The warm scent of vanilla and fresh coffee filled the Styles’ household. Sunlight streamed in through the wide glass windows, bathing everything in a soft golden glow. Roman Styles sat at the kitchen island, lazily poking at his bowl of cereal while his mother, the famous Shelly Styles herself, flipped through a stack of fashion sketches.
“You are going to be late again,” Shelly said without looking up. Her voice was light, but there was an edge of expectation Roman knew all too well.
Roman shrugged, a careless smile playing on his lips. “Late is fashionable, Mom. You of all people should know that.”
Shelly rolled her eyes but smiled fondly at her son. “I may have built an empire on fashion, but I still respect a good clock.”
From across the kitchen, Roman’s younger sister, Melody, snickered behind her phone. “He thinks just because he is cute, he can get away with anything.”
Roman shot her a wink. “Not just think, baby sis. I know.”
Shelly finally set the sketches down and walked over, ruffling Roman’s perfectly styled hair just to annoy him. “Fix your hair. You have a reputation to keep.”
Roman chuckled, standing up and grabbing his backpack. He swung it over his shoulder with an effortless grace that seemed almost unfair. His crisp white shirt clung slightly to his athletic build, and his dark jeans sat just right.
He knew he looked good. It was not arrogance, just fact. Being Roman Styles came with certain expectations, and he had never failed to meet them.
As he grabbed an apple from the counter, Shelly called after him, “Roman, remember what I said about the Thompsons.”
Roman sighed. “Yeah, yeah. Be nice to Davinna. Got it.”
Shelly gave him a sharp look. “Not just be nice. Be smart. Her father is an important business ally.”
Roman hated when his life became just another chess move in the adult world. Davinna was suffocating, and everyone but his mother seemed to notice it.
Melody smirked. “Poor Roman. Trapped by pretty girls again.”
Roman grinned, tossing the apple up and catching it with ease. “What can I say? It is a curse.”
With that, he was out the door, the screen slamming lightly behind him.
The drive to school was a blur. Roman leaned back in his sleek car, music playing low, his mind somewhere far away. Maybe today would be just another regular day. Same halls, same adoring glances, same boring classes he barely passed.
At least he had his boys and Daisy to make it bearable.
He parked in his usual spot, stepping out into the morning sun, a king arriving at his castle. Students were already turning to stare, whispering, admiring. Roman smirked and made his way through the crowd.
He met Daniel by the lockers, the two of them bumping fists casually.
“You are late,” Daniel said without much concern. He slung his camera bag higher onto his shoulder, his dark eyes glinting with humor.
Roman shrugged. “Fashionably.”
Daniel shook his head with a small laugh. “You are hopeless.”
The two made their way down the hall, their easy rhythm making them a perfect match despite their differences. Roman with his effortless charm, Daniel with his quiet coolness. Together, they ruled without even trying.
In the cafeteria, their usual table was already filling up. Daisy was seated at the center, her signature purple hair catching the light. Esmeralda sat next to her, sketching in her little notebook, while Kim Wu munched on something that looked suspiciously like candy for breakfast.
The group erupted into easy laughter as Roman and Daniel slid into their seats.
Roman barely had time to breathe before Davinna Thompson appeared out of nowhere, sliding into the seat next to him with a too-bright smile.
“Roman, you look amazing, as always,” she purred, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.
Roman gave her a polite smile, leaning away ever so slightly. “Thanks, Davinna.”
Daisy caught the interaction and smirked, sharing a knowing glance with Esmeralda.
The morning moved lazily, the usual gossip and laughter filling the air. It felt like just another day at Berkley High.
Until it was not.
⸻
Meanwhile, at the school entrance, a small figure stood awkwardly, clutching her backpack and looking around with wide, uncertain eyes.
Pearl Macov.
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. Everything felt too big, too loud, too unfamiliar. She had spent most of her life in Spain, far from this chaos. Now, she was back with her brothers, back to the world they had grown up in, but it felt like she had landed on a different planet.
She spotted a girl walking by and hurried toward her, calling out, “Excuse me!”
The girl barely glanced at her and kept walking.
Pearl’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She hugged her backpack tighter, feeling smaller by the second.
Then, like fate answering her silent prayers, he appeared.
Roman Styles.
He walked around the corner, looking like a hero out of a fairytale. His hair caught the light, his smile lazy and devastating. He was laughing at something Daniel had said, completely unaware of the girl frozen in place just a few steps away.
Pearl’s mouth went dry.
Summoning every ounce of courage she had, she stepped into his path.
“Um, excuse me,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Could you tell me where the principal’s office is?”
Roman turned toward her, and in that moment, the world stopped.
It was not a slow realization, not a gentle falling. It was a full body slam, a thunderbolt straight to the chest.
Roman stared at her like he had seen a ghost. Or maybe an angel.
Pearl blinked up at him with wide, innocent eyes, her hair pinned back with her signature Hello Kitty clips, looking so pure and so painfully adorable that Roman felt his knees give out.
And then, quite literally, he collapsed.
Pearl gasped, stumbling backward. “Somebody help!” she shouted, panic flooding her.
Doors flew open. Teachers and students rushed over.
Within minutes, Roman was being carried away to the infirmary, still unconscious.
Pearl stood there, trembling, her first day at Berkley already spiraling into something she could not even begin to understand.
⸻
By lunchtime, she was the talk of the school.
“Macov’s youngest sister enrolled at Berkley!”
“Did you see how cute she is?”
“She made Roman Styles faint!”
“She is like a real life anime character!”
Her face was already plastered across the student website.
Everyone wanted to know her, talk to her, be her friend.
Everyone… except Maddie Thompson.
Maddie glared daggers at Pearl from across the cafeteria, seething with jealousy as Cole Nicholas, her supposed fiancé, stared dreamily at the new girl.
It took less than a day for Pearl Macov to steal the spotlight, without even trying.
She was sweet, shy, with an aura of innocence that made people want to protect her and worship her at the same time.
And she had no idea the storm she had just walked into.
⸻
Later, the whole group gathered around Roman’s bed at the infirmary.
He groaned, slowly blinking awake to see a sea of familiar faces hovering over him.
“Daisy,” he croaked, confused. “What happened?”
Daisy shook her head, trying not to laugh. “You just met your destiny, that’s all.”
Roman frowned, not understanding a thing.
But somewhere deep inside, a new story had already begun.
One that would change everything.
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