Chapter 1
The boy’s eyes held an enigmatic mist, an allure that Emily couldn’t quite comprehend.
It was the first time Emily Summers met Lucas Bennett, and though she was just fifteen, the word mesmerizing flashed across her mind in a way that made no sense. She hadn’t known him, but she felt something stirring deep within her-something she couldn’t name.
One day, after school, she pushed open the garden gate.
The tulips were in full bloom, their delicate petals basking in the soft pink glow of the setting sun, casting a gentle light on the damp stone path. There, lying on the stone was a small travel bag.
A boy stood, lost in thought, gazing at the amber sky, the corners of his shirt billowing slightly in the breeze.
The world seemed to pause for a moment as he turned his head.
Lucas was seated beside the blooming tulips, his dark hair glistening like polished obsidian, his neck as smooth and flawless as porcelain. A breeze stirred, making the flowers sway gently. As the petals fluttered, it felt as though they were responding to her every step.
The boy turned, his gaze meeting hers.
“Lucas will be living with us from now on,” her father’s warm voice broke through the silence at dinner, his hand resting affectionately on the boy’s shoulder. “He’s your brother, Emily. You must take care of him.”
“Of course, I will!” Julian beamed, his cheeks flushed, his eyes bright as he looked at Lucas, his new ‘older brother.’
Emily raised her head slowly, her eyes flickering between the two.
Since Lucas had entered their home, her father had been entirely focused on him-constantly serving him extra helpings, even taking the last of Julian’s favorite chicken wings and placing them in Lucas’s bowl.
Her mother, more withdrawn than usual, had retreated to the kitchen after barely touching her meal, consuming only a bowl of water.
“Emily?” Her father’s voice drew her attention.
Her lips parted, a question forming, but she held back. Instead, she offered a polite smile. “But... shouldn’t he be the one taking care of us?” she asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
Her father sighed, looking at Lucas with tenderness. “Lucas has suffered much in his past. You need to help care for him, Emily, understand?”
Brother...
Emily’s heart twisted with the weight of the word. She looked at Lucas again, trying to understand.
He was sixteen, impossibly handsome in a way that seemed unreal to her-a boy whose beauty eclipsed everyone around him, a living portrait of something ethereal. His skin was as smooth and luminous as the tulips outside, his eyes the color of pale jade, and his golden hair shone like silk under the evening light.
Despite his worn shirt, there was something regal about him, like a prince from a forgotten fairy tale.
Lucas’s eyes met hers then, a strange smile curling his lips-a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, as though it was meant for her and yet not. It was both unsettling and captivating, a thin veil of mystery that left her unsettled.
She had felt it from the moment she saw him.
He was too beautiful, too perfect.
It felt dangerous, like a spell she couldn’t break.
As he turned to glance at her, standing amidst the tulips, the garden seemed to come alive with a subtle mist that made the air heavy with enchantment.
“I’ll be fine. I could take care of myself.” Lucas said quietly, breaking the stillness.
His voice was smooth, calm-just like the best students she knew, but there was something more, something almost unreal about him.
He spoke to her father in that gentle, humble way, but Emily couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something far more powerful lurking beneath his placid exterior.
Her father’s round face betrayed a flicker of unease as he spoke, his voice a little too hurried. “Alright, alright, Lucas, don’t worry, I’ve taken care of everything. The paperwork’s all set, and you can start school tomorrow...”
His gaze shifted, lingering on Emily, as if searching for something. “Emily, sweetheart...”
Her mother, seated beside her, watched Emily in silence, her expression unreadable, almost distant.
“Emily!” Julian’s voice broke the silence, his innocent question hanging in the air as he eagerly popped a piece of food into his mouth. “Don’t you like Lucas?”
Emily’seyes, steady and cool as the morning mist, flicked toward him as she picked upa chicken leg and placed it gently in his bowl. “Finish your dinner,“she said softly, her voice serene. “And then you can do yourhomework.”
She paused, her gaze lifting toward her father.
The room fell still, her words slow and deliberate as she met his gaze. “I’ll help you take care of him.”
“Emily, you’re such a good girl,” her father murmured, leaning back in his chair, a wide, relieved grin spreading across his face. As if her simple promise could settle every unspoken fear.
Meanwhile, Lucas sat quietly, his movements precise, as he sipped his soup with barely a sound. His eyes, pale and distant, seemed to look through the world, his expression unreadable.
