The cafeteria remained noisy and lively despite the attention Matthew was receiving.
The drama between the blond girl, Lora's sister, and Matthew had spread throughout the school almost immediately.
So had the news that Matthew had spent a staggering amount of money without hesitation, followed by the expulsion of both girls because of Ava.
As far as the students were concerned, Matthew had officially proven that his family belonged among the top twenty families in the world.
That only made him even more of a dream catch.
Matthew, however, couldn't have cared less.
He sat at one of the tables, calmly cutting into his steak while ignoring the occasional glances, whispers, and camera flashes directed his way.
Across from him, Ava had both hands pressed against her cheeks as she stared at him with a bright smile.
Matthew finally looked up.
"Would you stop looking at me?"
"Would you come see me perform?" Ava asked, blinking at him.
"Perform?"
Matthew put down his knife and fork.
"Yeah. On Wednesday."
Ava leaned forward.
"You know about the international competitions and stuff, right? Wednesday is the talent competition with the all-girls school from Averis. Friday is the wit competition, and next week is the basketball competition."
She began counting them off with her fingers.
"You know, Class Three is known as the class of talent, while Class Four is known as the class with the best sports students. Class One is known for the book lovers, Class Five is known for the class of fun, and Class Two is known for—"
Ava suddenly stopped.
She rubbed her chin.
She genuinely couldn't remember what Class Two was known for.
What an odd class.
"So you're performing?" Matthew asked.
He picked up his fork again.
"You don't exactly strike me as someone with that kind of talent. If it were a fighting competition, I could believe that."
"Of course I can perform!"
Ava slapped her palm against the table before standing and leaning very close to him, resting half her body against the table.
"I can sing. I can do different types of dance. I can paint. I can play instruments. I know fencing, horse riding, how to use a gun, racing, golf, tennis…"
She paused for barely a second.
"I know different languages. I can design things and even make clothes and jewelry. I know how to make perfume. I know all the sophisticated arts."
Matthew stared at her for a moment.
"Sure. Then I'll watch. A friend supporting a friend."
"I would prefer the term lover, but whatever."
Ava reached across the table.
Her index finger traced lightly over his lips, wiping away a small drop of meat juice from the corner of his mouth.
She looked at the juice on her fingertip before casually putting it into her mouth.
"Delicious."
She gave him a wink.
At the table behind them, a student who had been pretending not to listen nearly choked on his drink.
His friend patted his back.
"Bro, breathe."
"I'm fine."
"You were not fine."
"I'm perfectly fine."
Neither of them looked in Ava and Matthew's direction again.
They both knew better.
Matthew raised an eyebrow at Ava before turning back to his steak.
"I have a practice session. Want to watch?" Ava asked.
Matthew was about to answer when Rick, Jay, and Felix approached their table.
"My baby! My poor baby!"
Felix's voice carried over the surrounding chatter before he even reached them.
Several students nearby glanced over.
Felix didn't care.
He walked straight to Matthew, dropped into the seat beside him, then immediately threw himself across Matthew's lap and wrapped both arms around him.
"My poor baby was bullied!" Felix whined dramatically. "You should have called me, Felix!"
Matthew looked down at him.
"Get off."
Felix only tightened his arms around him.
Rick pulled out a chair and sat across from Matthew, while Jay took the remaining space beside Ava.
Around them, the cafeteria continued moving.
A server placed a tray of desserts on a nearby table.
A group of students stood at one of the food counters debating what to order, while others carried their meals toward empty seats.
A few students who recognized Felix's dramatic entrance laughed under their breath.
"Felix, stop being so dramatic," Rick said.
He reached across the table, picked up the plate of steak Matthew had left beside him, and casually started eating from it.
"Anyway, the two girls have already been expelled. If you want revenge, just pay students at whatever school they enter to make their lives hell."
He took another bite.
"They wanted to bully someone? Let them see what it's like."
"No need," Ava said casually.
She picked up her drink.
"I've already made sure of that."
Felix finally lifted his head from Matthew's shoulder.
"You did?"
Ava smiled.
"Of course."
Matthew sighed.
"Felix, get off me."
When Felix ignored him, Matthew lightly knocked him on the head with his knuckles.
"Ouch!"
Felix finally released him, rubbing the spot dramatically.
"You've become so heartless."
Felix got up and finally sat down properly.
"So you spent twenty-four billion CU dollars. Let us celebrate!"
He pressed his two index fingers together, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Yes! Yes! Our dorm has a rich sponsor!"
Rick immediately joined in, raising a fist.
"Let's go!"
Felix grinned, clearly already imagining what they could spend the money on.
Before anyone could continue, a voice came from the cafeteria entrance.
"Ava, let's go!"
Everyone turned.
Jake was leaning casually against the wall beside the entrance, while Luna stood nearby, tapping her phone before looking up at Ava.
Ava glanced at her phone and rested her head against one palm.
