LIVIA'S POV"Where have you been, Tristin?" I demanded, my voice sharp. "I've been waiting here for hours!"He closed the door behind him with a sigh. "Livia, it's late. I took Eva for a driving lesson."My blood boiled at the mention of her name. "That little nobody? You left me here to go help her? What is wrong with you?"Ignoring my outburst, he walked past me, clearly trying to keep his composure. "Livia, calm down.""Don't you dare tell me to calm down!" I shouted, standing up and following him. "Why are you wasting your time with her? She's nothing compared to us!"Turning to face me, his expression turned cold. "Livia, enough. Eva is an employee and a friend. You will not insult her in my presence."I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Are you defending her? Over me? She's a pathetic little nobody, Tristin! You should be focusing on us and our future, not playing chauffeur for some insignificant girl!"His patience seemed to wear thin. "Livia, our engagement was arranged fo

TRISTIN'S POVThe morning sun poured into my office, I sat at the head of the conference table, addressing a room full of senior executives. The discussion was in full swing, numbers being thrown around, strategies debated, and I was in my element. "Alright, let’s move on to the next quarter projections," I said, pointing to the pie charts on the screen.Just as Megan started her presentation, the door burst open. There stood my stepmom—though I simply called her Mom. She had an air of drama about her, and today was no exception. The room fell silent as everyone turned to see what the commotion was about."Tristin! We need to talk," she announced, her voice carrying the weight of a royal decree.I sighed internally, knowing there was no stopping her once she was on a mission. "Mom, I’m in the middle of a meeting," I replied, trying to keep my tone respectful yet firm.She waved a hand dismissively. "This is more important."The executives exchanged glances, some hiding smiles. They k

EVA'S POVI settled onto my couch, I couldn't help but replay the events of the evening in my mind. Tristin had been so patient with his mother, despite her insistence on involving Livia. His ability to stay composed in such a tense situation was impressive, and I found myself admiring him even more.I let out a sigh, my thoughts drifting to Tristin’s smile and the way he had looked at me earlier. There was something in his eyes, a softness that made my heart flutter. I shook my head, trying to push those thoughts away, but it was no use. The more I thought about him, the more I realized how much I enjoyed his company.I caught myself blushing, the warmth spreading across my cheeks. "What am I doing?" I muttered to myself. "He's engaged to Livia. I need to stop thinking about him like this."But no matter how much I tried to convince myself, I couldn't deny the growing feelings I had for Tristin. He was kind, thoughtful, and incredibly handsome. And despite his sometimes cold exterior

EVA'S POV"Hey, Eva," Livia called out, her voice laced with mock sweetness. "What are you doing all alone? Don't you have any friends?"I felt my face flush, but I didn’t respond. Ignoring her was often the best strategy, though it rarely worked."Aw, look at her," one of Livia’s friends sneered. "Such a little nerd, always with her nose in a book."Livia strutted over to my table, picking up my notebook and flipping through it. "Wow, you really think you're so smart, don’t you? How pathetic.""Give it back, Livia," I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady."Oh, look, she's talking back," Livia said with a laugh, tossing my notebook back onto the table, but not before tearing out a few pages. "Oops. My bad."Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "Just leave me alone," I muttered, gathering my things."Why should we?" Livia taunted. "It's so much fun watching you squirm."Another memory hit me, this one from gym class. We were playing volleyball, and Livia was on

EVA'S POV"Well, well, if it isn't little Eva," Livia had sneered, her voice echoing off the tiled walls.I had tried to ignore them, focusing on washing my hands, hoping they would just leave me alone. But of course, that wasn’t Livia’s style."Hey, I'm talking to you," she had said, her tone sharp. She had stepped closer, and I could see the malicious glint in her eyes."Please, Livia, I just want to be left alone," I had said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady."Left alone?" Livia had laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "You're in no position to make demands."Before I could react, she had grabbed my arm and shoved me against the sink. The cold, hard edge had pressed painfully into my back."Why do you even bother coming to school, Eva? You're a joke," she had hissed, her face inches from mine.I had struggled to get free, but Livia's grip was strong. "Livia, let go of me!""Or what?" she had challenged, her voice dripping with scorn. "What are you going to do about it?"Ashley a