MARKED BY THE ENEMY

OUR FIRST INTERACTION

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Chapter 1 — Our first interaction

“Oh no, no, no—I’m late!”

Ashley’s heart raced as she sprinted down the hallway, her shoes echoing loudly against the polished floor. She cursed herself for oversleeping. Eyes glued to her phone, she hoped that maybe—just maybe—time would slow down for her.

But it didn’t.

Before she could react, she collided with a solid figure. Her phone slipped slightly in her grip, and she gasped.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you!” she blurted, bowing her head.

Slowly, the person she had crashed into looked down at her. Ashley froze when she realized who it was. Devin Park.

The school’s untouchable heartthrob. The boy everyone whispered about—the “modern-day prince” with perfect looks, but also the infamous “black sheep” of his family, rumored to be constantly picking fights and getting tangled up with gangs.

Ashley’s stomach flipped. I’m so cooked.

He didn’t say a word. Instead, Devin smirked faintly and chuckled under his breath before brushing past her like nothing had happened.

Ashley stood frozen for a moment, cheeks burning. “I’m so, so sorry—I wasn’t looking—I was rushing—” she stammered after him, though he was already walking away.

She pressed her lips together. Forget it, Ashley. Just get to class. Next time, be more careful.

Finally making it to her classroom, she pushed open the door with a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the teacher hadn’t arrived yet. Dropping her bag onto her desk, she slumped into her chair.

“You’re late,” a teasing voice called out.

Ashley looked up and relaxed instantly. Standing before her was Lia Danvers—her childhood best friend, the one person who always managed to keep her grounded.

Ashley smiled, already feeling the tension melt away. But in the back of her mind, one thought remained: her first encounter with Devin Park was something she wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon.