, Mom's constant indifference toward Eron always made me feel bad.

Even after all these years, I still couldn't understand her. Sometimes, it seemed like she was beginning to accept Eron's presence, but then, out of nowhere, she would reject him again. Why are women so complicated?

After quickly finishing breakfast, we left for school. Eron was now a 10th-grade scholar, while Marco and I were in our final year of high school.

Compared to how he was in the novel, Eron had changed drastically. He was no longer the gloomy, introverted guy I once knew. Instead, he had grown into an incredibly handsome and popular student—not just in his class, but throughout the entire school. Now, I can say with absolute certainty that if Kiara, the female lead, ever saw him, she'd fall head over heels for my boy.

But what should I do about the male lead, who will appear later?

Thinking about the future made me uneasy. I wanted my favorite character to have a good ending, but was that even possible? What if everything unfolded just like in the novel and this idiot truly became a villain?

Ugh, this is frustrating. I just hope he doesn't become overly obsessed with the heroine.

Just then, a bold girl stepped in front of us. "Eron, this is for you," she said, handing him a letter before running away shyly without another word.

Seeing the love stickers on the envelope, I could easily guess what was inside. Marco and I exchanged glances before teasing him.

As the bell rang, we headed to our classes. But from a distance, I caught sight of Eron tossing the letter straight into the trash without even looking at it.

"What are you staring at? Come on!" Marco called out, grabbing my hand as we rushed toward the classroom just as the teacher walked in.

...

At Eron's classroom.

The classroom buzzed with whispers and curious glances as the homeroom teacher stepped in, followed by a striking new student. The moment she walked in, it was as if time slowed down. A hush fell over the room, and every pair of eyes was drawn to her like magnets.

She was effortlessly elegant—her short black hair swayed lightly as she moved, and her deep brown eyes shimmered under the sunlight streaming through the windows. She didn't just look beautiful; she had an aura, the kind that made people stop and stare without realizing it.

The teacher cleared his throat, bringing everyone back to reality. "This is Kiara Winson. She's a transfer student and will be joining our class from today. Please make her feel welcome."

The boys exchanged glances, already smitten, while the girls sized her up, intrigued yet slightly wary.

Kiara offered a polite smile and bowed slightly, but her gaze soon wandered around the room—until it landed on him.

Unlike the others, Eron barely acknowledged her presence. He took one glance and then returned to his textbook, flipping a page as if nothing had happened. No wide eyes, no stolen glances, no curiosity.

And just like that, her interest was piqued.

A flicker of amusement crossed her face as she tilted her head slightly, studying him. 'Who is this guy?'

While the rest of the class remained captivated by her presence, Kiara's focus remained locked on the one person who didn't seem to care at all—Eron.