Chapter 15 Luciana was halfway through her sandwich when the bus finally pulled up . Only then did she realize she had been sitting there for over two hours . Moving on autopilot , she grabbed her bag and got on the bus heading back to her apartment . It was well past rush hour , and the bus was nearly empty . She took a seat near the back , leaned her head against the window , and stared out into the night . Outside , Jaxwell glittered - streetlights , car horns , neon signs , glowing windows . The whole city buzzed with life , but somehow , all that energy only made her feel more alone . She sat there wondering if there was even a place for her in a city this big . Luciana had grown up in Netherfield , a small southern town . When she was a little older , her family moved to Januview , and for a while , she thought it was the biggest , most glamorous place in the world . After middle school, she earned a scholarship to Silverlake High School in Jaxwell . It wasn't until she got there that she realized just how tiny her world had been . As she sat dazed , something caught her eye through the window - a black Rolls - Royce cruising alongside the bus . Even in the bustling heart of Jaxwell , Rolls - Royces were a rare sight . Seeing one now brought Luciana right back to that Friday after school , just before the college entrance exams . She had spent days writing a confession letter and carefully beading a bracelet . Then , with all the courage she could muster , she quietly followed Thiago to the school gate . She would never forget the image of him - tall and lean in his crisp white school uniform shirt - casually stepping into a black Rolls - Royce . It had been the same black Rolls - Royce as this one . A middle - aged man in a tailored suit had opened the door for Thiago respectfully . " Mr. Langston , Mr. Langston Senior is waiting at home . The private jet to Meadows is all set for next week . " Luciana had frozen where she stood like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her head . That moment had shattered her . That was the difference between them . Thiago traveled in luxury cars and flew overseas on private jets . Meanwhile , she went home every break using the cheapest bus ticket she could find . Thinking back , she was thankful she never gave him that letter or bracelet . Even so , the memory stung . She remembered feeling her chest tighten and her eyes burning , but she bit her lip and walked away quietly just as she always had . Now , sitting on the bus , the ache came back . She pulled her high ponytail loose and slipped the black hair tie - the one Thiago had touched- around her wrist like somehow , that would bring him closer to her . Luciana rubbed her eyes and forced herself to pull it together . She couldn't afford to dwell on this - not now . She had just lost her job . This wasn't the time to get caught up in old feelings . She still had to eat , pay tuition , and cover rent . She couldn't lose herself in some fantasy that wasn't ever going to happen . She must've been more tired than she realized because the next thing she knew , she had nodded off , her head drooping forward . What she didn't see was Thiago slipping onto the bus a few steps behind her . He sat a row back , his eyes fixed on the back of her head like he couldn't look away At that moment , Luciana's waist - length hair spilled down like a waterfall , draping over the back of the seat . Without thinking , Thiago reached out . The second his fingers brushed her hair, a jolt ran through him - like an electric current . He pulled his hand back almost instantly . The bus rolled slowly through the streets of Jaxwell . With each gentle lurch , Luciana's head drooped lower , her body swaying slightly with the rhythm of the ride . When she swayed too far to the side , nearly slumping onto the next seat , Thiago swing his legs around and slid into the seat beside her . He was just in time , Her head landed softly on his shoulder . She smelled warm and sweet , like milk and fruit or maybe vanilla ice cream . It made his breath hitch , Thiago glanced down at the half - eaten sandwich still in Luciana's hand and instinctively frowned . She shifted a little , clearly uncomfortable in her sleep , and leaned closer , her body molding into his . One small hand flopped down onto his thigh Every muscle in Thiago's body went taut . It was like a fuse had been lit somewhere deep inside him . He shut his eyes and took a long breath , trying to calm the heat simmering in his blood . " Tatiana , move your hand . Do I look like the kind of guy who just lets things slide ? " Chapter 15 Lanciana said nothing . She was still sound asleep . A moment later , her other hand dropped onto his leg too . Thiago stared forward , dead silent . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!