Chapter 72
Ryan didn’t respond right away, and I could imagine his face, torn between guilt and frustration. “I’m going back,” I heard him mutter. His voice was low, distracted. He wasn’t in the mood to explain himself, not to Linda, not to anyone.
Outside, the cool air greeted me as I stepped out of the school building, the tension from the encounter with Ryan and Linda still lingering. But it quickly faded as I spotted Lirian waiting near the school gates, leaning casually against a tree with Eric by his side.
Lirian had changed out of his tracksuit, now wearing a dark jacket over a white shirt, the sunlight glinting off his messy black hair. He looked effortlessly cool, as always.
When Lirian saw me, his expression softened, and he pushed away from the tree, striding over to meet me. Without a word, he reached for my school bag, taking it from my hands as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His actions were subtle but spoke volumes, and I couldn’t help but
notice the way people around us stared.
They were all shocked, of course. Lirian–the untouchable, aloof heir to the Iron Claw Pack–was acting as if I were someone important to him. And that was something they had never expected to
see.
Lirian didn’t seem to care about the stares or whispers. His attention was solely on me. “Hungry?” he asked, his voice low and calm. “Let’s grab something to eat.”
I nodded, feeling a small smile tug at my lips. “Yeah, let’s go.
Eric, who had been lingering nearby, gave me an awkward smile. “Hey, Sofia,” he greeted, trying to be friendly. “How are you?”
I ignored him, not in the mood for pleasantries.
Eric shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m really sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have believed those rumors. It was my fault. I was wrong.”
His apology was genuine, but I still wasn’t impressed. I turned to Lirian, my voice edged with disdain. You’re friends with him?**”
Lirian gave Eric a glance before shaking his head. “No.”
Eric, standing beside the car, grew visibly anxious. His voice trembled as he pleaded, “Please, don’t be like this! It’s my fault, completely. I shouldn’t have listened to those people online. They’re just
Chapter 72
spreading nonsense! I’ll get to the bottom of it and find out who’s behind it all. I promise, I’ll make it right for you.”
I glanced at him, feeling indifferent to his words, and simply nodded. It wasn’t something I took to heart anymore. His apology, though sincere, meant little to me. The damage had already been done, and I had no time to dwell on old grievances,
Just then, the Iron Claw Pack’s car pulled up to the curb. Lirian ignored Eric entirely and focused on me. He moved swiftly to open the car door. “Get In,” he said softly, his voice steady yet commanding.
Eric stood awkwardly by the roadside, watching us with a polite, albeit forced, smile. “Well, I’ll leave you two to it then! I’ll head back. See you next time!” He waved slightly as we got into the car. “Have a nice evening with Lirian!”
I glanced at Lirian and caught his expression–one of complete disinterest in Eric’s parting words. As the window slid shut, Lirian turned to me with a calm demeanor and said, “Ignore him.”
I leaned back in my seat, pondering for a moment. “Aren’t you afraid of the rumors?” I asked quietly.
“Rumors?” Lirian looked at me, his expression unreadable.
I hesitated before speaking again, unsure if I should mention it, but I did. “There’s been talk… online. People are saying I’m someone’s mistress. It’s ugly, and they’re spreading it behind my back.”
Lirian’s lips curved slightly into a smile, though his eyes remained serious. “I don’t care.”
His nonchalance surprised me. “But-
“Since it’s just a rumor,” Lirian cut me off, his tone growing firmer, “then smash it. Let them say what they want. It doesn’t matter.”
Hearing his blunt dismissal of the rumors made me smile. He was always straightforward, never letting idle talk affect him. I appreciated that.
A thought crossed my mind as I watched him, his gaze unwavering. Could it be that Lirian came here today not just to see me but to help take the attention off the gossip?
