Chapter 8 Chapter 8 All Eyes On Me

No one was looking at Catherine Campbell anymore.

Everyone-male and female students alike-seemed to be holding their breath, their gazes locked on a different figure entirely.

"Wow, she's breathtaking."

"Is she a student here? She looks quite young."

"Definitely not a freshman-perhaps a sophomore?"

"How can someone be that beautiful?"

The surrounding murmurs didn't faze her in the slightest. She continued forward with an air of casual indifference.

A boy quickly stepped into her path. "Hi, I'm Zack Nelson, a sophomore in the Foreign Language Department. Would you mind if I-"

"I'm a junior. Art Department," Stella Dawson replied with a polite but distant smile.

She didn't feel like elaborating. Her major was highly specialized-only one class offered in the entire university.

"Oh, you're an upperclassman! You look much younger." He gave a sheepish grin. "Could we exchange contact information?"

Stella was about to decline when Lucas Campbell unexpectedly approached.

He looked at her with a calm, assessing gaze, then offered a slight smile. "Hello. I'm in the Finance Department. Let's exchange numbers."

Zack froze, his face a mixture of disappointment and anxiety. Lucas shot him a cool glance that made him retreat immediately.

At City University, the heirs of the three great families were practically royalty. Wealthy, powerful, and each with their own distinct quirks. No one dared cross them.

The message was clear-Lucas had claimed interest in Stella. Even if Zack resented it, he had no choice but to back down.

Catherine's eyes followed her brother, eventually settling on Stella. Her heart clenched, a wave of tension washing over her.

She hurried over, reaching for Lucas's arm.

"Very well," Stella said with a soft nod, her demeanor shifting the moment she noticed Catherine's reaction.

"What's your name?" Lucas asked, eyebrows lifting slightly. "I'm Lucas Campbell."

"Stella Dawson."

"Pleasure." He grinned, putting his phone away after saving her number.

Stella slipped her phone into her pocket, turned, and walked toward the main academic building without another word.

Lucas blinked, caught off guard by her cool dismissal.

Was his status not impressive enough? He was a Campbell, for heaven's sake. He'd never been brushed off like that before.

Evan Sterling, who had been observing less than discreetly from the sidelines, froze the moment he heard her name.

"What did she say her name was?" he asked, voice tinged with shock.

His younger brother grinned, scratching his head. "She said Stella Dawson. Even her name sounds lovely."

Evan's expression shifted instantly. He fumbled for his phone and fired off a message to his brother.

"Bro, we've got a situation!"

"If you have something to say, get to the point," Alexander Sterling replied bluntly.

"I just saw your wife. Lucas Campbell started a conversation with her-and she actually responded."

"You saw Stella Dawson?"

"Yes, and she was all smiles. Pretty sure she's interested in him. What are you going to do about it?"

"How do you know her?" Alexander's response came faster this time. "And what makes you think she's flirting with Lucas?"

His fingers flew across the screen, his anger barely contained.

Damn it. First male models, now more men? How many does she need?

Evan Sterling stared at the rapid-fire texts, his eyes widening in disbelief. A low whistle escaped his lips.

Props to his sister-in-law-he'd never seen his brother this agitated. The man barely spoke this much under any circumstances.

"Of course I recognized her," Evan typed back, still somewhat amused. "She introduced herself to Lucas. I mean, she's stunning and attends City U. It wasn't hard to connect the dots that she's your wife."

Then, seizing the opportunity to provoke, he added: "You probably didn't notice, but both Lindor Mitchell and Liam Sterling couldn't take their eyes off her either."

He was mid-text when he spotted Lindor striding purposefully forward. Evan quickly fell silent and jogged to catch up.

Just after Stella walked away, Catherine Campbell caught up and grabbed Lucas's hand, her expression dark.

"What do you think you're doing?" she snapped. "Mom said you're supposed to focus on your studies, not pick up random girls!"

A note of unease crept into her tone as she added, "Delete that girl's number. Now."

