the girl he could never ignore

Emily Carter tightened her grip on the worn straps of her backpack as the towering gates of Westwood University came into view. Students laughed, chatted, and hurried across the beautiful campus, dressed in expensive clothes and carrying the latest gadgets. Emily looked down at her faded jeans and old sneakers. "I belong here," she whispered to herself, even though a small voice inside her doubted it. Winning a full scholarship had been her biggest achievement. It was her ticket out of poverty and her promise to her late father that she would build a better future. She took a deep breath and walked through the gates. Everything around her was overwhelming—the grand buildings, the perfectly trimmed lawns, and the luxurious cars parked outside the dormitories. "This place is incredible," she murmured. Lost while searching for the administration office, Emily accidentally bumped into someone. Her books scattered across the pavement. "I'm so sorry!" she said quickly, kneeling to gather them. A pair of polished black shoes stopped in front of her. She looked up. Standing there was the most handsome guy she had ever seen. Tall. Dark hair. Sharp jawline. Cold gray eyes. His expression held nothing but annoyance. "You should watch where you're going," he said in a calm but icy voice. Emily frowned. "I already apologized." Instead of helping her, he stepped around the books and walked away. A girl nearby gasped. "That's Mason Reed!" "The student council president!" "The richest guy on campus!" Emily rolled her eyes. "So what?" she muttered. "If being rich makes someone rude, I'm not impressed." Unknown to her, Mason paused for a brief second. He had heard every word. A tiny smile almost appeared on his face before disappearing. No one had ever spoken to him like that before. And somehow... He couldn't stop thinking about the stubborn scholarship girl.