Loving The Devil I Should Fear

Eyes Everywhere

📖 Chapter 11: Eyes Everywhere

The moment I stepped into school—

I knew.

The rumors had spread.

Fast.

Too fast.

Whispers followed me like shadows.

“That’s her…”

“I heard she left with him—”

“No way, seriously?!”

“She’s not even that pretty…”

I tightened my grip on my bag, keeping my head down as I walked.

Breathe, Liana.

Just ignore it.

“LIANA!”

Emily rushed toward me, eyes wide with excitement.

“You didn’t tell me anything!” she whisper-shouted. “Do you KNOW what people are saying?!”

“I can imagine,” I muttered.

“No, you can’t,” she said, pulling me aside. “They’re saying Dante Moretti left the event because of you.”

My heart skipped.

“That’s not true.”

It wasn’t… right?

Before I could say more—

A familiar voice cut through the hallway.

“Well, well…”

My stomach dropped.

Chloe.

Of course.

She walked toward us slowly, her friends trailing behind her like usual.

But today—

Her attention was fully on me.

“Looks like someone got lucky,” she said, crossing her arms.

I sighed quietly. “What do you want, Chloe?”

She smiled.

Sharp.

Fake.

“I just want to understand,” she said. “How does a girl like you end up with a man like him?”

There it was.

That tone.

That judgment.

“I’m not ‘with’ anyone,” I replied calmly.

Not entirely a lie.

Not entirely the truth either.

Chloe laughed.

“Oh please,” she said. “Everyone saw the way he looked at you.”

My heart betrayed me again.

Because I remembered.

Too clearly.

“You think you’re special now?” she continued, stepping closer. “You’re just… temporary.”

That word hit harder than it should.

Temporary.

Like I was something replaceable.

Something easy to forget.

“Back off, Chloe,” Emily snapped.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Chloe shot back.

Then her eyes returned to me.

Cold.

“You really think someone like him would choose someone like you?” she added quietly. “Look at yourself.”

Something inside me snapped.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

But enough.

“I did,” I said.

Her brows furrowed. “What?”

“I chose him,” I repeated, my voice steady now. “Not the other way around.”

Silence.

The hallway went quiet.

And for the first time—

Chloe didn’t have an immediate comeback.

But then—

She smirked.

“Oh, this is going to be fun,” she said.

And just like that—

The tension shifted again.

Because this wasn’t over.

Not even close.

The rest of the day?

Worse.

Stares.

Whispers.

Judgment.

It followed me everywhere.

And no matter how much I tried to ignore it—

It got to me.

By the time school ended, I was exhausted.

Again.

Different kind of tired this time.

I walked out slowly—

Hoping for a quiet moment.

Peace.

But of course—

That didn’t happen.

A sleek black car was parked across the street.

My heart skipped.

No.

He wouldn’t—

The door opened.

And there he was.

Dante.

Leaning casually against the car like he had all the time in the world.

Like he wasn’t causing chaos just by being there.

My heart raced.

Again.

Always him.

Students started whispering immediately.

Pointing.

Watching.

Of course they were.

He didn’t belong here.

And yet—

He stood out like he owned everything.

I walked toward him quickly.

“You can’t keep showing up like this,” I said under my breath.

“And why not?” he asked calmly.

“Because people are talking!”

“They were already talking.”

That… was true.

And annoying.

“You’re making it worse,” I added.

His gaze softened slightly.

“Are they bothering you?”

I hesitated.

That was enough.

His expression darkened instantly.

“Who?”

“No one,” I said quickly. “It’s just rumors.”

“Names, Liana.”

His tone changed.

Cold.

Dangerous.

I shook my head. “No. I don’t want you to do anything.”

Silence.

He studied me for a moment.

Then—

“Fine,” he said.

But I didn’t fully believe him.

“Get in.”

I sighed. “Dante—”

“Get in.”

Same tone.

Less patience.

More command.

I glanced around.

Too many people watching.

Too many eyes.

Then back at him.

And just like before—

I gave in.

As I got into the car, the whispers got louder.

And I knew—

Tomorrow would be even worse.

But as the door closed—

And Dante sat beside me—

Something strange happened.

The noise faded.

The pressure eased.

Just a little.

“You’re stressed,” he said.

“I wonder why.”

A faint smirk touched his lips.

“I’ll handle it.”

“No,” I said quickly. “You’ll make it worse.”

“Or better.”

“With you, it’s never simple.”

“That’s because I’m not simple.”

I looked at him.

Really looked.

And realized something.

This man—

Was both my biggest problem…

And the only place I felt safe.