"Oh."
She looked toward Matthew.
"Me and my friends had something planned. We're going to watch the flowers bloom."
"The flowers?" Felix asked.
"Wait." His expression changed. "Isn't that in Eldoria City?"
Ava nodded.
Felix's eyes widened.
"That's a tourism site, isn't it? I heard every ticket was already sold."
He leaned forward, suddenly interested.
"The flowers only bloom once every twenty years, right? There are only a hundred of them in that enormous lake. And when they bloom, they eventually die. Then thousands of those rare glass butterflies from different parts of the world come and land on the flowers."
Several students nearby had begun listening.
One student whispered to his friend, "They're talking about the Eldoria Bloom."
"Seriously? That's today?"
Another student immediately pulled out his phone.
Felix continued, completely invested in his explanation.
"And when the butterflies finally leave, new flowers grow, but only a few survive. Scientists have been working for years to increase their survival rate. It went from ten flowers to fifteen, then five, then twenty, fifty, and now they've finally managed to get it up to a hundred."
He shook his head.
"That's why everyone booked everything. The hotels, the mountain viewing points, the shoreline, the boats—everything. People even booked private viewing areas months in advance."
He looked at Ava.
"So how are you supposed to get in?"
Ava shrugged.
"We're using helicopters."
"Isn't flying around the area restricted?" Jay tilted his head as he asked.
Ava picked up her bag.
"Not if you're a Quinn baby."
She gave them a cheerful wave.
"Bye, guys."
She walked over to Matthew and leaned down, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
She turned to leave.
Then she paused.
As if she'd just remembered something, Ava turned around and walked back.
She placed a set of sports-car keys in Matthew's hand.
"Drive home, sugar baby Use that."
Matthew stared at the keys.
"Using your grandpa's car to please me. What a prodigal child."
He rubbed the spot on his cheek where she'd kissed him and gave her a sideways glance.
Ava laughed.
"You're welcome."
Then she walked out of the cafeteria with Jake and Luna.
The day passed quickly it was the next day Ava and her crew went to Eldoria city for the flower bloom then stayed in hotel on Tuesday morning ,Ava was already in Eldoria City.
She stepped into one of the private dining rooms of a five-star hotel, and the first thing that stood out wasn't the dining table.
The room was practically a private luxury suite.
The dining area occupied the center of the room, with a long polished table surrounded by comfortable upholstered chairs.
Soft pendant lights hung above it, casting a warm glow over the space without making the room feel overly bright.
Along one wall was a fully stocked private bar, complete with glass shelves displaying expensive bottles, crystal glasses, a built-in refrigerator, and a small counter where drinks could be prepared without anyone needing to leave the room.
Behind a discreet sliding door was a personal kitchen.
It wasn't enormous, but it had everything needed for private dining—a professional stove, ovens, refrigerators, preparation counters, sinks, storage cabinets, and enough space for a private chef to prepare an entire meal without being disturbed.
Another section of the room was designed purely for relaxing.
Several deep couches and low lounge chairs surrounded a polished coffee table, creating a comfortable sitting area that faced the balcony.
The balcony doors stretched almost from floor to ceiling.
Beyond them was a wide view of Eldoria City, with the city's buildings spreading into the distance beneath the afternoon sky.
Farther away, the landscape opened toward the famous areas surrounding the lake where the rare flowers would eventually bloom.
Near the lounge area was a shallow koi pond built directly into the floor.
Clear water flowed quietly through the stone-lined pond while colorful koi moved lazily beneath the surface.
Small decorative rocks and greenery surrounded the edges, making the entire corner feel more like a private garden than part of a hotel room.
Jake was already there.
He was sprawled comfortably across one of the couches facing the balcony, one arm resting along the backrest.
A bottle of expensive wine sat open on the low table in front of him, with a half-filled glass within reach.
Jake had gone for a casual but stylish look.
He wore a loose black short-sleeved shirt with the top buttons left open, paired with relaxed dark-gray trousers that fell neatly over his sneakers.
A simple silver chain rested against his collarbone, while a sleek watch sat around his wrist.
Nothing about the outfit looked like he had tried too hard.
That was probably the point.
The door opened.
Jake glanced toward it.
Ava walked inside.
She wore a short-sleeved white button-up blouse covered in tiny red heart prints. The pointed collar and deep V-neckline gave the fitted top a playful but polished appearance, while the fitted waist emphasized her silhouette.
A dark washed-black denim mini skirt sat high on her waist.
Its layered ruffles flared outward in several tiers, giving the skirt a bouncy, voluminous shape whenever she moved.
A sleek black faux-leather shoulder bag rested against her side.
Her chunky black patent-leather Mary Jane shoes had thick platform soles, heavy block heels, and a front strap, adding a bold edge to the otherwise sweet outfit.
Slouchy white ribbed leg warmers were gathered loosely around her shins and ankles above the shoes.
