"Good luck," Felix threw at Matthew, half-amused, half-pitying as they slipped away.
Matthew didn't stop walking.
Ava pushed herself off the wall and walked straight toward him, closing the distance in a few easy steps.
She stopped right in front of him.
Without asking, she reached up and fixed his collar, her fingers brushing lightly against the fabric.
Matthew stepped back.
Her hand paused in the air for a second before she slowly pulled it away, tilting her head at him.
"What do you want?" he asked, his tone flat, but his eyes stayed on her.
Ava raised a brow, then let out a soft scoff, slipping her hands into her pockets.
"What's with that tone?" she said, circling slightly to stand in front of him again. "You don't like seeing me here?"
She leaned in just a little, looking up at him.
"I thought you said you wanted me around," she continued, voice lighter now. "You know… to keep you company. To block your admirers so you don't have to deal with them yourself."
She took another step closer, closing the gap he created earlier.
"I'd be your shield," she added, smiling faintly. "Taking all the attention, all the hate… doing the hard work for you."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"So the least you can do…" she said softly, her smile widening just a bit, "is smile for me. For all the effort I'm putting in."
Matthew watched her for a second, then exhaled quietly, already turning his head away like he was done.
"You're angry," he said, voice low, almost bored. "And there's a ninety-nine percent chance you'll say something stupid next. Let's talk another day."
He moved to walk past her—
Ava shifted, stepping right into his path again.
"I'm not angry," she said, tilting her head, studying his face like she was trying to catch something he was hiding. "And I already thought about it."
She folded her arms loosely, one shoulder brushing the wall as she leaned back slightly.
"We're not dating," she continued. "I'm the one chasing you. You've told me to give up countless times?" A small smile tugged at her lips. "So I shouldn't be expecting anything sweet from you."
Matthew's eyes narrowed just a little.
"Did your friend tell you that?" he asked, a faint sneer slipping into his tone.
Ava blinked once
Then laughed.
Soft. Amused.
She pushed herself off the wall and stepped closer, closing the gap between them like it didn't matter.
"You mean Jake?" she said, stopping just short of him. "Yeah. We talked."
Her gaze lifted to meet his.
"What—are you jealous I talked to him?" she added, voice light but deliberate.
Matthew let out a quiet scoff, stepping forward instead of back this time , leaning closer to her just enough for their eyes to meet properly.
"Why would I be jealous?" he said. "We're not dating. If you want to hang around other people, that's your choice."
His voice dropped a little.
"And if I do the same—it's mine."
A brief pause.
Then his eyes sharpened, searching her face.
"But I'm curious," he added, "what did you decide?"
His presence pressed in, not loud, not aggressive—just there.
"Are you stopping… or continuing?"
Ava didn't step back.
Instead, her smile deepened, slower this time.
"I realized something," she said. "I took the wrong approach."
Her eyes flickered over his face, like she was memorizing it.
"I don't like you for your looks anymore."
A small pause.
"I'm interested in your attitude now."
She leaned in just a little.
"It's… interesting."
Her voice softened, but her eyes didn't.
"And I want to see you as mine," she added, almost casually. "I think that would be satisfying."
Matthew didn't react.
At least—not obviously.
"As for giving up?" she shrugged lightly. "What's that? Never heard of it."
Then she straightened slightly and lifted her hand for him to shake.
"So…" she said, smiling like this was the simplest thing in the world, "why don't we be friends?"
A beat.
"To get to know each other."
"Excuse me?" Matthew's brows lifted.
He slipped one hand into his pocket, letting out a low chuckle that didn't reach his eyes.
"You want to be friends… to get to know me?" he scoffed, tilting his head slightly at her.
"From chasing me to dating me—and now friendship?" He let out a short laugh. "Is that Jake's advice?"
Ava didn't even hesitate.
"Nope. Mine."
She lowered her raised hand slowly but didn't step back. If anything, she leaned in a little, like she was settling into the conversation instead of backing out of it.
"To be honest," she continued, her voice calmer now, "hearing what you and your friends said yesterday pissed me off."
Her eyes flickered, sharp for a second.
"But then I realized something." She tapped her chin lightly, like she was replaying it in her head. "I've never really been told no. And even when I was… people changed their minds eventually. Either willingly—or because I made them."
A small smile curved her lips.
"But you?" she said, looking straight at him. "You didn't."
Matthew's gaze didn't move.
"You didn't see me as a backup plan," she went on. "You didn't even see me as someone worth entertaining." A quiet breath left her. "More like… pest control."
She laughed softly.
"And somehow, that made you more interesting."
She stepped closer again, close enough that he could feel her presence without her touching him as he stood straight.
"That calm, sweet, cool guy image?" she added. "Yeah… I don't buy it anymore."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"It felt fake. Like a door you keep closed your personality of now seem like a door hiding your real one you are not even faking it you just don't want people closer."
A beat.
"So why not be friends?" she said, lifting her hand again between them, palm open this time. "Win-win. I keep your admirers away… and I get to know what's actually behind that door."
Matthew looked at her hand.
