Chapter 1

"Mr. Johnson! Alice Bailey and Clara Smith got into a fight!" A student burst into the office, yelling at Oliver.

Hearing those two familiar names, Oliver's face twisted in frustration.

"Ugh, Alice again? That girl’s always stirring up trouble. What a pain!"

Oliver stomped down the hallway, fuming.

The hallway was packed with students, and there was Alice, holding a stick in one hand and pinning Clara against the wall with the other, demanding Clara admit she was wrong.

Seeing this, Oliver yelled, "Alice, let her go right now!"

He rushed over, pulling Alice and Clara apart, glaring at Alice. "Fighting at school? You went too far!"

Without even asking what happened, Oliver started lecturing Alice, totally ignoring the red slap mark on her face and her messy hair, yanked by Clara.

Clara, seeing her chance, put on a pitiful face and started crying. "Mr. Johnson, thank goodness you're here."

Alice just looked down, her eyes blank, like she hadn’t just been in a fight.

Oliver comforted Clara, "Clara, don’t worry. I’ll take care of this!"

He barked, "Alice, to the office, now!"

Alice didn’t say a word. She glanced around, then silently followed Oliver, while Clara smirked, her eyes full of triumph.

In the Ivywood University office, Oliver sat fuming in his chair, staring at Alice who stood against the wall. After a sip of tea, he started nagging again, "Alice, how many times have you been in here? School just started, and you’re already a regular!"

Alice pressed her lips together, staying silent, not reacting to Oliver’s questions.

Getting more frustrated, Oliver suddenly remembered something and a smile crept onto his face. He turned to Clara, who was sitting in a chair, and asked, "Clara, are you hurt bad? Need to go to the medical room?"

Clara was holding a mirror, looking at the scratches on her face from Alice pinning her against the wall.

Clara’s face was scratched up, while Alice, aside from looking a bit messy, was fine!

Clara clenched her fists, glaring at Alice before saying, "No need. I’ll tell cousin, David everything. Today’s injuries are all Alice’s fault, nothing to do with the school!"

Oliver nodded quickly, relieved.

Clara stood up and walked towards Alice, while Oliver pretended not to notice.

Clara sneered, "Alice, what makes you so proud?"

Clara's face twisted with jealousy. "So what if you aced the entrance exams? You're still just an illegitimate brat!"

Even though Alice was an unknown illegitimate child, she got to move into David's house because her grandpa, Lucas Bailey, doted on her.

David was the golden boy, and this chick didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as him!

Clara remembered the scene she saw when she visited David during the summer and wished she could rip Alice’s face off!

Clara spat, "Bitch!"

Alice looked up at Clara, her face blank, but her eyes, cold and empty, sent chills down Clara's spine.

"Say that again." Alice's voice was calm, but it made Clara shudder.

It was a deep-seated fear of Alice.

Clara didn’t know why Alice scared her so much. She stammered, "A-Alice, what are you gonna do?"

Alice didn’t respond but turned to look out the window. Someone was coming.

Clara muttered "monster" under her breath, but then, as if thinking of something, she clawed at her arm, drawing blood, her eyes showing a hint of malice.

The office door opened, and a guy in a black trench coat stood at the entrance. His hair barely covered his eyebrows, and his handsome features could make any girl swoon. His cold demeanor added a layer of mystery to him.

"David!" Clara's eyes lit up at the sight of David.

Oliver quickly stood up, smiling like a welcome mat.

"Mr. Tudor, sorry to bother you, but this situation is pretty serious, so we had to call you..." Oliver explained what had happened, putting all the blame on Alice and making Clara out to be the innocent victim.

David said nothing, walked straight to Alice, and looked into the defiant girl's eyes. He seemed to sigh almost imperceptibly.

Clara walked to David's side, biting her lip and tearing up. "David, you have no idea how outrageous Alice is. The school just started, and she fought around, damaging public property, and now she's using violence against classmates. I couldn't stand it today and tried to stop her, but she hit me instead. Look!"

Clara extended her arm, "She scratched my arm like this!"

Oliver seized the moment, "Mr. Tudor, rest assured. We won't let this slide. Whether it's a suspension or expulsion, which do you think is better..."

From the moment he entered, David hadn't said a word.

But hearing Oliver's last sentence, he looked up, and Oliver, who had been chattering non-stop, instantly fell silent at David's gaze.

A cold shiver ran down Oliver's spine, but a bizarre thought crossed his mind, 'Why did Alice's gaze resemble David's so much?'

The room fell quiet. David looked at Alice and said in a cold voice, "Come here."

Seeing David's reaction, Clara couldn't help but feel excited. It was clear that David was angry! Alice was done for!

Alice, who had been hanging her head, didn't react. David's voice softened a bit, but his words stayed icy. "Don't make me say it again."

Alice stiffened and slowly walked over to David, keeping some distance.

"Look up," David ordered.

Alice bit her lip, a flash of impatience in her eyes, and looked up.

The glaring slap mark on her cheek immediately caught David's eye.

David's eyes turned cold as he demanded, "Who hit you?"

Alice glanced at Clara and pointed at her without hesitation.

Clara panicked, fearing her true self would be exposed before David, and quickly explained, "David, it was an accident! She hit me, and I accidentally slapped her while struggling. I didn't mean to!"

David demanded, "Apologize."

Clara was stunned for a moment, then gave Alice a smug smile.