Around her neck hung a delicate silver chain with a tiny blue diamond heart pendant resting against her collarbone.
Her fiery red hair had been gathered into a high, messy-chic bun at the crown of her head.
Two thick, straight strands had been left loose at the front, framing her face perfectly, while several textured ends escaped from the bun.
A medium-sized black satin ribbon was tied around its base.
Her heart-shaped face looked soft beneath the styling.
Her naturally full brows were slightly arched, while long, defined lashes framed her eyes.
A thin black winged liner sharpened the corners of her eyes, contrasting with the glossy soft-pink tint on her lips.
The overall effect was stylish and classy.
Ava closed the door behind her and walked farther into the room.
Jake lifted his wine glass.
"Finally here."
"Where are the others?" Ava asked as she sat down.
"Jay and Jordan already left for Velmora City. Luna is staying here until tomorrow, so the helicopter taking us to the airport will return to the hotel afterward. Luna can use it to go home tomorrow. We're taking the private plane," Jake explained.
Ava settled deeper into the couch.
"Sure. I'll have breakfast on the plane."
"The all-girls school is coming today, right?" Jake asked.
"Yeah. They want an introduction between the students participating in their school and ours. Everyone competing is supposed to meet before the events begin," Ava said.
Jake raised an eyebrow as he took another sip of his wine.
"The you-know-who is going to be there?"
His eyes gleamed with amusement. He already knew the drama waiting for them.
"Oh, yeah."Ava's expression didn't change.
"Luna already told me that bitch is among the students. She clearly didn't get my warning."
"Maybe she thinks you were joking," Jake said with a chuckle. "Or she thinks you only did what you did because she was the reason your ex-boyfriend broke up with you, so now she's feeling superior."
He shook his head.
"She probably forgot the real reason you did all that was because of what she and her family did. Jordan would probably kill her if he knew she was coming back."
Jake's smile widened.
"That would actually be fun to watch."
His phone suddenly pinged.
He glanced down at the notification.
"Oh. The helicopter is ready."
He stood and straightened his shirt.
"Let's go."
Ava picked up her bag and followed him toward the elevator.
As the doors closed behind them, Jake glanced at her.
"Oh, right. Did you know your cousin Sophia paid a detective to investigate Matthew?"
Ava's brows lifted.
"What did she find?"
Jake looked at her with exaggerated disbelief.
"You claim to love him, yet you don't even know anything about him."
Ava folded her arms.
"I don't believe in digging into someone's private life. That's not giving them a sense of privacy, and it's breaking whatever little trust we have. He has the right to decide what he wants me to know."
Jake snorted.
"Oh, shut it, Ava. If you were given the chance, you'd turn on stalker mode just for the fun of it."
"Believe what you want to believe."
Ava leaned against the elevator wall.
"Anyway, I'm too lazy to investigate someone's life. It's not like we're dating or anything."
She shrugged.
"It's not even that serious. I'm having fun, and he's getting entertained from his boring life. If he hadn't paid attention to me, I would've eventually resorted to kidnapping." A smile slowly spread across her face.
"So much for respecting his right to do whatever he wants." Jake mocked "Anyway, as I was saying..."
Ava glanced at him.
"Sophia sent an investigation team after Matthew. And guess what?"
Jake's expression turned amused again.
"The investigator I sent to monitor the results literally received a death notice yesterday."
Ava's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Seriously?"
"Not just him." jake lifted his phone.
"Every hacker working under me received the same letter."
He clicked his tongue.
"That's a direct threat."
He slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"Not that I was investigating Matthew. I was investigating Sophia."
Jake shrugged.
"Sophia sent people to investigate him, so I had my people monitor her investigation instead. Matthew didn't do anything to Sophia or her hackers. He only gave them a blank report."
He laughed under his breath.
"But I got threatened."
Jake shook his head.
"He really must not like me."
Ava smiled.
"You're not exactly likable."
Jake gave her an offended look.
"And he doesn't really like you either," Ava continued casually. "He's possessive. He wants someone's full attention even if he doesn't return that attention himself."
She tilted her head, thinking.
"That's just how he is. It's as natural to him as breathing. He's used to having attention. He doesn't share so when I agree to be friends he wants full attention."
Ava's eyes suddenly sparkled.
"So yeah, he doesn't like you."
She smiled brightly.
"But damn, my crush is really worthy of being my crush."
Jake stared at her.
"You say that about every guy who plays hard to get."He said completely matter-of-fact.
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped onto the rooftop.
The sound of the helicopter blades immediately filled the air.
A sleek private helicopter waited on the landing pad, its rotors already turning as the crew stood nearby.
Ava's hair fluttered wildly in the wind as she walked toward it with Jake.
She raised one hand to keep the loose strands away from her face.
Jake glanced at her.
This is on Sunday chapter I will send Monday chapter too