Chapter 1

After Hearing My First Love Rafael's Inner Thoughts, I Pulled My Investment

When I was walking home with my first love, I suddenly heard his inner thoughts.

[Claudia is so annoying, always insisting we leave school together every day.]

[If I didn't need her family's resources for business, I wouldn't even bother pretending to care about her.]

[It's pouring rain outside. I wonder if Giuliana brought an umbrella.]

I froze mid-step.

Giuliana—the beautiful scholarship student who just transferred here.

Rafael stood before me with downcast eyes, his jawline tight and aloof.

He clearly hadn't spoken aloud, yet his voice continued to explode in my mind.

[I heard Giuliana lives in the poor part of downtown. The roads there aren't very good either.]

[I'm really worried about her. I wish I could walk her home.]

[If only I could find an excuse to ditch Claudia...]

My footsteps halted. I felt momentarily stunned.

Rafael lifted his eyelids, his expression cold and indifferent as he glanced at me.

We'd known each other for years. I knew he was naturally distant and reserved, never good with words. I'd long grown accustomed to this way of interacting.

But now, I seemed to see clear, unmistakable disgust in his eyes.

Suddenly, a timid female voice came from the back door of the classroom.

"Rafael, I... my umbrella broke."

I instinctively turned around. Giuliana was standing behind me, though I hadn't noticed when she'd appeared.

She clutched a broken floral umbrella in her hands, one of the ribs hanging down limply.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't bother you, but I'm afraid my textbooks will get wet..."

She trailed off, then quickly glanced up at Rafael. Her eyes were red-rimmed, brimming with grievance and anxiety.

She'd just transferred here last week and rarely spoke to other students.

Her sudden request for help caught me off guard.

After all, Rafael was notorious for hating to be bothered. He spoke and acted without sparing anyone's feelings.

But this time, after a moment's thought, his low voice suddenly rang out:

"Claudia, I can't go home with you today."

"Since Giuliana lives so far away, I'll walk her home instead."

Rafael's expression remained ice-cold as always.

If I hadn't heard those inner thoughts, I might have actually believed this was a purely rational decision.

"What about me?" I asked with a touch of mockery.

Rafael frowned, then spoke: "Isn't your driver waiting at the school gate?"

"Just make do with her umbrella for now. Your house is close anyway—you won't get wet for more than a few steps."

With that, he shoved Giuliana's umbrella into my hands without allowing any refusal.