Everyone was waiting for Alice to apologize, but to their surprise, David suddenly said, "Clara, apologize."

Everyone was shocked.

Clara's eyes widened in disbelief. "David, what are you saying? She bullied me, and my arm is scratched by her. You want me to apologize to her?"

David questioned, "Didn't you slap her face?"

Clara was at a loss for words, biting her lip in reluctance.

Oliver, fearing he hadn't made himself clear and that David had misunderstood, was about to speak when David glanced at Clara. Clara shivered, clutching her skirt tightly, and reluctantly said, "I'm sorry."

David looked at Alice, who ignored him. He coughed lightly, his eyes showing a mix of helplessness and a hint of indulgence.

Alice also said reluctantly, "Well, I'm sorry too."

David turned to Oliver, who was about to speak, but David said, "If my kid hits someone again, call me, her guardian. I'll handle it personally, so you don't have to trouble yourself, Mr. Johnson."

"Yes," Oliver said, frightened, and waved his hand quickly, "I didn't consider it thoroughly."

"If there's nothing else, I'll take her home for some education," David said expressionlessly.

Oliver glanced at Clara and quickly said, "Alright, no problem."

"Wait," Alice suddenly spoke up.

Oliver looked at Alice in a panic, fearing she would reveal how he had made things difficult for her.

David turned to look at her.

Alice extended her hand and said, "Five hundred dollars."

David raised an eyebrow, amused. "What for?"

Alice replied, "Vandalism, compensation of five hundred dollars."

Alice's eyes were fixed on David, as if she wouldn't leave without the money.

"You..."

With David present, Oliver didn't dare get angry at Alice, "Clara didn't damage any property. Why should Mr. Tudor pay? You should be the one paying."

As he spoke, David had already taken out his wallet and handed five hundred dollars to Alice.

Alice turned and slapped the money on Oliver's desk.

Oliver was startled, but Alice grinned, her face showing a mischievous delight.

Oliver was confused, not yet understanding.

"Mr. Johnson, you're getting old and might not understand." Alice pointed to David and then to herself, "He is my guardian."

Oliver was dumbfounded, and Clara's eyes widened in shock. She blurted out, "Impossible!"

David had no intention of explaining to anyone. He patted Alice's head indulgently, his face expressionless, but the slight curve of his lips showed that he was in a good mood. He asked, "Do you need any more compensation?"

With the five hundred dollars in hand, Oliver didn't want to ask for more, even if there was. He quickly shook his head, "No, no more."

David nodded slightly at Oliver and led Alice out of the office.

Even after they left, Clara couldn't react.

Clara wondered, 'David was Alice's guardian?'

Alice's parents weren't dead, and her grandfather was still alive. How could David be her guardian?

After leaving the office, perhaps realizing she had gone too far this time, Alice kept her head down, following David closely without saying a word or defending herself.

David suddenly stopped, and Alice bumped into his back, her nose hurting. She rubbed her nose.

Seeing her comical expression, David suppressed a laugh and said to Alice, "Alice, you're getting bolder, daring to fight at school!"

"It wasn't a fight. She couldn't even hit me," Alice muttered softly.

Seeing she slightly lowered her head in front of him, David laughed in exasperation, "You think you're justified?"

"Then you should ask Clara why she called me an illegitimate child..."

Alice looked at David defiantly, her nose red from the bump, and forced back the inevitable tears, her eyes red. She turned her head and said softly, "She deserved it."

Seeing Alice was defiant but pitiful, David sighed, unable to scold her.

David thought, 'Being a guardian is tough!'

He ruffled Alice's hair, "Don't do it again. Let's go home!"

Alice said nothing and followed, trailing David like a little tail.

People might think Alice was tender like a rabbit because of her pliant exterior, but one would realize that she was more like a wild cat, hard to be tamed. She would cause trouble if you didn't pay attention to her.

On the way, many people were discussing Alice, curious about the man walking in front of her. They spoke softly in curiosity.

"That's Alice... the fierce freshman. There's nothing she wouldn't do. Didn't someone on the campus forum say she cornered a classmate in the girls' bathroom and demanded money?"

"Wow, that's disgusting! She looks pretty, but I didn't expect her to be like that! Who's the man walking in front of her?"

"I know, I know! He's David from the prestigious Tudor family in Aurora City! But how could such an outstanding man be with Alice?"

Alice caught some murmurs floating around. She glanced up at the tall, confident figure striding ahead and couldn't help but wonder how a guy like David ended up as her fiancé.

David, catching bits of the chatter, just grinned, clearly in a good mood.

He thought, 'This wildcat acts all sweet and innocent in front of me, but the second I'm not looking, she shows her claws.'

But David didn't hold it against Alice for her school antics.

Alice wasn't one to start fights. If she was throwing punches, someone definitely deserved it.

David totally trusted Alice's character and was glad she could handle herself, which meant less stress for him.

On the ride back, Alice stared out the window, lost in the passing scenery.

The soft evening light bathed Alice's profile. David didn't say a word, just quietly watched her.

Feeling his gaze, Alice got a bit flustered. She shot him a glare, then turned back to the window, determined to ignore him.

David found her little act amusing. He covered his mouth with his fist, trying not to laugh.

A few minutes later, the car pulled into the garage of a two-story villa.

Alice followed David inside.

David said, "Go chill on the couch for a bit."