Chapter 4

During lunch break, Selena walked into the noisy cafeteria, gripping Lily’s lunchbox tighter than she meant to. The room buzzed with laughter, clattering trays, and the sharp scent of fries and grease. She scanned the entrance again, waiting for the delivery guy who was already late.

Any minute now, she told herself.

That was when Ella’s sharp voice cut through the noise.

“Oh my God… what is that?”

Selena’s stomach dropped.

Ella had spotted the lunchbox.

The pink-and-blue container looked innocent enough in Selena’s hands but the moment Ella’s eyes locked onto it, a slow, cruel smile curved her lips. Like a predator spotting prey.

At the far table, Ryan noticed it too.

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, stiffening in his seat.

Lucas leaned forward, eyes lighting up. “Damn, I knew she was a freak, but I didn’t realize she was that kinky.”

A few people nearby snickered.

Ryan shot him a warning look. “Lucas.”

But Lucas was already enjoying himself. “What do you reckon she’s got in there?” he said loudly, grinning. “Sex toys? Whips? Maybe a—”

Selena rolled her eyes, refusing to shrink. Slowly, deliberately, she walked straight toward Ryan’s table.

The chatter quieted as heads turned.

Ryan didn’t move. His jaw clenched.

She stopped right in front of him.

“Ryan,” she said lightly, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You left your lunch at home.”

The table went silent.

“What the hell?” Ella snapped, standing halfway. “That’s not Ryan’s.”

“Yes, it is,” Selena replied calmly.

She turned the lunchbox around and held it up.

“See?” she said sweetly. “Ryan Stone.”

Ella’s eyes widened as she read the name printed clearly on the side.

Ryan’s stomach twisted.

Selena. Fucking. Moore, he thought, fury and panic colliding.

“Why is your last name on that lunchbox?” Ella demanded, looking between them.

Ryan stood slowly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“I owe no one an explanation,” he said coldly. “And last I checked, I’m not the only Stone in the world.”

Lucas laughed nervously. “Why do you look so tense, man? Is that actually yours?”

That was it.

In one sharp movement, Ryan grabbed Lucas by the collar, slammed him hard against the wall. The cafeteria gasped.

“Shut. Up,” Ryan growled.

Before anyone could react further, a voice echoed near the entrance.

“Lily Stone!”

Ryan froze.

Selena’s breath caught.

The delivery man waved the second lunchbox in the air.

“Lunch delivery for Lily Stone!”

The room erupted.

“Lily Stone?” Ella repeated slowly. “Isn’t that your little sister’s name?”

Her eyes snapped to Selena. “Why does the scholarship slut have it?”

Selena lifted her chin.

“I’m actually the nanny for Lily,” she said calmly.

The room went dead silent.

Then she smiled slow, deliberate. and added,

“And Ryan.”

The cafeteria exploded with laughter.

Whispers. Mocking. Phones lifted.

Ryan snapped.

“That’s enough!” he shouted. “You are not my nanny!”

Before Selena could react, Ryan stormed forward, hoisted her over his shoulder like dead weight, and carried her straight out of the cafeteria.

Gasps followed them.

The humiliation burned.

He carried her straight to the locker room hallway and set her down roughly.

“How dare you carry me like that?” Selena snapped, shoving his shoulder.

“How dare you tell everyone you’re my nanny?” Ryan shot back.

They stood chest to chest, anger crackling between them.

“Our deal included you not bullying me at school,” Selena said. “Remember?”

“I didn’t,” Ryan snapped. “My friends did.”

“Yeah,” Selena said sharply.

“Your friends.”

She poked his chest with her finger.

“One word from you and they would’ve stopped. But you didn’t.”

Ryan caught her wrist, stopping her hand mid-air.

“I can’t control other people,” he said, stepping closer.

“Funny,” Selena shot back, “because you had no problem trying to control me when I became your nanny.”

“So that’s it?” Ryan asked bitterly.

“Not even one day and the deal’s off?”

“You drive me crazy,” he added under his breath.

“The feeling’s mutual,” Selena replied.

She pulled her hand free.

“I’ll see you at home,” she said calmly.

“Where you’ll have a list of chores waiting.”

She turned and walked away.

Ryan watched her go, jaw tight.

“I can’t have you as my nanny anymore,” he muttered.

“Time to get you out of my house for good.”

He walked back into the cafeteria, climbed onto a table, and clapped his hands.

“Listen up!” he shouted.

The room went quiet.

“End-of-the-world pool party tonight at House Stone.”

Cheers erupted instantly.

Ryan smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

By the time the party began, the Stone house was already shaking with noise.

Music blasted through the walls, laughter spilling into every corner. The living room was crowded, the pool area packed, bottles clinking as everyone celebrated like the world was actually ending.

Even Ryan was there, moving through the chaos like he owned it all.

Later that night, Selena and Lily returned from the grocery store.

The moment they stepped inside, they froze.

The house was loud. Too loud.

Strangers everywhere.

Selena’s eyes lifted and her breath caught.

A huge banner hung across the wall.

Her face.

Her name.

And beneath it, written in bold, cruel letters:

SLUT FOR TEACHER

Her fingers tightened around the grocery bags until they crumpled. Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She already knew who was responsible.

Slowly, she turned.

Across the room, Ryan stood laughing with his friends.

Something inside her snapped.

The bags slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor as she stormed toward him. She grabbed his singlet, fist tight in the fabric, and pulled him close.

“What the hell is this?” she demanded.

Ryan barely looked at the banner.

Instead, he threw his arm up and shouted, “First annual Ryan Stone end-of-the-world party!”

The crowd erupted, cheering wildly.

“Shut it down,” Selena said through clenched teeth.

Ryan tilted his head. “Or what?”

“I’ll call your dad.”

“Call him,” Ryan replied instantly. “Tell him you can’t control me.”

He leaned closer, voice cold and mocking. “He’ll drop you as my nanny just like that.”

“Do you know this is scaring your sister?” Selena asked quietly.

Ryan’s expression hardened.

“You’re the nanny,” he said. “That’s your job.”

The words cut deep.

Selena released him and walked away, heart pounding.

Ryan watched her leave, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across his face.