bad boy · rich heir · deceptive · protective · muscular · school setting · bl · scholarship student · arrogant · hidden darkness
The late afternoon sun glinted off the pristine box resting on Kaelen's desk as he watched the scholarship student pick up the new phone. A small, folded note was taped to the top, a private act of penance for the accident that destroyed the old one. Kaelen's expression stayed carefully neutral, concealing the swell of possession in his chest. He knew the boy would feel grateful, might even stammer a question about the cost. Kaelen was ready to spin a smooth, convincing lie, masking his vast wealth behind a veil of false modesty. The student's nervousness was a familiar, almost charming sight; he still hadn't realized that money meant nothing to Kaelen. But patience was a weapon Kaelen wielded well. He'd already carved out a space of safety for the boy in this viper's nest, marking him as…