Lindor had drawn closer by then. As his eyes landed on Catherine's upset face, his expression softened.

Her eyes were slightly red, lips pressed tight in frustration-yes, she was clearly bothered by Stella Dawson.

No one enjoyed being overshadowed.

If he confronted Stella, Catherine would surely be grateful.

That thought alone filled Lindor with smug satisfaction.

Without another word, he spun around and rushed forward, cutting Stella off just before she could get far.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

He thrust an arm out to block her path. Stella glanced up, brows furrowing as she took in Lindor's arrogant posture.

His entire demeanor screamed troublemaker, as if he went out of his way to provoke others.

With a slight roll of her eyes, she moved to step around him-which only infuriated Lindor further.

"Are you deaf or just stupid? I told you to stop!"

As the youngest Mitchell, Lindor was notorious for his hot temper and lack of self-control.

Seeing Stella ignore him, he instantly lifted his foot, aiming a kick at her knee-likely intending to force her to her knees.

But Stella? She calmly sidestepped the attack without so much as a flinch.

Honestly, it happened too fast for anyone to clearly see how she avoided it.

"Ah-!" Lindor Mitchell missed his step and landed flat on the ground, a complete mess.

It felt as if he'd been subtly tripped from the side, his leg smacking hard against the pavement with a dull thud. He practically sprawled at Stella Dawson's feet.

She paused, a flicker of amusement in her eyes, and let out a light laugh.

"I don't believe we've met. What's with the dramatic gesture?" Stella smiled innocently. "You're really making me uncomfortable, you know."

Shrugging, she bent slightly and patted his back in an exaggeratedly polite manner. "If you plan to kneel before me next time, perhaps give me some warning? Dropping like that is rather unsettling."

Her fingers, cool and casual, brushed lightly across his still-handsome face.

By the time Lindor had gathered his wits, she was already long gone.

His lackeys finally scrambled over, panicking as they hauled him up from the ground.

"Careful! Damn it-my leg!"

"I SAID be gentle! Are you freaking deaf?!"

He roared in pain, face contorted with a mix of fury and humiliation as he clutched his leg as if it were shattered.

One moment he was all arrogance, the next he looked utterly pathetic.

"Tch. Pathetic." Catherine Campbell scoffed, then yanked Lucas Campbell in the opposite direction without a backward glance.

"Wait, Cathy, listen-" Lindor panicked.

He seemed to forget his injury, hopping awkwardly after her with a miserable, pleading look.

Liam Sterling quickly closed the distance to Catherine, his grin a blend of excitement and obsession. "Cathy, let's go together."

Evan Sterling rolled his eyes at the spectacle, frowning in utter disappointment.

Was his younger brother always this much of an embarrassment?

What was so special about Catherine? Why were all these men chasing after her like whipped dogs?

"What happened over there?"

Emily Dawson rushed to the entrance, only to see the crowd beginning to disperse.

"Not sure, but Young Master Mitchell just took a nasty fall," someone answered dismissively.

"Lindor Mitchell?" Emily's eyes lit up.

What a perfect opportunity.

She quickly adjusted her outfit and strutted forward, her voice dripping with sweetness.

If Alexander Sterling wasn't an option for now, perhaps another wealthy heir would do.

Lindor, limping and sulking while leaning on a lackey, looked up and noticed Emily approaching. She wasn't a stunning beauty, but her soft, seemingly innocent aura had its appeal. And the way she looked at him with open admiration? Well, that certainly stroked his ego.

"Hello, Mr. Mitchell, I'm Emily Dawson." Emily smiled shyly. "Would you mind if we exchanged contacts?"

He might still be hung up on Catherine, but there was no harm in keeping other options open.

"Sure, why not? I'll give you a chance." He flashed a smug grin. "Emily, was it?"

Meanwhile, far removed from the chaos, Stella sat in a quiet corner of the campus, calmly pulling out her phone.

She had no idea about the budding connection between Lindor and Emily-and frankly, she couldn't care less.

Unhurried, she dialed Kevin Porter's number.