One Nerd, Four Hearts

The first thing Ashley Carter noticed about Montgomery Academy was that it looked nothing like the schools she had attended before.

It was enormous.

The iron gates stood several feet above her head, decorated with the academy's golden crest—a bold M surrounded by laurel leaves. Beyond them stood an impressive Gothic building covered in ivy, with tall windows, stone pillars, and perfectly trimmed gardens.

Students walked across the courtyard dressed in immaculate uniforms.

Some arrived in luxury cars.

Others were dropped off by chauffeurs.

Ashley tightened her grip around the straps of her old backpack.

"Okay," she whispered to herself. "Don't panic."

She looked down at her uniform.

It was perfectly pressed, thanks to the late-night ironing she had done herself.

She adjusted her glasses and took a deep breath.

She had earned her place here.

Not because of her family's money.

Not because she knew someone important.

But because of her brain.

Her exceptional IQ had earned her a scholarship to one of the most prestigious academies in the country.

Montgomery Academy was where the children of billionaires, politicians, celebrities, and influential families studied.

And somehow...

Ashley had made it in.

She smiled nervously.

"This is going to be fine."

It wasn't.

The moment she stepped through the gates, several students turned to look at her.

Ashley immediately felt uncomfortable.

She looked down at herself.

Was there something wrong with her uniform?

Was her hair messy?

She quickly touched her ponytail.

No.

Everything looked fine.

Then she heard whispering.

"Who's that?"

"New student?"

"She looks like a nerd."

Ashley pretended not to hear them.

She had heard worse.

Being intelligent had never exactly made her popular.

She was used to being called a bookworm.

A nerd.

A walking encyclopedia.

She didn't care.

Books didn't judge her.

Numbers didn't gossip about her.

And equations certainly didn't break her heart.

She walked toward the main building, holding her schedule.

But before Ashley could even walk toward the main building, a sudden wave of screams erupted around her.

Ashley stopped in her tracks.

Students who had been calmly walking across the campus suddenly turned toward the massive gates of Montgomery Academy. Conversations died instantly. Some students whispered among themselves, while others hurried toward the driveway as if something—or someone—important was about to arrive.

Then Ashley heard it.

The low, distant hum of an approaching engine.

Everyone went still.

A sleek black luxury car slowly appeared beyond the academy's massive iron gates.

The crowd erupted.

"They're here!"

"Oh my God! They're finally here!"

Ashley frowned, completely confused.

More students began rushing toward the driveway, abandoning their conversations and belongings without a second thought. Excitement mixed with panic as the crowd grew larger and larger.

"Move! I can't see!"

"Do you think they'll actually come out?"

"They have to!"

Ashley looked from one screaming student to another.

Who are they?

Before anyone could answer, a second luxury car entered through the gates.

Then a third.

Then another.

The massive vehicles moved slowly through the academy grounds, their dark windows making it impossible to see who was sitting inside.

With every passing car, the crowd became louder.

Ashley noticed something strange.

Even the teachers had stopped walking.

Several of them stood near the entrance of the main building, watching the approaching vehicles with unusually serious expressions.

That made Ashley even more curious.

What was going on?

The convoy finally came to a stop in front of the main building.

Silence.

An unnatural, heavy silence settled over the crowd.

Hundreds of students stood completely still.

Ashley could hear her own heartbeat.

The engines slowly died one by one.

Click.

The door of the first car unlocked.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

Ashley instinctively took a step forward.

The tinted window prevented her from seeing inside.

For several agonizing seconds, nothing happened.

Then—

The car door slowly began to open.

The crowd held its breath.

For one breathless moment, no one moved.

Then a polished black shoe touched the ground.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

Slowly, the person inside the luxurious car stepped out.

Damon Montgomery.

The entire academy erupted.

"Damon!"

"Oh my God, it's really him!"

Ashley stood frozen among the crowd.

Damon Montgomery straightened to his full height beside the sleek black vehicle. He wore the Montgomery Academy uniform, but there was something about him that made it look completely different. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his expression was cold and unreadable.

He didn't smile.

He didn't wave.

He simply stood there, his sharp eyes scanning the massive academy grounds as if the entire place belonged to him.

And perhaps, in a way, it did.

Damon Montgomery wasn't just another student.

He was the son of the academy's owner.

The heir to the Montgomery fortune.

And judging by the way the students immediately moved aside to make a path for him, everyone at Montgomery Academy knew exactly who he was.

Everyone except Ashley.

She stared at the mysterious young man standing beside the luxurious car.

A moment later, the door of the next luxury car opened.

The crowd immediately erupted again.

A young man stepped out.

Adam Valencia.

Unlike Damon's intimidating presence, Adam carried himself with effortless confidence. His blond hair caught the sunlight as he adjusted his blazer and gave the crowd a faint, charming smile.

Several girls screamed.

"Adam!"

"He's even more handsome in person!"

Adam barely reacted. He simply glanced toward the academy entrance before casually slipping his hands into his pockets.

Ashley watched him in confusion.

Before she could process what was going on, the next luxury car door slowly opened.

A tall figure stepped out.

Mason Blackwood.

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Mason was quiet.

He didn't acknowledge the screaming students. He didn't smile. He simply stood beside the car, his brown hair slightly falling over his forehead, his expression unreadable and intimidating.

The students instinctively stepped aside.

"That's Mason Blackwood..."

"He looks so scary."

Mason gave the crowd one brief glance before walking forward without saying a word.

Then came another car.

The screams started again.

The door swung open.

A young man stepped out with a playful grin already on his face.

Luigi Romano.

His red hair immediately caught everyone's attention. Unlike Mason, Luigi seemed completely amused by the chaos surrounding him.

He looked at the crowd, raised one eyebrow, and flashed them a mischievous smile.

The girls screamed even louder.

"Luigi!"

"He's here!"

Luigi chuckled softly before adjusting his jacket.

Four luxury cars.

Four powerful names.

Damon Montgomery.

Adam Valencia.

Mason Blackwood.

Luigi Romano.

The four walked toward the main building together, and the crowd parted before them.

Ashley stood among the students, staring after them.

She still didn't understand why everyone was acting as though celebrities had just arrived.

Then the girl beside her leaned closer and whispered,

"You really don't know who they are?"

Ashley slowly shook her head.

The girl stared at her in disbelief.

"You!"

A sharp voice suddenly erupted directly in front of Ashley.

She froze.

The girl who had been talking to her just moments ago immediately lowered her gaze and hurried away, disappearing into the crowd as though she were afraid to be seen standing beside Ashley.

Ashley frowned.

What was that about?

She slowly turned back.

Then she looked up.

Standing directly in front of her was the same young man who had just stepped out of the luxurious car.

Damon Montgomery.