"Mr. Zac has arrived—Miss Tia has arrived—" The moment those words echoed through the venue, the entire crowd erupted in excitement, everyone instinctively turning toward the entrance. "Wow! Tia really lives up to her title as the number one beauty! She’s absolutely stunning!" "That white dress makes her look like a goddess descending from the heavens!" "She’s breathtaking! No wonder she’s the school’s top beauty!" "And Zac looks so handsome! They’re a perfect match, like a prince and princess straight out of a fairytale!" "They really are the ideal couple! I could fangirl over them forever!" Zac and Tia stepped through the doors, moving gracefully as if they owned the place, basking in the admiration and attention showered upon them. Their smiles were poised, their demeanor flawless. With every step they took, waves of praise followed. Once inside, they effortlessly mingled with the crowd, soaking in the flattery and admiration. But their moment in the spotlight didn’t last long. Because the next announcement changed everything. "Miss Ashley has arrived—Mr. Arthur has arrived—" The host’s voice rang out loud and clear. His job tonight was to keep the energy high and ensure the event was a success, so naturally, he made sure to highlight the most anticipated arrivals. The second those words were spoken, all eyes turned toward the entrance. And in the next instant, the entire room fell into stunned silence. Arthur stepped into the venue, his fitted suit accentuating his tall, lean frame. He carried himself with effortless confidence, his long strides and sharp posture exuding an air of power and authority. He no longer looked like a high school senior—he looked like he belonged here. Like he owned the place. Beside him, Ashley was a vision in red. Her gown hugged her curves flawlessly, and her rich chestnut waves cascaded down her back. Every movement she made radiated elegance and poise. Standing next to Arthur, she looked like a queen, a perfect complement to his commanding presence. The aura they exuded was overwhelming. At that moment, Zac and Tia were completely forgotten. Every eye in the room was on Arthur and Ashley. They didn’t have to say anything. They didn’t have to smile, wave, or acknowledge the crowd. Just by standing there, they commanded attention. No one had ever seen an aura quite like this before. The entire venue fell into an eerie silence. You could hear a pin drop. Zac and Tia, once the center of attention, were now standing awkwardly off to the side—completely ignored. Zac’s fists clenched tightly, his nails digging into his palms as he stared at Arthur’s tall, unshakable figure. Why? Why does Arthur, a worthless reject, get to steal my moment? His teeth ground together in fury. Even his date is more stunning than mine! Ashley’s presence was overwhelming, a stark contrast to Tia’s delicate, demure beauty. Zac couldn’t wrap his head around it. Where did I lose? No. It wasn’t him who lost. It was them. The pathetic nobodies who didn’t know their place. These lowlifes, these idiots—choosing to admire some worthless stray over the rightful heir of the Gray family. What a bunch of fools. That thought gave him some comfort. Tia, however, had no such consolation. She watched Ashley, who shone like a blazing sun, and jealousy clawed violently at her insides. For years, Zac had compared her to Ashley. And now, in front of everyone, Ashley had stolen her spotlight. Even worse, Zac’s gaze kept drifting toward Ashley. What’s so great about her? Is she as gentle as I am? As understanding? What gives her the right to steal my place? Jealousy burned like wildfire in Tia’s chest, consuming her completely. Then, her eyes landed on Arthur. Arthur… She sneered. A useless, penniless reject. If Ashley likes him so much… maybe I should destroy him. Every time Zac compared her to Ashley, it was because of Arthur. A dark thought took root in her mind. If Arthur disappeared… would Zac finally stop comparing me to her? Without Arthur, Ashley wouldn’t be around Zac anymore either. She had considered going after Ashley before, but Ashley’s background was far too complicated. Tia had subtly nudged several rich boys into targeting Ashley before, but every single one of them had ended up suffering the consequences. Ashley wasn’t someone she could afford to provoke directly. Arthur, on the other hand, was different. No status, no background, no power. Just a good-looking stray that Ashley had picked up for fun. Ashley is a noble lady. There’s no way she actually cares about Arthur. She’s probably just infatuated with his face. If something were to happen to him, would she really go out of her way to investigate? A slow, sinister smile spread across Tia’s lips.