My Fake Boyfriend Is the School Bad Boy novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140 Making The Whole Room Stare

We stepped out of the truck. The evening air felt crisp. The rain held off, leaving a damp, reflective sheen on the pavement. I smoothed the heavy silk skirt. I grabbed my black clutch. Ryder met me at the front bumper. He stood tall in his tailored black tuxedo. He offered

his arm.

I looped my hand through the crook of his elbow. The thick, rich fabric of his suit jacket felt warm against my cold fingers. The physical

contact grounded me.

We walked toward the main entrance. The school administration transformed the double doors. A long, plush red carpet stretched across the concrete walkway. Velvet ropes lined the path, holding back a small crowd of local society photographers. The flashbulbs erupted in

rapid, blinding bursts of white light.

Harper Vance stood near the center of the red carpet. She wore a pale pink gown covered in cheap rhinestones. She posed for a photographer, flashing a practiced, hollow smile.

She spotted us walking up the path.

Her smile faltered. Her arms dropped to her sides. She stared at the midnight blue silk. She stared at the boy in the tailored tuxedo

holding my arm.

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The flashing lights shifted. The photographers turned their lenses away from Harper. They aimed their cameras at the new arrivals. They recognized the billionaire heir. They wanted a picture of the notorious delinquent and his mysterious date. The crowd shouted Ryder’s name, demanding his attention.

Ryder ignored them. He kept his eyes fixed forward. He kept his arm tucked tight against his ribs, shielding me from the chaotic press.

We reached the A-wing entrance. Two senior student council members checked the silver VIP passes. Ryder pulled the foil tickets from his pocket and handed them over. The students nodded. They pulled the heavy glass doors open.

We walked down the main hallway toward the gymnasium. The thumping bass of the music vibrated through the cinderblock walls. We

reached the final set of double doors.

We stepped through the threshold. A wave of warm air and loud music rushed over my skin.

The Crestview gymnasium looked unrecognizable. The administration draped massive sheets of sheer white fabric across the bleachers, hiding the cheap plastic seating. Dozens of crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling rafters, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. A massive polished dance floor occupied the center of the space. The affluent elite of the school filled the room, laughing and dancing in their expensive imported armor.

We walked past the floral archway marking the entrance.

Trent Lawson stood near the punch bowl with a group of lacrosse teammates. Julian Hayes stood near the DJ booth on the far side of the

om A group of cheerleaders gossiped near the edge of the dance floor.

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Chapter 140 Making The Whole Room Stare

Someone near the door noticed us. They nudged their friend. The friend turned and stared.

The chain reaction began.

The music continued to play, but the ambient chatter died. A ripple of profound silence spread across the room, starting from the entrance and moving outward in a massive, rolling wave. The laughter stopped. The dancing slowed to a halt.

Hundreds of eyes locked onto us.

They expected a joke. They expected a massive, glaring disparity. They waited all week to see the working-class girl look out of place next to the Steinmann heir. They wanted to witness a failure. They wanted visual proof of the massive wealth gap.

The midnight silk commanded the massive room. The dark beads caught the light from the crystal chandeliers, sparkling with a fierce, untouchable elegance. The heavy fabric swept the polished floor with silent grace.

I stood tall. I kept my shoulders back. I refused to look at my feet. I channeled my mothers fierce confidence. I belonged in this room. 1

earned my place.

Ryder looked lethal. The tailored black tuxedo emphasized his broad chest and imposing height. He radiated a dark, protective storm. He owned the space. He claimed the territory with his mere presence.

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