Orion Winters, Isla Elander and I, Vincent Hayes, had grown up together.
Back in school, our classmates would tease us, calling us rivals, vying for our childhood sweetheart.
They used to joke about who would end up marrying Isla in the future.
Back then, everyone was simply students. We were not overly judgmental or concerned about social status or being well-matched.
Isla generally enjoyed spending time with me. During our sophomore year of high school, she confessed her feelings to me right in front of Orion, which left Orion in a rage.
A few days after Isla confessed her feelings to me, our relationship was found out by the head teacher.
To protect the Elander Family's reputation, the school humiliated me, accusing me of having a terrible character in front of all the teachers and students. I was then forcibly transferred from a prestigious city high school to one of the worst schools in the area.
On the day I left, Isla promised me that after graduation, we would be together.
Clinging to that promise, I studied even harder at the rundown school, determined to get into the best university and prove myself worthy of her.