Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System
Chapter 279: Homecoming Queen

Chapter 279: Chapter 279: Homecoming Queen

Peter tilted his head. "You did?"

Adriana nodded. "I was hiding behind the wall. I didn’t want anyone to see me. But then I heard her parents yelling."

Peter and the few café people nearby leaned in a little.

"Her mom slapped her. Right in front of the car. Her dad told her she was cruel, that he never raised a daughter to bully people like that," Adriana said, her voice quiet but steady.

Peter blinked.

"They didn’t even know I was there," Adriana continued.

"They weren’t pretending. I wasn’t famous or rich back then. I was just... no one. And yet, they were furious. They even said they could send her to a detention center if she didn’t change."

Ayla looked shocked. Her lips trembled, and she looked away.

Peter sighed. "So, her parents weren’t involved."

Adriana shook her head. "They were just unlucky to have raised a spoiled brat. They tried to fix her. She didn’t listen."

Peter crossed his arms. "Alright then. I won’t touch her family’s business."

Then he glanced down at Ayla, who was still frozen in place, tears quietly falling now.

"But I’ll make sure everyone knows who she really is. She’ll be banned from every event, every club, every top university I have connections to," Peter said firmly.

"Her name will be known, but not in the way she wanted."

Ayla looked up in panic. "N-No... Please... Adriana, stop him! Please... I... I’ll apologize! I’ll never bother you again! I swear!"

Adriana looked at her, emotionless.

"You had your chance. You were warned. But you just had to push."

She turned to Peter. "Do what you have to. Just don’t go after her parents."

Peter nodded once.

Ayla dropped her head, defeated.

Peter gently placed a hand on Adriana’s back and led her away from the crowded café floor.

The waiter at the front gave Peter a respectful nod and guided them toward a small private room at the back of the café, the same cozy spot they always used when they wanted quiet.

The room was warm and peaceful. Soft lights, gentle music, and no one to bother them.

Once they sat down, Peter waved for the waiter.

"I’ll have her usual," he said with a smile, then looked at Adriana. "Do you want anything else?"

Adriana quietly shook her head. "No... just that’s fine."

The waiter bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him.

There was a small silence between them.

Adriana stared at the table for a moment before lifting her eyes to Peter’s.

"Peter... why are you doing so much for me?" she asked quietly, her voice serious. "You stood up for me, protected me, even promised to ruin someone’s reputation for me. Why?"

Peter looked at her and smiled gently.

"By now, I thought you understood my intentions," he said, his voice soft but full of meaning.

Adriana paused. Her heart skipped a beat. But she didn’t want to get ahead of herself.

She looked down and whispered, "But... I’m not from a strong background. I’m not rich. I don’t have a powerful family name. I’m just... me."

Peter almost choked on air. For a moment, he lost his footing in thought.

’What is she even saying?’ He thought, blinking fast. ’She thinks she has no background?’

Peter’s mind suddenly flashed back to that day.

Ms. Dawn.

Peter took a deep breath, his heart feeling heavy.

He understood now, Adriana might not even know who Ms. Dawn really was, or maybe she did but didn’t understand how powerful that woman actually was. Either way, it didn’t change how he felt.

He looked at Adriana seriously and asked, "Do you... do you not love me at all? Or is there someone else you like?"

Adriana blinked, a little surprised by his question. She slowly shook her head.

"No... there’s no one," she said softly. "No one I like right now."

Peter’s lips curved into a small smile. "Then... that means I still have a chance."

He reached out and gently held her hand. His voice was calm but full of emotion.

"I don’t want to give up, Adriana. I’ll try my best. I promise I’ll love you till the end of my life."

Adriana looked down at their hands, then slowly pulled hers away. Her smile was bitter, a little sad.

"I’ve heard that line before," she whispered. "People say they’ll stay, that they’ll love me forever. But in the end... they either leave or turn everything ugly."

Peter’s heart ached hearing that. But he didn’t let go of hope.

