The Fallen Princess

The Fourth Fall

Heading to school the next morning, Gary drove Eve with a tense, frustrated expression. Eve sat beside him in silence, unable to find any words of comfort. The car felt heavy with unspoken worries, and neither of them broke the quiet during the entire ride. When the old, ordinary car stopped in front of the academy's grand entrance, it looked painfully out of place among the polished luxury vehicles surrounding it.

Eve unfastened her seatbelt and gave Gary an awkward, brief goodbye before stepping out. The moment her feet touched the ground, familiar eyes landed on her. The stares were the same as yesterday—maybe worse. Whispers had spread quickly: that she was Edmund's chemistry partner... and that she had been seen getting into his car.

But no matter how ugly the gossip grew, Edmund's kindness had lifted her spirit more than she realized. Yesterday had been exhausting, a constant reminder of everything she'd lost. Yet the confidence he gave her lingered—it made her feel as though she could still dream.

I'm ready. Bring it on.

Not long after, the person she had been hoping to see the day before finally stepped into view. Louise Evans approached her with the same effortless charm he carried everywhere, a teasing smile already forming on his lips.

"Hey, Eve."

He wasn't a celebrity, but he might as well have been. With his lode-gold hair, refined British accent, and striking masculine features, he stood in perfect contrast to Edmund's gentle warmth. If Edmund was the calm, dependable glow of a golden retriever, Evan was a sleeping lion — magnetic, poised, and quietly dangerous. As the youngest British billionaire, he had more admirers than he could ever bother counting. But his reputation as a notorious playboy kept him far from anyone's definition of "husband material."

He was also ranked among the three hottest boys in the school, right after Edmund and a mysterious student Eve had never paid attention to.

Eve didn't flirt with school boys often—it went against her principles. The only young men she teased were the ones she met outside, at parties or bars. People misunderstood it, of course. Rumors spread, forming the infamous title she carried: the Flirty Princess.

Eve's voice softened without her noticing. "Hey, Evan."

"How are you? I heard your ex-sidekick ambushed you yesterday," Evan said, slipping into her space with practiced ease. He twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers before resting an arm over her shoulder like it belonged there.

"Where were you yesterday? It was the first day of Grade 12!" Eve complained, pouting. But the irritation shifted into confusion a moment later. "Wait—how did you even know?"

Evan chuckled at her expression. "I was sick. Check your phone, sweetie. One of my boys told me what happened."

Eve tensed slightly at the mention.
Evan's so-called boys never liked her. Not even a little.
Most of them saw her as trouble — a flirt, a distraction, someone beneath their circle.
Only one of them ever stayed neutral, choosing silence over judgment.
And she appreciated that neutrality more than she would ever admit.

"I'll check later... when I finally feel brave enough to turn it back on," Eve said quietly.

Evan noticed the tension lingering under her voice, though she tried to hide it.
He patted her head lightly, equal parts teasing and comforting. "You'll be fine."

"What's your first class?" he asked.

"Same as yours," Eve replied. After a moment of comparing schedules, she realized they would share most of their classes today except Chemistry, Math, and P.E.

"Perfect. Let's go together, baby girl."
His playful tone tugged a reluctant smile from her. Evan always knew how to shift her focus, how to make the world feel a little less heavy. Eve never hated flirting with him — if anything, it was one of the last sparks of excitement she still had.

As they walked down the hallway, Eve hesitated before speaking. "Evan."

He turned immediately. "What?"

"Thank you... for staying."
Her voice carried sincerity she wasn't used to showing — soft, almost fragile.

For a moment, something warm flickered in Evan's expression. It wasn't his usual smirk, nor his teasing grin — but something quieter, steadier. Then, as always, he masked it with a familiar smirk.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I? Besides, you're my best flirting partner. You never fall for me."
Eve rolled her eyes, but she smiled.

"Ah—did you hear yesterday a guy told me I slept with half the guys in this school?" She laughed, amused by the ridiculous accusation.

"What? A VIR—"
Eve's hands flew up instantly to cover his mouth. "Shh! Not so loud! Can you at least whisper?"

Evan blinked, realized what he almost exposed, then nodded. After scanning their surroundings and confirming no one was near, Eve lowered her hands with a sigh of relief.

"You're a virgin," he whispered harshly, still incredulous.

He had discovered this secret a year ago when their flirting had escalated. On one particular night, they had kissed intensely—tongues tangled, bodies pressed close, breaths shaking. When he reached for her back, he felt her trembling. Despite being a notorious playboy, he sensed something was off. She wasn't insecure—she was inexperienced.

When he asked, Eve had naively nodded.

Evan pulled away instantly.

He had one rule:
Never take someone's virginity.

To him, that boundary was sacred. No matter how tempting the moment had been, he refused to cross that line. He had learned the hard way. Once, when he ignored that rule with someone else, the girl became so clingy, possessive, and overwhelming that it exhausted him to the point of regret. He swore never to let himself end up in that situation again.

Eve, for her part, had never let things go further with anyone. She flirted often, but only with men she felt were "safe," following her own set of rules. At most, she exchanged heated kisses. She always backed away when her interest faded—and it faded often.

Evan was the only one who stayed even after learning the truth. Most boys she rejected out of boredom or principle spread rumors that she was sleeping around to protect their pride. And after her parents' downfall, her DMs filled not with confessions but with propositions—asking her to become someone's "sleeping partner" in exchange for money.

Groundless rumors.
Nothing more than the frustrated fantasies of boys whose pride she had bruised.

And despite everything collapsing around her, Evan remained standing at her side.

***