French class was unusually lively that afternoon.
Elise sat near the window, flipping through her textbook when the girl beside her leaned closer.
"Excuse me," she said with a soft accent. "I'm Melisa. I just transferred from France. May I borrow your book? Mine hasn't arrived yet."
Elise smiled warmly. "Of course."
Melisa leaned over, taking the book with a grateful grin. "Merci."
Before Elise could react, Melisa pressed a quick, friendly kiss to her cheek — light, harmless, innocent.
"Thank you," Melisa said cheerfully, already turning back to her seat.
Elise blinked, surprised but amused. "You're welcome," she laughed softly.
Across the room, Silas saw everything.
The smile on his face vanished.
His fingers curled slowly into a fist as his eyes darkened, locked on Elise — then shifted to Melisa. Something cold and possessive twisted behind his gaze.
That kiss hadn't meant anything.
But to Silas, it meant everything.
Two days later, the school changed.
Sirens echoed through the campus early that morning. Classes were delayed. Teachers whispered. Students gathered in frightened clusters.
Elise felt dread coil in her stomach as Patricia grabbed her arm.
"Something happened," she whispered. "They found a student."
Elise's breath caught.
It was Melisa.
The details were never spoken aloud — only that she had been found behind the old science wing, alone. No violence was described. No explanations given.
Just silence.
And a note.
The principal read it in a shaken voice to the authorities, but somehow the words still spread.
"You were never supposed to touch her.
She is only mine."
Elise's world tilted.
Her legs gave way, and Davon caught her before she hit the ground.
"This is my fault," she whispered, shaking. "That kiss— I didn't— I didn't mean—"
Davon's jaw tightened as he held her close.
"This is not your fault," he said firmly — but his eyes burned with fury. "This is obsession."
Across the courtyard, hidden among the crowd, Silas watched Elise cry in Davon's arms.
And for the first time…
Davon looked directly back at him.