Everyone Knows Youre Mine Now
The ring changed things.
Not between them.
Between everyone else and them.
Because Adrian had never been subtle about wanting Lia.
But now?
Now he looked openly possessive every time someone noticed the silver band on her finger.
And somehow—
that became worse.
—
Blackthorne University felt unusually loud that morning.
Students crowded the walkways while conversations echoed through the courtyard beneath the soft gray skies left behind after last night's rain.
Lia walked across campus clutching her coffee while trying very hard not to overthink the ring currently sitting on her finger.
Which was difficult.
Because every time she looked down at it—
her heartbeat betrayed her instantly.
Simple silver.
Elegant.
Very Adrian.
And unfortunately—
far too intimate for something that technically "wasn't an engagement ring."
Sienna noticed immediately.
Of course she did.
The second Lia sat beside her in literature class, Sienna physically grabbed her wrist in horror.
"Oh my god."
Several students turned instantly.
Lia tried pulling her hand back.
"Sienna."
"No," Sienna whispered dramatically. "No because WHAT is that?"
Heat rushed into Lia's face immediately.
"It's just a ring."
"That man put jewelry on you."
Lia lowered her voice.
"Please stop yelling."
Sienna stared at her with genuine disbelief.
"You slept over at his penthouse and came back wearing a relationship ring. You cannot ask me to act normal right now."
Unfortunately—
she had a point.
Lia glanced down at the ring again.
Warmth spread slowly through her chest despite herself.
God.
This was getting bad.
Sienna noticed the expression immediately.
"Oh my god," she whispered again. "You LIKE it."
"I hate you."
"You're emotionally attached to the psychopath billionaire."
Lia opened her mouth to defend Adrian—
then stopped.
Because honestly?
That description was becoming alarmingly accurate.
Before she could spiral further, her phone vibrated softly against the desk.
Adrian.
Of course.
Message:
Adrian:
Did you get to class safely?
Lia:
Yes.
Adrian:
Did you eat breakfast?
Lia:
You watched me eat breakfast.
Adrian:
Answer anyway.
Lia:
Yes.
Adrian:
Good.
Sienna leaned over instantly.
Then stared at the messages in silence.
"...That is the most possessive conversation I've ever witnessed."
Lia locked her phone quickly.
"He's caring."
"He's one missing person case away from becoming a documentary."
Heat rushed into her face.
Because honestly?
Fair.
The professor entered seconds later, saving Lia from further emotional damage.
But unfortunately—
the ring still existed.
And people noticed.
Throughout the entire lecture, Lia caught glances from nearby students.
Whispers.
Looks toward her hand.
Then toward her phone whenever it lit up every thirty minutes because Adrian apparently believed silence meant disaster.
By lunchtime, she officially understood something horrifying.
Everyone already knew.
The gossip account posted another blurry photo that morning.
This time of Adrian holding her hand outside his building while the silver ring sat clearly on her finger.
The comments were significantly worse now.
THAT MAN IS GOING TO MARRY HER.
This doesn't feel like dating anymore this feels like ownership.
I just know he watches her location 24/7.
Lia nearly threw her phone across the cafeteria.
Sienna looked deeply entertained.
"You know what's funny?"
"What."
"No one thinks he's casual about you anymore."
Heat spread through her chest.
Because they were right.
Adrian wasn't casual about anything involving her.
Not his attention.
Not his jealousy.
Not the way he touched her like she belonged beside him.
And maybe the most dangerous part?
Lia no longer wanted casual either.
Her phone vibrated again.
Adrian.
Again.
Message:
Adrian:
Who's sitting beside you?
Lia:
???
Adrian:
You're distracted. Answer the question.
Lia:
How do you even know I'm distracted?
Adrian:
You left me on read for four minutes.
Lia:
That is literally insane behavior.
Adrian:
Lia.
Lia:
Sienna is sitting beside me.
Adrian:
Good.
Sienna physically covered her face.
"I need him psychologically evaluated."
Lia tried not to smile.
Failed completely.
And unfortunately—
that was the exact moment Adrian walked into the cafeteria.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Conversations quieted.
Students turned.
Because Adrian Monteverde entering Blackthorne University always felt like a disruption.
Power walked differently around normal people.
And Adrian?
Adrian looked devastating today.
Black coat.
Dark slacks.
Cold expression until his eyes found Lia.
Then immediately—
everything softened.
The change happened so fast it almost hurt to watch.
Like his entire nervous system calmed the second he saw her.
Sienna noticed too.
"Oh that man is GONE for you."
Lia's pulse stumbled violently.
Because Adrian was already walking toward her.
Focused entirely on her.
Like the rest of the cafeteria didn't exist.
People stared openly now.
Not subtle at all.
Adrian stopped beside the table before his hand settled naturally against the back of Lia's chair.
Possessive enough to make her breathing uneven immediately.
"You stopped answering."
The quietness in his voice wrapped tightly around her chest.
Lia blinked softly.
"It's been like six minutes."
"You usually answer faster."
Sienna looked between them in complete disbelief.
"This is clinically concerning."
Adrian ignored her completely.
Of course he did.
His eyes lowered slowly toward Lia's hand resting near her coffee cup.
Toward the ring.
Something dark and satisfied flickered briefly across his expression.
Then he reached down, intertwining his fingers with hers naturally.
Warm.
Possessive.
Comfortable.
The entire cafeteria watched.
Lia's heartbeat turned uneven instantly.
"Adrian," she whispered softly.
His thumb brushed lightly over the ring.
Then his gaze lifted slowly back to hers.
And God—
the look in his eyes nearly ruined her emotionally.
Everyone else disappeared completely when he looked at her like that.
"You wore it," he murmured quietly.
The sincerity in his voice wrapped tightly around her chest.
Because Adrian sounded genuinely relieved.
Like some terrified part of him expected her to take it off.
Lia squeezed his hand lightly before she could overthink it.
The reaction in Adrian was immediate.
His breathing caught softly.
His eyes darkened.
Completely gone for her.
Then quietly—
with enough affection to destroy her on the spot—
"Everyone knows you're mine now."