Rebirth: Love me Again

Chapter 203 A Collision with Danger

[IRAYA]

The color drained from his face. Kylie glanced between us, clearly unsettled by the tension.

"Iraya, it's just food. You don't have to be so dramatic about it," Kylie said with a hint of irritation. "Besides, isn't Jason the one who's paying for it anyway?"

But Jason only raised a hand to silence her, his expression hardening.

"I don't understand what's wrong with you today, but you'd better fix it," Jason hissed, leaning closer so only I could hear. "Do you want everyone to think you're crazy? Is that what you want?"

I held his gaze, unflinching. "What I want," I said slowly, "is for you to stop pretending to be someone you're not. But we both know that's never going to happen."

Before Jason could speak, I stood up, forcing a bright smile at the two of them. "I'll go get lunch," I said cheerfully, as if nothing happened.

Kylie's face lit up, her smile wide and sweet. "Thank you, Iraya! I'll pay you back when you return," she said, her tone dripping with practiced sincerity.

Jason, leaning back lazily in his chair, chuckled. "Oh, come on, Kylie. You don't have to. It's my treat. You have my credit card, right babe?" His words were casual, but his gaze was sharp, daring me to challenge him.

I said nothing. Instead, I plastered on another smile and turned to leave.

I hadn't made it far when their hushed voices floated to my ears.

"What's up with Iraya today?" Kylie asked, her tone laced with genuine confusion. "She seemed so different . . . Could she have known . . .?"

Jason's laugh was low and dismissive. "Don't worry about her. We had a little argument earlier, and, well . . . you know how girls get. It's probably just that time of the month," he said smugly.

The sound of Kylie smacking his arm, followed by her light, tinkling laughter, made my stomach churn.

"Jason, you're so bad," she teased, her giggle melting into flirtatious giggles.

They didn't care that their display was in broad daylight, in front of everyone.

He turned away, pulling out his phone with the ease of someone who had all the time in the world. "Deliver me a shirt. Now," he ordered, his tone deep and commanding, before hanging up without waiting for a response.

Then, as if the incident wasn't humiliating enough, he casually peeled off his wet shirt right there in the hallway.

Time seemed to slow as his toned, chiseled chest came into view. I swear the collective gasp from the girls around us was loud enough to shake the walls. His muscles rippled under the fluorescent lights, his every movement oozing power and confidence.

Without sparing me another glance, he tossed the wet shirt in my direction. It landed in my hands like an unwanted burden.

"I don't need this trash anymore," he said, his voice cold and dismissive, before turning on his heel and striding away.

The hallway erupted in whispers the moment he disappeared from view.

My face burned as I clutched the damp shirt to my chest, my mind spinning. What had just happened?

Leander De Santis—the rumored heir to a mafia empire, the boy everyone in school was too terrified to cross—had just called his shirt trash and left it with me.

I bolted out of the hallway, my heart racing as I reached my car. Once inside, I clutched the steering wheel, trying to steady my breathing.

"It's fine. It's fine," I muttered, my voice shaky. "He's not going to do anything . . . right? I mean, those rumors can't be true. They're just stories. Aren't they? He's not really a mafia prince."

The rumors I meant were about students mysteriously vanishing—those unfortunate enough to cross paths with him. Whether it was a simple accident like bumping into him or provoking his ire in the slightest way, they were never seen or heard from again. Continue your journey on empire

But then, my gaze fell to the shirt still in my hands. I hesitated before turning it over, and my stomach dropped when I spotted the tag.

Brioni.

The shirt cost at least $1000 and he called it trash and casually threw it away.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "Great. Just great."

What had I gotten myself into now?