Then at her.
Unimpressed.
"You went from liking me to wanting to be friends because of some 'hidden personality' you imagined?" he said quietly. "That's not just a waste of my time and your logic is twisted."
He took a step closer, his height forcing her to tilt her head up again.
"I'm not a toy," he added, voice dropping. "And what makes you think I'd accept?"
His gaze sharpened.
"There are plenty of girls willing to chase my admirers away if I just smile at them," he continued. "So tell me—what makes you special, Ava?"
The air between them tightened.
Ava didn't flinch.
he smiled almost amused.
"I'm glad you got more interested in me," he said lightly. "At least one of us benefited."
His eyes met her, steady.
"But I'm disappointed," he added. "You bruised an ego and now you think I'll just bend however you want?"
"What do you think I am?" he murmured. "You get to like me, hate me, push me away, pull me close… and I just follow along?"
His hand moved fingers gripping her chin, lifting it slightly.
"Is it because i've been smiling too much at me?" he said quietly.
Ava's smile didn't break.
If anything, it deepened.
"I like this side of you," she said softly. "It's… delicious."
Her fingers trailed up, brushing lightly along his jaw and he bit her finger.
Not hard enough to injure.
Just enough to stop her.
Ava paused.
Then laughed under her breath, pulling her hand back, rubbing the spot like it amused her more than it hurt.
"I still want to be friends," she said, eyes glinting. "And I mean it."
A slight tilt of her head.
"And I never said I'd stop chasing you," she added casually. "From day one, I told you I liked your face. I never sugarcoated it."
She leaned back slightly now, giving him just enough space.
"But now?" she smiled. "Your personality is way more interesting."
Matthew let go of her completely.
"Keep your ego outside," she finished lightly.
He stared at her for a second.
Then scoffed.
"I'm too much of a diva for that."
And just like that, he turned and walked past her.
Ava stood there for a moment, rubbing the spot on her finger where he bit her
Then she chuckled softly to herself.
Later in the evening, the gala was in full swing at one of the city's most prestigious art galleries.
The building itself was a sleek architectural masterpiece: soaring glass walls, steel beams polished to a mirror shine, and vaulted ceilings that reflected golden chandeliers like liquid light.
Marble floors stretched underfoot, cool and glossy, lined with abstract sculptures on pedestals, each spotlighted to emphasize their curves and textures.
Paintings hung in careful symmetry along the walls, a mix of modern impressionism and classical realism.
The crowd was an elegant sea of the elite: CEOs married into industry dynasties, celebrated actors and musicians, political families, and their teens, some still in high school, others freshly graduated and experimenting with their first taste of society. Conversations buzzed—strategic alliances whispered over champagne flutes, laughter ringing as old friends reunited, and careful glances exchanged over particularly rare pieces of art.
Waiters in crisp black tuxedos and white gloves glided through the crowd, balancing trays of delicate hors d'oeuvres and sparkling drinks, while waitresses in sleek, flowing black dresses moved with quiet grace, catching crumbs or spills before they touched the floor.
Ava stood near a marble statue, her eyes tracing the curves of the sculpted figure.
She wore a strapless bandeau-style top in soft pastel blue, cropped just above her mid-torso, the smooth fabric hugging her bust and ribs with a gentle sheen.
Her white palazzo pants flowed wide and airy, made from lightweight material that moved with her slightest shift, high-waisted to elongate her legs.
A soft, unstructured light-blue hobo bag hung mid-hip, slouchy and effortless, complementing her crisp white sneakers with chunky low-top soles peeking from beneath the hem of her trousers.
On her wrist, a delicate pearl-and-ruby bracelet caught the light, matched with a subtle ruby pendant around her neck. Her red hair was half-pinned with pearl and crystal hairpins, the rest cascading in soft waves down her back, glimmering like fire in the gallery lights.
Even among this elite crowd, Ava drew attention.
People would pause mid-conversation to glance at her, as if a figure from a dream had wandered into the room. Her natural red hair, a rarity here, set her apart from the sea of golden and dark tones, lending her an ethereal, almost otherworldly presence.
"Why the hell are you brooding?" a smooth, familiar voice asked behind her.
Luis stepped beside her, a vision of siren-like allure.
He wore a perfectly tailored sapphire-blue shirt tucked into crisp white trousers, the lines sharp and impeccably stylish.
White leather shoes gleamed under the chandelier light, polished to perfection. In one hand, he held a phone encased in soft blue leather, dotted with tiny pearls, and a ruby bracelet glinted subtly on his wrist.
Amber cat-like eyes—his father's gift—scanned the crowd, sharp and captivating.
Unlike Ava's deer-like, goddess aura, which enchanted softly and delicately, Luis carried a magnetic charm that was impossible to ignore: a siren's beauty that drew attention with the slightest movement, a presence that left people spellbound.
"Luis, get out," Ava said without even glancing at her brother, her tone sharp but playful.
"Mom's calling both of us, that's why I'm here, dear sister," Luis replied with a teasing smile, leaning slightly on one leg.
