I Got Hot. He Got Desperate Chapter 06
Molly’s POV
The entire cafeteria went dead silent.
Connor Martinez–football team vice–captain, from a prominent state family–was being so respectful to this “ordinary student“?
Albert couldn’t believe it. “Connor, what the hell? He’s just
some…”
“SHUT UP!” Connor suddenly snapped at Albert, face filled with terror. “Do you have ANY idea who you’re talking to?!”
Madison was stunned too. “Connor, what are you…”
Connor’s voice trembled. “This is Mr. Ryan Torres, heir to the Torres Empire!”
WHAT?!
The entire cafeteria fell into complete silence.
Everyone stared at Ryan with wide eyes, as if they couldn’t believe their ears.
Torres Empire… America’s business dynasty! Media, finance,
real estate… their influence spanned the globe!
And this “ordinary college student” was the Torres family heir?!
Connor continued, “Mr. Torres, my father mentions your family often. If I’d known you were at our school…”
“Enough.” Ryan waved him off, cutting him short.
He turned to face Albert and Madison, eyes full of cold mockery.
“So, do you still think I’m just some ‘ordinary student“?”
Albert opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound.
Madison’s face went paper–white. Remembering her earlier taunts toward Ryan, she wanted to crawl into a hole.
“Torres… Torres family…” Madison stammered. “I… I didn’t
know…”
“Didn’t know?” Ryan sneered. “Weren’t you feeling pretty superior just now?”
Students around us started whispering:
“Holy shit! He’s really the Torres heir!”
“Madison actually dared to mock HIM!”
“Albert’s SCREWED!”
“This is gonna be good!”
Ryan turned and wrapped his arm around me, voice gentle as he asked, “Want to leave? The air here’s getting toxic.”
I nodded, still somewhat shocked by everything that had just happened.
“Let’s go.” Ryan took my hand.
Just as we were about to leave, Albert suddenly rushed forward.
“Molly! You can’t just walk away! Our childhood bond…”
Ryan quickly spun around and shoved Albert back. Albert stumbled several steps, nearly falling.
“Don’t touch her.” Ryan’s voice was ice–cold. “Next time I won’t be so polite.”
Looking at Ryan’s freezing stare, Albert finally understood he’d lost completely. This man didn’t just have unmatched power-
he had the determination to protect me.
And I was no longer that girl who could be bullied at will.
On the art building rooftop, just Ryan and me.
The setting sun cast golden light on him, making him look like a prince stepped out of a painting.
“How… how are you here?” I still couldn’t quite believe what had just happened.
Ryan leaned against the railing, a mysterious smile on his lips.
Surprise?”
“But you never told me your real identity…” I looked at him with complicated feelings.
“Does identity matter?” He moved closer. “In Hawaii, did you care about the name Ryan Torres, or the guy who talked about Márquez with you?”
I paused, then understood his meaning.
“But… but you’re the Torres Empire HEIR!” I still felt surreal. ” Why would you come to our ordinary college?”
Ryan chuckled softly. “Because I wanted to experience real life, meet real people.”
His hand gently touched my cheek. “Molly, from the first
moment I saw you in that coffee shop, I knew you were different. You cared about me as a person, not what I might possess.”
My heart raced. “Then… why did you choose to reveal your identity now?”
“Because I can’t let anyone hurt you.” Ryan’s expression grew determined. “After today, no one will dare underestimate you again.”
Distant sounds of student chatter reached us–rumors about us
had already spread across campus. But right now, I only cared about the man in front of me.
“Ryan…” I softly called his name.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
He suddenly leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my
forehead.
“I only did what I wanted to do,” he said softly. “Protect
someone worth protecting.”
Three days after Ryan revealed his identity, walking across campus I was still the center of attention. But the whispers were
completely different now.
“That’s Ryan Torres’s girlfriend…”
“The Torres Empire heir! She’s so LUCKY!”
“Madison’s face that day–I’ll never forget it!”
“Albert looks like such a clown now…”
This feeling of being looked up to was amazing.
But I also sensed unusual hostility. Madison’s crew looked at me
with murderous eyes, and I kept feeling like someone was
secretly following me. Damn it, what were they planning?
“Molly, be careful.” Emma whispered to me. “I heard Madison might be plotting something big.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Homecoming’s coming up,” Emma said worriedly. “She might try to sabotage you in the queen election.”
Homecoming Queen election. I’d almost forgotten about that.
Shit, Madison really was psycho.
That night when Ryan came to see me, I told him about this concern.
“Do you want to run?” he asked directly.
“Me?” I paused. “But I…”
“But what?” Ryan stepped closer, hands gently on my shoulders. “Molly, you’re not that girl from three months ago anymore. You’re the brightest presence on this campus now.”
His gaze was so serious, so determined. “And I won’t let Madison keep bullying you.”
“You think I should run?”
“I think you were born to be queen.” Ryan said tenderly. “Let everyone see the real you. Prove that true beauty isn’t just
appearance–it’s inner strength.”
His words ignited the fire in my heart.
Yes, I would prove it to everyone. Prove that Molly Baker was no
longer that girl who could be pushed around.
Time for me to fight back.