Chapter Six: Dangerous Affections

Ava had expected retaliation. She had expected whispered rumors, cold glares, and maybe another attempt to sabotage her scholarship.

But she hadn't expected him.

Nolan Westwood.

The ex-boyfriend of Adriana Kingsley, Ravensworth's golden prince, and the last person she ever imagined would give her the time of day.

Yet there he was, leaning casually against the doorway of the library as she gathered her books, his dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her pause.

"Sinclair." His voice was smooth, easy, like he had all the time in the world.

Ava glanced up, unimpressed. "Westwood."

He smirked. "You've been making waves."

Ava slid her book into her bag. "I tend to do that."

Nolan chuckled, the sound rich and amused. "You don't scare easily, do you?"

She met his gaze, unflinching. "Should I?"

For a second, he just stared at her. Then, slowly, he grinned.

"I like you."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "That's unfortunate."

He let out a laugh, tilting his head. "You're interesting."

"Again, unfortunate." She shouldered her bag and stepped past him, but he moved with her, falling into step beside her as she exited the library.

"Most people in this school either worship Adriana or fear her," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "But you? You walked straight into the fire."

Ava didn't respond. She wasn't about to explain herself to him.

Nolan sighed dramatically. "You're not even a little curious why I'm talking to you?"

Ava shot him a side glance. "I assumed you were bored."

His lips twitched. "Or maybe I just like trouble."

She snorted. "Then you and Adriana must have been perfect together."

For the first time, something flickered in his expression—something dark, complicated. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Perfect," he echoed. "Sure."

Ava didn't press. She had no interest in whatever twisted history existed between them.

But she did notice something else—Adriana, standing at the far end of the hallway, watching.

And she did not look pleased.

Ava smirked. Interesting.

By lunchtime, the entire school had noticed Nolan's newfound attention toward Ava.

Lily nearly choked on her drink when she saw him sitting at their table, casually peeling an orange like he belonged there.

"What is happening?" she hissed under her breath.

Theo, who had been scrolling through his phone, barely spared a glance. "Nolan's clearly lost his mind."

Nolan only grinned. "I'm just making new friends."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Since when do Westwoods make friends with scholarship students?"

"Since one of them decided to shake things up," Nolan shot back, handing her a perfectly peeled slice of orange.

Ava narrowed her eyes. "I'm not eating that."

He popped a slice into his own mouth, shrugging. "Your loss."

Lily leaned in. "Ava, I don't know if you've noticed, but Adriana looks like she's two seconds away from stabbing you."

Ava didn't need to look to know that was true.

Adriana sat at her usual table, her polished composure intact, but there was a certain sharpness to the way she held herself.

A certain tension.

Ava met Nolan's gaze. "Why are you doing this?"

He held her stare, something unreadable in his eyes. "Maybe I just enjoy watching her lose."

Ava frowned. "That's pathetic."

Nolan smirked. "Is it?"

She didn't answer.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that this was about more than just revenge.

That evening, Ava found herself cornered.

Not by Adriana.

But by Adriana's inner circle.

The girls who flanked her like a personal army, all manicured nails and quiet threats.

Isla Lancaster, the blonde with ice in her veins, was the one who spoke first. "You're playing a dangerous game, Sinclair."

Ava crossed her arms. "If this is about Nolan, you can tell Adriana I'm not interested."

Isla's lips curled. "You think this is about jealousy?"

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it?"

The second girl, Sienna Vale, let out a low chuckle. "You really don't understand how this works, do you?"

Ava sighed. "Enlighten me."

Isla stepped closer, her voice deceptively soft. "Nolan isn't just Adriana's ex. He's a Westwood. And Westwoods don't play with people like you unless they're playing with you."

Ava refused to let the words sting. "If he's playing, that's his problem."

Isla's eyes gleamed. "Is it?"

Ava held her ground. "If Adriana has something to say, she can say it herself."

Isla smirked. "Oh, she will. But trust me, Sinclair—you don't want her full attention."

Ava watched them walk away, her mind racing.

She had expected Adriana to fight back.

She hadn't expected Nolan to become part of the battlefield.

Later that night, as Ava walked through the courtyard, she found Nolan waiting for her.

She didn't slow. "Are you stalking me now?"

He fell into step beside her. "Relax. I was already here."

She glanced at him. "Are you going to tell me why you're suddenly so interested in me?"

Nolan was silent for a long moment. Then, finally, he spoke.

"I admire you, Sinclair."

She snorted. "No, you don't."

He laughed, but there was something real behind it. "Fine. Maybe 'admire' is the wrong word. But I see you."

She frowned. "And what exactly do you see?"

Nolan stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "Someone who refuses to kneel. Someone who walked into a world designed to break her and refused to bend."

Ava's breath caught.

Because for the first time since she arrived at Ravensworth, she felt seen.

Nolan smirked, but there was no mockery in it this time. "Adriana thinks power is inherited. But you? You take it."

Ava studied him. "And you like that?"

He shrugged. "I respect it."

She didn't know what to say to that.

But as she walked away, she couldn't help but wonder—

If Adriana Kingsley had been furious before…

What would she do now that her ex-boyfriend was starting to like her enemy?