Chapter Ten: The Kings Have Arrived

Kingsley Academy had seen its fair share of wealth, status, and power.

But nothing—nothing—could have prepared the school for what happened that morning.

It started with the sound of roaring engines.

Ava barely had time to process it before the sleekest, most expensive cars she had ever seen pulled up to the front of the school.

First, a glossy black Bugatti, its tinted windows reflecting the morning sun like polished obsidian.

Then, a blood-red Ferrari, purring like a beast ready to devour its prey.

A sleek silver McLaren.

A deep midnight blue Rolls Royce.

And finally, a matte black Lamborghini with custom gold rims, pulling in like it owned the entire school.

Students froze mid-step. Conversations stopped.

"What's happening"some students whispered among their selves 

" I think someone better than Adriana Kingsley is here" 

"Oh oh, I can see trouble coming"

Even the teachers standing near the entrance looked stunned.

And then—

The doors opened.

Out stepped five boys.

The air shifted.

They weren't just rich.

They were the kind of rich that made even the wealthiest Ravenworth students feel small.

And the way they carried themselves? Confident. Dangerous. Untouchable.

They were the kind of guys who didn't ask for attention.

They commanded it.

The Gang of Five

The leader was the first to step forward.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and effortlessly cool, he pulled off his sunglasses, revealing piercing green eyes that seemed to see straight through people. His black hair was messy in a way that looked deliberate, and the way he adjusted the cuffs of his custom leather jacket made it clear—this was his world, and the rest of them were just living in it.

Behind him, his crew followed.

To his right, a sharp-jawed guy with stormy blue eyes and tousled dark brown hair, casually scrolling through his phone like he wasn't standing in the middle of an entrance that had the entire school in shock.

To his left, a lean but muscular guy with jet-black hair and a silver chain resting against his designer hoodie. His smirk screamed trouble.

The fourth member was built like a wall—tall, rugged, with a sharp undercut and a stare that could kill. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, but the way he moved was like a silent warning.

And the last? A charming, honey-skinned boy with a cocky grin, twirling his car keys around his finger like he had all the time in the world.

They were impossible to ignore.

And no one was more mesmerized than Adriana Kingsley.

Ava, standing by her locker, saw the moment it happened—Adriana's lips parted slightly, her eyes locked onto the leader like she had just spotted her next prize.

Ava knew that look.

Adriana wanted him.

But the moment the leader's gaze swept the crowd, it barely lingered on Adriana before sliding straight to her.

And when their eyes met—

Ava felt something shift.

He noticed her.

A flicker of intrigue flashed in his expression, like she was the one person in this school who had managed to surprise him.

Adriana, still frozen in place, slowly lifted a perfectly manicured hand to her hair, flipping it over her shoulder. "Who are they?" she whispered, half to herself.

Someone nearby answered before Ava could.

"They're the Sterling Five."

A hush fell over the crowd.

Everyone had heard of them.

Sons of billionaires. Raised in luxury. Connected to power that reached far beyond Kingsley Academy.

And now, they were here.

Ava's breath hitched as the leader smirked.

Then, as if he hadn't just thrown the entire school into chaos, he turned to his crew.

"Looks like we're gonna have fun here," he said casually.

His voice was smooth, deep, with just the right amount of arrogance.

Then, without another word, he walked past the stunned students, heading toward the entrance as if he already owned it

Adriana's Obsession Begins

By lunchtime, Adriana was obsessed.

"I have to have him," she declared, setting her tray down at the center table, where her usual group of followers nodded in agreement.

"He's literally perfect," one of her minions gushed.

Adriana smirked, already formulating a plan.

He—the leader of the Sterling Five—was unlike any guy she had ever met. He wasn't just rich; he was powerful. His family's influence was enough to make even the Kingsleys take notice.

And Adriana had never lost before.

"He'll be mine by the end of the month," she announced confidently.

But across the cafeteria—

The Sterling Five sat at their own table, a silent but undeniable force.

And the leader?

His gaze wasn't on Adriana.

It was on Ava Sinclair.

Ava's Unexpected Attention

Ava could feel him watching her.

It was unsettling, thrilling, and completely unexpected.

She wasn't used to being the one people noticed—not in that way.

Yet here he was, the most powerful guy to set foot in Kingsley, openly interested in her.

Lily noticed first. "Uh… why is he staring at you?"

Ava swallowed. "I have no idea."

Thoe, sitting beside her, leaned in. "That's the guy Adriana's already plotting to sink her claws into."

Ava exhaled. "Great."

As if on cue, the leader of the Sterling Five stood up, leaving his crew behind.

And then—

He started walking toward her table.

The entire cafeteria froze.

Adriana's head snapped up. "No way."

Ava's heart pounded as he stopped right in front of her.

Then, with a smirk that sent a ripple of whispers through the room, he spoke.

"Ava Sinclair, right?"

Ava blinked. "You… know my name?"

The corner of his lips lifted. "I do now."

Ava's stomach flipped.

Adriana's expression darkened.

The game had just changed.