On one side was me; on the other was his future.

And Sloane was a master at forcing people into choosing between the two.

But I wouldn't let her succeed.

I reached out and slowly grabbed the sleeve of Lucas’s shirt.

"Don't go."

Lucas looked down at me, emotions swirling in his eyes.

I said earnestly, "No matter what she threatens us with, don't go."

"I'll find a way to handle this."

8

During the last period of the afternoon, I barely absorbed a single word.

Sloane’s words weighed on my heart like a stone, making it hard to even breathe.

I knew, of course, that she wasn't just trying to scare us.

With her family background, it wasn't impossible for her to tamper with a project like this.

Moreover, many so-called fair opportunities were fragile enough to crumble under the weight of power.

But even so, I couldn't afford to panic.

After the bell rang, students began to filter out of the classroom.

Before I could stand up, my phone vibrated.

It was a text from an unknown number:

[Rooftop, five minutes. Come alone.]

One look was all I needed to know who it was.

This commanding tone didn't sound like Sloane; it sounded more like Caspian.

I stared at the screen, my fingertips going cold.

It was the same in my past life.

He always loved to issue non-negotiable orders with the most casual attitude. It was as if the moment he spoke, I had to go to him obediently, stand before him, and accept his scrutiny and mockery.

But this wasn't my past life.

I was about to delete the text when another one arrived a second later:

[It’s about the financial aid project. If you don't come, I'll assume you've given up.]

My pupils constricted.

He knew.

Then again, between the hallway and the garden, every move Lucas and I made in just half a day could have been seen by them. People like them never lacked information or eyes and ears.

I slowly tightened my grip on the phone.

This wasn't a simple invitation; it was a blatant play for control.

Lucas finished packing his bag and, seeing me still seated, asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

I instinctively flipped my phone face-down on the desk.

"Nothing."

He watched me, clearly sensing something was wrong. "Did they contact you again?"

I wanted to deny it.

But the words died in my throat.

If I said nothing and went to see Caspian alone, how would that be any different from my past life? It would still be me bearing the burden alone, still me thinking I could solve everything, only to walk step by step into his trap.

I couldn't repeat that mistake.

So, I handed the phone to Lucas.

After reading the text, Lucas’s face darkened instantly.

"You are not going."

I said softly, "But he mentioned the financial aid project."

"You are still not going," Lucas said, gripping the phone. "I'll go find him."

"It'll be even worse if you go," I immediately stopped him. "They’re after you to begin with. You going there will only cause more trouble."

Lucas clenched his jaw, clearly incensed.

I lowered my voice. "Lucas, calm down first. We need to think about how to respond, not be led by the nose by them."

He looked at me, his breathing heavy.

"Then what do you want to do?"

I was silent for a few seconds, my mind weighing the options rapidly.

To go, or not to go?

If I didn't go, Caspian might not truly have the power to interfere with the project immediately, but since he dared to send that text, it meant there was at least a possibility.

If I did go, it would mean voluntarily entering his territory.

However, if I insisted on avoiding him, he would only find me more "interesting" and focus even more attention on me.

I knew people like him all too well.

The more fiercely you resist, the more novel it feels to them.

The more afraid you are, the more they push.

Thinking of this, I slowly composed myself.

"I'll go," I said.

Lucas looked up sharply. "No."

"Listen to me," I looked at him. "Going doesn't mean I'm at his beck and call. I just want to know what exactly he's up to."

"And, I'm not going alone this time."

Lucas’s eyes shifted slightly.

I continued, "You walk me to the floor below, but don't come up. Five minutes. If I haven't come down or if I send you a message, you go straight to the teacher."

This was the safest plan I could think of right now.

The rooftop was still part of the school; no matter how arrogant he was, he wouldn't dare do anything truly outrageous in such a place.

Lucas still didn't agree. "It's too dangerous."

"It won't be," I forced a small smile. "At least it's better than doing nothing."

Seeing him still tense and unwilling to yield, I added softly, "Trust me just this once."

Lucas remained silent for a long time before finally compromising.

"Five minutes, at most."

"Okay."

We left the classroom one after the other.

The campus at dusk was dyed a bright orange by the setting sun, and the wind carried the warm scent of early summer vegetation. But as I walked toward the rooftop step by step, my heart felt incredibly cold.

I pushed the door open, and Caspian was indeed there.

He was leaning against the rooftop railing with a can of iced cola in his hand. Hearing the noise, he looked over.

"You came."

I didn't move any closer, standing by the door as I looked at him. "Say what you have to say."

He looked down and chuckled. "You really are hostile toward me."

"Any normal person would have a bad attitude toward someone harassing them."

Caspian didn't get angry at the remark; he simply set the cola can aside.

"Fine, then I'll get straight to the point."

He took two steps toward me, his gaze landing on my face as if looking for a crack in my armor.

"Sloane is quite angry. She feels you're ruining her plans."

"And?" I asked.

"And so, she's planning to get a bit more serious now," he said casually. "If she really wants to block that financial aid project, things will indeed become very difficult for you."

My heart sank, but I didn't let it show on my face. "Are you here to deliver a message for her?"

"In a way," he paused, then added, "But I could also help you."

I watched him without making a sound.

Caspian’s lips curved. "It's simple. Stay away from Lucas. Stop hanging around him and stop interfering with him and Sloane. I guarantee that no one will touch your applications."

The evening breeze blew, making the hair on his forehead sway slightly. His expression remained as arrogant and certain as ever.

It was as if what he was offering wasn't a deal, but a blessing.

I almost wanted to laugh.

So even this early on, he was already trying to cut me off from Lucas.

It was like that in my past life, and it was still like that in this one.

He didn't care if I was willing; he only cared if anyone was obstructing their game.

I looked up at him and said slowly, "And if I refuse?"

The smile in Caspian’s eyes faded slightly.

"Then you can certainly try your luck."

"I just can't guarantee who will come out the loser when the time comes."

I locked eyes with him for a few seconds before suddenly asking, "Why are you doing this?"

He acted as if he didn't understand. "What?"

"You clearly don't care that much about Sloane and Lucas's business," I stared at him. "So why are you targeting me? Is it to help her, or do you just think I'm an easy target?"

The air suddenly went quiet.

Caspian looked at me, his dark eyes deepening.

After a long while, he gave a soft laugh.

"You really do think highly of yourself."

He leaned down, his voice dropping.

"Don't worry, you aren't important enough for me to specifically target yet."

"I just think," he paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over my pale face, "that someone like you—quiet on the surface but with a spine made of steel—would be quite interesting if pushed to the brink."

A chill shot through my heart.

This was the real him.

Malicious, cold-blooded, and treating the pain of others as a form of entertainment.

I took a step back and gripped my phone.

"Are you finished?"

He watched my movement, and his smile deepened.

"What’s the matter? Afraid I'll do something to you?"

"I'm not that crazy when we're still at school."

"But—" he drawled, his gaze unreadable, "the future is a different story."

The blood in my body felt as though it had frozen instantly.

In the next second, I turned and left.