My Cruel Bullies Are Now My Loyal Puppies novel Chapter 2

Of the three, I first connected with Blake Reynolds.

The finance department's golden boy, untouchable and pristine as fresh snow.

Girls flocked to him like moths to flame.

They all fell for his cool, untouchable demeanor.

There's something darkly satisfying about dragging a perfect specimen down from his pedestal.

Blake approached me like the classic opening move in a high school romance novel.

Gentle, subtle attention. Casual brushes of his sleeve against mine. His usually cold jawline softening when I was around.

A guy who's normally distant suddenly giving special treatment to one girl?

Even the most oblivious person would notice something was up.

Friends started teasing and nudging.

Blake would look at me with those soft eyes and tell them to "knock it off."

His tone gentle, his voice like silk.

The teasing only got louder.

I had to admire his acting skills.

To match his performance, I'd blush slightly under his gentle gaze.

But then—as everyone was taking their seats—I'd deliberately brush my hand against his under the table.

He'd freeze for a second, instinctively looking my way.

And I'd smile back, eyes twinkling with suggestion.

For someone as proper and restrained as him, what could be more exciting than a girl who acts shy in public but "playful" in private?

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Unlike Blake's subtle approach, Declan Pierce—our campus bad boy—was anything but low-key in his pursuit.

I was simply walking to get some spicy takeout when I happened to save him from a group of guys chasing him, his body covered in bruises.

I looked straight ahead, ready to continue my quest for food.

But he grabbed my leg from behind.

Declan glared darkly, struggling for a long moment before finally managing to say: "Help me!"

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As for Ethan Wright, the boy genius who skipped grades to enter Adams University, his approach was much simpler.

The young man's bright face always smiling.

Dimples appearing with each grin.

Adorable canine teeth peeking out as he called me "Tara."

"Tara, your name sounds so pretty. Tara and Ethan—don't they match perfectly?"

"Tara, won't you go out with me? You're so cute, I promise I'd spoil you every day!"

"Tara, just look at me once? I miss you more today than yesterday!"

I'd look into his big puppy-dog eyes, seeing my own clear reflection in them.

What girl could resist a sweet boy like that?

Too bad he was actually a wolf in sheep's clothing.

With someone pretending to be so innocent, what could be more tempting than being the mature, understanding older girl who's both falling for his charm yet trying to resist it?