Her mother stood abruptly, silently excusing herself, retreating into the kitchen where she remained, lost in her own world, until dinner had come to an end.
The next day, Lucas arrived at Emily’s school.
As Emily had expected, the entire campus was swept up in a storm of excitement. Whispers rippled through the hallways like wildfire, passing from one student to the next-first one, then ten, then a hundred.
Girls exchanged shy glances, their faces flushed with curiosity, and the halls were filled with excited chatter. By the time the break bell rang, every student in the school knew that a breathtaking new student had joined Class 2-3.
Their class advisor nearly dropped his lesson plan when he opened the door to find the hallway flooded with students from other classes, crowding around in eager anticipation, their wide eyes pressed against the door as they tried to catch a glimpse of the newcomer.
“Transfer student!” someone shouted, breathless with excitement.
“Transfer student-!!”
“Transfer student-!!!” The students cheered, eager to see if the rumors about his beauty were true.
Outside, the shaded path was lined with towering cypress trees, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. The sky above was a clear, pale blue, dotted with wisps of clouds.
Emily, her earbuds tucked securely in place, walked hand-in-hand with Julian. As they passed by the corridor, the commotion caught her attention.
“Transfer student-!!”
“Come out-!!”
“Come out-!! Transfer student-!!”
Julian’s curious eyes widened as he peered down the hallway. “Emily, they’re calling for Lucas! Do you think they all like him?”
Emily didn’t answer immediately, her thoughts swirling. Then Julian’s innocent voice broke through again, full of excitement. “I like Lucas too! He’s really handsome, don’t you think?”
“Mm?” Emily replied, her lips curling into a faint smile as she looked at her brother. She took his bag from his shoulder, her fingers brushing his lightly. “Is he really that handsome?”
Before Julian could answer, a collective gasp echoed down the hall. A soft, breathless silence filled the air.
Then, the campus seemed to hold its breath, the world growing still except for the rustle of leaves in the wind. The sky was an intense blue, the sun casting its golden glow like rays of light weaving through the trees. Every student seemed to stop breathing at once, their hearts beating in unison with the air around them.
“Lucas is so handsome!” Julian shouted joyfully, running back to Emily with a wide grin on his face, his cheeks flushed with excitement. He squeezed her hand tightly. “But you’re the most beautiful, Emily.”
Emily laughed softly, a warmth spreading in her chest.
The two of them continued down the path, blending into the ebbing tide of students as they made their way out of the school. The sounds of chatter faded, replaced by the rhythm of their steps and the distant hum of the world moving around them.
“Are we not waiting for Lucas to go home with us?” Julian asked, his voice innocent.
“No, someone else will take him,” Emily replied lightly, but there was a subtle edge to her words. She couldn’t deny the certainty that countless girls would eagerly volunteer to accompany him home.
As they exited the school grounds, a sleek black limousine rolled silently behind them, maintaining a careful distance of five meters.
******
Lucas quickly became the most talked-about boy in the school, a living legend at Stevenson School. He seemed to embody everything that was perfect-his beauty rivaled that of a prince, his demeanor humble and gentle, and his kindness so genuine that every girl, from the teachers to the students, found themselves utterly captivated.
His presence was magnetic, his every smile a promise of something otherworldly. Even the most awkward girls, those who were often overlooked, felt like royalty when he gave them a kind word or a smile.
Lucas excelled in every subject, his kindness unshaken by the attention he received. It was impossible for anyone to associate him with coldness, cruelty, or malice. He was perfection incarnate, and everyone around him felt it.
When the midterm results were posted on the large bulletin board in the courtyard, the students gathered in a frenzy, their excitement palpable as they searched for their names.
“Look! Lucas is number one in the second year!” a girl squealed, her hands covering her mouth in surprise.
“Duh!” came the collective response from the girls around her, rolling their eyes. “Of course, Lucas is number one! This is a given-no need to be shocked. He’s practically a legend.”
“Lucas is perfect!”
“Totally!”
“He’s everything!”
“Yes, exactly!”
“Lucas belongs to all of us. No one can claim him for themselves!”
The girls clung to each other, their hearts fluttering as they swore to one another that Lucas, the fairy-tale prince, could never belong to just one girl. He was theirs to admire, theirs to dream about. No one could give him gifts, write him love letters, or ask him out on a date.
And if anyone dared get too close to Lucas, they’d be out of luck, Stevenson School would no longer be their place!
