Chapter 4

Once the break ended, I threw myself into registering for the regional high school debate championship.

In our past life, Julian and I had gone to the same elite private school, but he was in the prestigious IB diploma track while I was stuck in the standard curriculum; at the Vance estate, he lived in the penthouse suite while I was tucked away in the basement.

We were two people who should have never crossed paths.

It was this very debate tournament that first made Julian notice me.

This time around, I was going to shine even brighter on that stage.

However, when I brought my paperwork to the front office, I discovered that our underfunded public school, North River High, had no intention of entering a team.

Refusing to back down, I dragged my sleeping bag straight to the administration building and camped out on the floor right outside the principal's office.

Unable to get rid of my stubborn persistence, the academic dean finally caved and agreed to sponsor a team—on the condition that we fund the entry fees and travel expenses ourselves.

Thankfully, plenty of ambitious kids at school jumped at the opportunity.

We pooled our resources, prepped cases, and practiced day and night, running on pure adrenaline.

Julian texted me occasionally.

Every single time, I would pause, reading every single syllable three or four times over.

Then, practicing immense restraint, I would wait hours before replying with only a few indifferent words.

Right before winter break, I led our scrappy debate squad straight into the grand finals.

Julian spotted me the instant he walked into the auditorium.

"Did you pick up another part-time job here?"

I tapped the competitor badge pinned to my blazer.

"I'm here for the finals."

Julian glanced at my badge, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Wait... you're the legendary debater from North River High?"

"Legendary?"

Julian looked genuinely moved, his gaze burning with intensity.

"For an under-resourced public school like yours to claw your way into the finals is practically a miracle.

"Half the audience here today showed up just to watch your team captain demolish the competition. Introduce me to your captain later, will you?"

Just then, my teammate rushed over.

"Captain! Our podium is set up over there. Come on, let's go!"

Julian froze on the spot, the way he looked at me shifting into something electric.

I raised a playful fist and flashed him a confident grin.

"See you on the podium, Julian Vance!"

Four teams had made the final cut.

My squad was matched up against another prep school first.

Having lived through this tournament once before, I didn't just know the resolution inside and out—I knew every structural flaw in our opponents' arguments.

Unsurprisingly, we crushed them in a landslide victory.

Throughout the entire match, I could feel that familiar, intense gaze locked onto me from the audience, growing hotter by the second.

When it was Julian's turn to compete, I sat directly across from his podium in the gallery.

Just like in our past life, he was calm, razor-sharp, and meticulously dismantled every single attack his opponents threw his way.

The moment his team won their round, I saw his eyes immediately sweep the room searching for me. I quickly grabbed my teammates and ducked out the side doors.

When it comes to attraction, the harder something is to catch, the more desperately you crave it.

Julian sent me a message asking where I was; I replied with a simple, [Busy.]

The next morning was the grand championship: North River High versus Julian's elite prep academy.

We sat directly opposite each other across the stage.

In our previous life, he had been the first speaker and I had been the second.

I knew his exact logical framework; I used to be the one who patched up every hole in his defense.

Now, every single one of those habits became an open target for me to tear apart.

An hour later, the judges delivered their verdict. Julian stood up, walking across the stage to offer me his hand.

"Congratulations."

The familiar warmth of his palm sent a jolt straight to my core. I bit the inside of my cheek until it bled just to keep the tears from spilling over.

When we walked out of the hall, Julian was instantly swarmed by crowds of peers and reporters.

Even in defeat, he remained the dazzling, untouchable heir of the Vance empire.

Yet Julian pushed his way straight through the throng of people, his long legs carrying him directly toward me.

A subtle, breathtaking smile played on his lips, his eyes overflowing with raw, unspoken emotion.

"Chloe, can I take you to dinner tonight?"

The aloof, unapproachable golden boy was publicly begging a girl out for a date.

The lobby fell dead silent for a full second before erupting into deafening shrieks and whispers.

"Am I hallucinating? Julian Vance is actually smiling at a girl?!"

"He's asking her out to dinner! God, I would pass out if Julian even looked at me like that."

"She's gorgeous, though. And did you see her tear through the cross-examination? She earned that win."

My teammates started giggling, nudging me forward from behind.

"Our captain is totally free! Go, go, go!"

"You two have fun, we'll hit the diner across the street on our own!"

I tilted my head back, just about to say yes.

Suddenly, a figure shoved violently through the crowd.

"Chloe! That's impossible! How could you be—"

Sierra's face warped with hideous rage as she charged at me.

Right as she lunged to shove me to the ground, Julian stepped in front of me, his face instantly darkening as he shielded me behind his broad shoulders.

Murmurs rippled through the spectators.

"Wait, isn't that the Vance estate manager's daughter? The one who constantly stalks Julian around campus?"

"She kept bragging that Julian was going to fall for her, but he literally treats her like thin air."

"Seriously, someone needs to teach her her place."

Just as I expected.

Even with our fates swapped, Julian would never, ever spare Sierra a second glance.