“This is to avoid attracting attention,” Dylan answered calmly.
“Although, to be fair, I know I’ll probably still attract plenty of it. But at the very least, I’d like to make it inside the restaurant without causing too much of a scene.”
Before Rose could respond, Dylan once again reached for her hand and gently led her into the restaurant.
A few moments later, the two of them were seated opposite each other at one of the elegant tables.
Rose rested both elbows on the table before folding her arms across her chest.
“What exactly are you scared of?” she asked with a scoff.
“The students?”
Dylan merely watched her quietly.
“Or…” Rose continued, narrowing her eyes at him, “you don’t want people seeing the two of us together.”
She let out a sarcastic laugh.
“Oh, yeah… I get it now. You’re the prince, after alland I’m just a nobody.”
“Oh no, Rose,” Dylan replied almost immediately.
Without another word, he slowly removed the mask from his face and the effect was instantaneous…..
“Oh my goodness! Who’s that?!”
“Wait… isn’t that the girl who challenged Williams before? She already found another man!”
“Who is he, though? I swear I’ve seen him somewhere before. This chapter is updated first at g.com. Wasn’t he on one of the academy’s portrait walls or am I hallucinating right now?!”
“He looks way better than Williams. Whoever he is… I want him!”
“Seriously! He’s much more handsome than every single guy in this academy combined.”
Whispers rapidly spread throughout the restaurant like wildfire.
More and more students turned toward Dylan and Rose.
Some even abandoned their own tables just to sit closer, hoping to get a better look at the mysterious prince.
Within minutes, the once peaceful restaurant had become as noisy as a bustling marketplace.
It hadn’t exactly been silent before Dylan removed his mask, but now the murmuring had become several times louder as every pair of eyes seemed to be fixed on him.
“Do you see why I wanted to keep my mask on?” Dylan asked with a helpless scoff.
He paid absolutely no attention to the whispers surrounding them nor did he acknowledge the girls constantly walking past their table, pretending to look for empty seats while secretly trying to catch his attention.
Instead, his eyes remained fixed on Rose alone who had a shocked expression written on her face, unable to form any words.
“What now, Rose?” A familiar voice interrupted the atmosphere.
“You brought another man here just to make me jealous?”
Williams walked toward their table with a mocking smirk plastered across his face.
What is this motherfucker doing here now!
Rose murmured under her breath, her face red with anger.
“You really are shameless.” He folded his arms and looked Dylan up and down before letting out a disdainful chuckle.
“Did you rent him or something? How pathetic. You seriously think these little tricks will make me want you back?”
“I don’t want a scumbag like you back!” Rose snapped as she slammed both palms onto the table with enough force to make the plates and glasses rattle before rising to her feet.
“Stop embarrassing yourself. You seriously think the whole world revolves around you?” Just get the hell out of here.
I don’t want to see your miserable face.” Rose added.
Before Williams could respond, a female student stepped forward.
“Who would ever want you back,” she said bluntly, folding her arms across her chest, “when a handsome man who’s a hundred times better than you is sitting right in front of her?”
“I’d have to be incredibly stupid to choose you over him.”
“Exactly!” another student chimed in immediately.
“I wouldn’t accept your sorry ass back either.”
“The handsome guy literally looks like a painting that came to life. I’d choose him over Williams a thousand times without even thinking twice.”
“Same here! Honestly, there isn’t even a comparison.”
The surrounding students continued voicing their support for Rose one after another.
Not a single person defended Williams.
With every passing second, the mockery grew louder.
Williams’ expression gradually darkened, and his face burned with humiliation and anger as countless eyes landed on him instead of the prince and Rose he had intended to ridicule.