"Beautiful statue. Must have a story behind it. Look at the eyes—they hold love. Must've had a good life story… unlike you. Let me guess—you were rejected? I thought so. He'd have been a fool if he had gone with you."
Ava stepped deliberately on his foot. "Shut it! You might be taller, but I'm the senior—I will punch you," she said, giving him a pointed glare as she scanned him up and down.
"How tall are you now?" she asked.
"Six-one. And still growing. What about it?" Luis answered, his smirk widening.
"You're just as tall as my handsome, but he's better than you," Ava said, pouting slightly.
"Stick with those your height, shorty," Luis teased, voice low and mischievous.
Ava gave him the middle finger, spinning on her heel to head into the second hall, where food, entertainment, and the social elite were gathered.
The second hall was alive with chatter and movement.
Crystal chandeliers reflected off golden accents on the walls. Waiters glided through the crowd with silver trays of canapés, while champagne flutes sparkled under the warm light.
Groups clustered near modern sculptures, laughing and making subtle connections, their conversation punctuated by the occasional click of a camera capturing another "perfect gala moment."
Ava and Luis soon found their mother, Emily, surrounded by familiar faces.
She wore a blouse identical in shade to Ava's, paired with a white long-fit maxi skirt embroidered in golden threads that traced elegant patterns along the hem and waist—perfectly fitted without being restrictive. Her red hair was styled in a messy bun, studded with delicate crystal hairpins that glimmered in the light.
A ruby pendant rested against her collarbone, complemented by a delicate pearl bracelet.
Beside her, Nathan stood tall in a custom-made suit deep sapphire blue with white accents along the lapel and cuffs, perfectly tailored to highlight his broad shoulders and trim waist.
Emily's eyes lit up when she saw her children. "My babies!" she said, kissing their cheeks warmly.
"This must be your daughter and son—I've heard so much about them," the mayor's wife said with a gracious smile.
"Indeed," Emily replied, a soft pride in her voice. "These two are my prize and joy. I let them pursue what they truly love. Luis, he adores studying, but any hobby must be his choice. As for Ava, she's less interested in academics, but her passion for art is boundless. She can play multiple instruments, sing, dance—she even designs. Her spirit is… endless," Emily said, her smile radiant.
"Clearly following in her mother's footsteps," Nathan added smoothly, nodding toward
Ava with quiet pride.
Ava glanced at him and smiled, appreciating her parents' effortless confidence and warmth in the sea of high-society faces.
"I went to Ava's school last week for their class competition," the mayor added, nodding approvingly.
"I have to say, your daughter's performance in shooting, swimming, and archery was impressive. Even the higher-ups in attendance were taken aback by her skill."
Emily's eyes gleamed with pride. "Well, we know how they learned at our house. Ava trained under her godfather, the Grand General," she said smoothly.
The mayor and his wife exchanged subtle glances, silently acknowledging a mutual interest in strengthening ties with Emily's family.
Ava stretched lightly and whispered, "I'm feeling parched. Why don't we get some wine?"
"Silly girl," Emily said with a soft laugh, shaking her head. "If you'll excuse us, we'll take our leave." She moved gracefully toward the bar with Nathan and Luis in tow, the trio weaving seamlessly through clusters of elite guests, their presence commanding quiet attention without effort.
"The new mayor is doing everything he can to get closer to the elite," Nathan said, swirling the wine in his glass.
"He's looking for support," Emily added, taking a delicate sip, "and trying to integrate more hybrids into the city."
"Smart choice," Nathan continued, "considering top hidden family organizations, prestigious households, and even elite-class hybrids are starting to break standards—"
"You mean the new ones," Emily corrected with a small smile.
Ava rolled her eyes. "Will you guys stop talking about that stuff?"
"Talk about Ava's failed love life instead," Luis said slyly, nudging her with his elbow.
"Failed crush," Nathan said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "First crush failure runs in the family. Don't give up—you can always… use force."
"You can stalk him, just like I stalked your father," Emily chimed in, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Or blackmail him. Make some reason to appear in his life. Act like the hero saving the damsel—you be the hero, he be the damsel."luis added
"I told him, 'Let's just be friends,'" Ava said, shrugging nonchalantly, as the family went quiet, processing her confession.
"You are more stupid than I thought," Luis muttered.
"So you friend-zoned yourself? That's what I'm hearing?" Emily said, raising an eyebrow.
"No wonder he rejected you," Nathan added. "Who doesn't know once you're in the friend zone, you're stuck there forever?"
"Because I want to get to know him better. I could date him, but I know I'd get tired. His face isn't the only thing I'm attracted to," Ava said firmly, her gaze unwavering.
"I don't have advice for that," Emily said, smirking. "I stalked your father too, and later got rejected. Next thing I knew, we had a flash marriage and all that drama."
"Yes, it was romantic," Nathan said with a chuckle. "You should ask your grandma about the friend zone—she's got tips."
With that, Emily and Nathan walked away, blending into the crowd to enjoy the gala. Luis took a slow sip of his drink, his amber eyes flicking across the room, just as Luna approached to speak with him.