the poorest billionaire heiress

There was nothing worse than being an insurance kid. It was more like being a charity case. But her case was different. No matter how she wanted to explain it, it all started from that day. She sat down among the students, next to her boyfriend Derrick Dawn — popularly known as Double D by the entire school. With him by her side, her day was set. Her eyes were fixed on him. Such a handsome young boy — a straight-A student whose study glasses made him look so refined, adding more fuel to his charms. "Luella, how about we test it?" he said, and she turned to look at the two small inventions on the table. It was made for lovers — she knew that — but would it really work? she wondered, looking back at Derrick. Her imagination was all written on her face. "No worries, Luella. No matter the outcome, I will always be for you, and you only," he assured her, and she smiled. "Are you sure?" She tried to find reasons not to — at least, not until two other couples took the test and it actually worked. She stood and watched the two couples beam with joy. Their love rate was 150 for the guy and 148 for the girl, and the whole crowd applauded for them, which made her heart skip as she wondered what their own would be like. "You see? Let's check ours," Luella — Derrick persuaded, and she nodded, curious about what theirs would actually be. With that, she stepped out of the crowd, Derrick following behind her. She could feel the stares of all the students. Their stares were filled not just with curiosity but also with envy — especially from those girls who had once thrown themselves at Derrick and been rejected. "Are you ready?" Mark asked as he handed her one of the machines and then the other to Derrick, a smile on his face, before instructing them to push the button. And they both did. Luella was smiling sheepishly while Derrick kept a stoic face, as if he wasn't even bothered. He was so calm as he looked at Luella. "You don't have to worry. No matter the outcome, I will always be with you," he assured her again before they both clicked the button. Luella looked at her own on the big screen as it read 175 — that was her score of love for Derrick. But to her, it couldn't be measured by some stupid machine. They'd been dating for three years now. Hers was 175. What about Derrick's? she thought, looking over to the big screen. Forty-six. She stared at the screen. Forty-six — how come just 46? she wondered as she stared at him. But he remained calm, as if it didn't matter, and that put her heart at ease — not until the outburst of the crowd. "Just 46? He didn't even love her, did he?" they said, looking at her with pity all over their faces. "His heart beats for her so low — more like he didn't even want her," they laughed, especially those girls who had always envied them. Luella bit her lip, her fingers dragging at the tip of her sleeves, wishing the earth would open and swallow her. They all laughed at her, but Derrick didn't seem to feel anything. His eyes were cold, just as they had been before he insisted on taking the test — the same way his gaze was now. Luella looked at him nervously. Maybe he would say something, defend her, defend himself against the number on the big screen. But he didn't. He just kept quiet. "How about we check between Derrick Dawn and Melissa Carter?" someone from the crowd shouted, making Luella look at Melissa, who blushed with shyness. She breathed out. If her own was 46 in the heart of Derrick, then Melissa's would be even less. She and Derrick were like cat and mouse, always at each other's necks. Both competing for the first place. She smiled. There's no way I'm going to lose to Melissa Carter. I've been with Derrick for three years now, she thought as she watched Derrick agree. She watched how his eyes lit up and quickly faded, but she never thought much of it. Melissa walked up to the stage, a little shy, blushing as she took the machine slowly from Luella's hands while Mark restarted it. Luella's heart tumbled as she looked over the big screen. What would her number be? What would Derrick's be? she wondered. Luella watched the big screen as it counted, then turned to Melissa, whose face was filled with worry, as Melissa also glanced at Derrick and then at the big screen. "Oh, Melissa's is 160!" someone from the crowd shouted, pointing at the big screen. "What will Derrick's be?" another said, making Luella's heart skip with anticipation. Luella held her breath as she watched the number. Her number can't be bigger than— Luella didn't have time to complete her thought when someone shouted again, making her look up at the big screen. "His love for her is over 180!" the guy shouted, pointing. One hundred eighty-nine? How come? It was like a blow to her as she looked over to Derrick — his expression was blank. She looked at the screen again. So what if Derrick's heart beats for Melissa at over 180? He is already mine, and mine alone, she thought as she watched the crowd roar for them. "Date her! Date her! Date her!" the crowd shouted, and it made Luella's stomach twist. What was wrong with them? Derrick was already with her. Luella wanted to shout at them... He won't accept Melissa. He already promised me, she thought. "Derrick, how about we give it a try?" Melissa said, shameless and yet a little shy, which made Luella nauseous. How could she tell him to date her? Doesn't everyone know I'm with Derrick? she thought. ​