The next day at school, the whispers started before Claire even reached her locker.
At first, she thought it was the usual stares that came with dating Xander. But something felt different. Groups of students fell silent when she walked past. A few girls from Ashley’s old circle smirked openly. By second period, the rumor had spread like wildfire.
Claire Hudson is a gold-digger.
She overheard it in the hallway — “She’s only with him for the money and the cars. Australian girl comes to America and latches onto the richest guy in school? So obvious.”
Claire kept her head high, but her stomach twisted. She knew it wasn’t true. Xander had never flaunted his wealth around her. Their relationship had started long before she fully understood how powerful the Avila family really was. Still, th