"I won’t be like them," he said firmly. "I swear. I won’t leave. I won’t hurt you."

Adriana didn’t reply. She just stayed quiet, her eyes looking far away.

Peter didn’t get upset. He understood. Maybe it was her past, maybe she was scared to trust again.

"I’ll fight for you, Adriana," he said softly. "Even if you don’t believe me now... I’ll show you."

Adriana gave a small smile.

"Even if you fight for me... there’s no promise that life will be peaceful. You’re from a rich family. In rich families, there are always schemes and games. I don’t want to die a painful death."

Peter’s expression turned serious.

"Then I’ll make myself strong enough to protect you. I’ll fight all the battles for you."

Adriana looked at him and shook her head with a smile. "You really know how to sweet talk."

Peter chuckled. "I’m not sweet-talking. I mean every word."

And he did.

In his heart, Adriana was all he could think about. It had only been one month, but not a single day passed that he didn’t wonder about her, worry about her, or dream of a future with her.

He even felt anxious sometimes, thinking she might fall in love with someone else, which made him rush to see her more often.

He looked into her eyes and said, "Just give me one chance."

Adriana paused.

"...Okay," she said. "I can try dating you. But I’m not promising marriage."

Peter smiled brightly. "That’s a future talk. We can adjust when we get there."

Adriana didn’t say anything, but inside, her heart felt a little lighter.

............

Meanwhile...

The school gym was packed. Lights sparkled above the stage, and a big banner read: HOMECOMING QUEEN ANNOUNCEMENT – 7 PM

The students were chatting excitedly. Everyone was waiting for the big reveal.

Aurora sat near the front row, her gown elegant but simple, her hair styled perfectly. Next to her sat Mia, chewing on her gum and watching the stage like it was a movie.

Diana sat a few rows behind, her lips curled in a fake smile. She looked calm, but her eyes flicked toward the judges’ table every few seconds.

Mia leaned toward Aurora and whispered, "What if Diana already bribed the committee? What if she wins Homecoming Queen like last year?"

"Well, if that happens, I’ll just expose her. I’ve got enough proof this time."

Mia snorted. "These days, Aurora, you really give off big-shot vibes."

Aurora chuckled. "If you knew my real identity, you’d know your feelings are not wrong."

Mia giggled. "Yeah, right. I mean, I know you own that fancy mall, but still, your background can’t be that crazy."

Aurora raised an eyebrow, amused. "Really? And how much money do you think I have?"

Mia tapped her chin. "Hmm... I dunno. Ten million?"

Aurora chuckled softly and leaned back in her chair.

She didn’t say anything.

Because the truth?

She had over 300 times that amount.

Just then, the host walked onto the stage with a bright smile and a microphone in his hand. He clapped his hands and said loudly,

"Hey, everyone! How was Homecoming Week?"

The crowd cheered and laughed. Some students shouted, "So fun!" while others started talking about their favorite parts—like the dance battle, the food fair, and the talent show.

The host chuckled. "I see everyone had a blast! Now... I have a question for all of you." He leaned forward a little and smiled. "Any guesses for this year’s Homecoming Queen?"

Instantly, the crowd roared.

"Diana! Diana! Diana!" came the loud chants from a big group sitting on the left side of the gym. Diana smiled proudly and flipped her hair like she had already won.

But then, another chant began.

"Aurora! Aurora! Aurora!"

At first, it was small, but then more and more students joined in. Soon, the whole gym was filled with loud voices calling for Aurora. Even some of Diana’s supporters turned their heads and looked unsure.

Because this year... Aurora really did shine.

She had joined almost every activity in Homecoming Week—helped set up booths, led the drama team, and most importantly, won the coding competition.

Aurora had won over the students, not with money or popularity games, but with real talent.

The host looked a little nervous as he stood in the middle of the stage. His smile twitched for a second like he wasn’t sure what to say.

He cleared his throat. "Well... you’ve all made your voices clear. And now, it’s time for the moment you’ve been waiting for."