Amid the collective awe of the onlookers, Theron stood motionless, his mind adrift in a sea of thoughts. Seraphina's patience, however, quickly wore thin. "Take it," she ordered. Startled, Theron instinctively accepted the box, his hands moving almost of their own accord. Beside him, Dora was utterly speechless, her mouth slightly agape as her eyes darted between Seraphina and Theron. Could Seraphina actually have feelings for Theron? Seraphina's voice cut through the murmurs. "Someone told me to give this to you. Make sure you eat it all. If I find out you didn't, you'll have me to answer to." The bluntness of her threat left Theron rooted in place, unable to muster a single word. Without waiting for a response, Seraphina turned on her heel and strode away, leaving a sea of stunned faces in her wake."D*mn," someone muttered, finally breaking the silence. "I've never seen a girl give a gift like that before. Talk about intimidating." "But didn't she say it wasn't from her? It's probably from someone else." "Are you dense, Zack?" Caleb interjected, a smug grin plastered across his face. "She's just saying that to hide her feelings. Classic shy girl move." Caleb's words resonated with many in the crowd. Even Theron couldn't help but feel the same. He glanced down at the box in his hand, then at everyone who was staring at him. He grinned smugly. Just then, he caught movement from the corner of his eyes. Raising the box slightly, he spoke loud enough for those nearby to hear. "The box is exquisite. She really put a lot of effort into this." Shane had stopped mid-stride, his piercing eyes narrowing as they flicked toward Theron. Without a word, Shane turned and walked away. His entourage scrambled to catch up.The incident, however, was far from contained. Within hours, whispers of Seraphina's bold gesture had spread like wildfire across the campus. "What did you just say?" Linara's voice shot up, her wide eyes brimming with disbelief as she stared at her friend. "You heard me," Kelly replied, her tone tinged with frustration. "I couldn't believe it either when I first heard." "Do you think Seraphina actually likes Theron?" Abigail asked, frowning as she mulled over the situation. "Of course she does!" Kelly snapped, her words dripping with indignation. "Why else would she do something so brazen in front of everyone? It's shameless, really." Ever since the last fiasco, Kelly had faced severe repercussions from her family—her credit cards revoked and her lifestyle drastically downgraded. She held Seraphina wholly responsible for her misery, and her hatred burned bright. "First, she steals your parents, and now she's after your fiancé. She's despicable," Abigail spat. Linara gripped the pen in her hand so tightly it seemed it might snap. "Theron isn't mine. She can like him all she wants. It has nothing to do with me." Abigail's eyes widened in disbelief. "Nothing to do with you? Are you kidding me? This is a big deal—" "Enough," Carmen interrupted, placing a calming hand on Abigail's arm. While Linara's group seethed, they weren't the only ones talking. Across campus, the story was on everyone's lips. The general consensus was clear: it wasn't surprising. Theron, with his wealthy background and good looks, was a prime catch at Bloomington School. Of course, girls would be drawn to him. Meanwhile, Shane returned to the classroom. As he entered, the chatter of students discussing Seraphina's supposed confession buzzed around him like an annoying fly. His eyes scanned the room, landing briefly on Seraphina, who sat quietly in the corner. The faint murmurs in the background grated on his nerves. With no warning, Shane lashed out. His foot struck a table with enough force to send it crashing to the ground. The deafening noise jolted everyone into silence. "Shut up," Shane barked. His sharp gaze swept across the room, pinning everyone in place. "If I hear one more word, don't blame me if my fists start flying." No one dared to utter a sound after that, the classroom falling into an eerie silence.