The Rebirth of My Dead Billionaire Wife

Chapter 191

It was a typical Monday morning at Crestwood Academy—students hustled through the halls, their voices a steady hum of gossip and weekend recaps. Avery Kane Deveraux kept her head down as usual, flipping through her notebook as she walked to first period. The last thing she expected was for the morning routine to be disrupted.

But then he walked in.

The first thing anyone noticed about Shawn Carter was the tattoos. Black ink snaked up his arms, peeking out from the rolled sleeves of his leather jacket. His dark hair was slightly tousled, giving him an effortlessly rebellious look, and his piercing green eyes held a cool indifference that screamed danger.

As he strode through the hall, heads turned, whispers followed, and the chatter gradually quieted. Crestwood wasn’t used to students like Shawn.

“Who is that?” Chloe Hart whispered loudly to her friends, craning her neck for a better look.

“No idea,” someone replied. “But he doesn’t look like he belongs here.”

Avery glanced up briefly from her notebook, catching a glimpse of him. He was leaning against the lockers, talking to a teacher who seemed just as intrigued as the students. Shawn’s leather jacket, worn jeans, and combat boots clashed dramatically with Crestwood’s pristine, preppy aesthetic.

“New guy,” Janice whispered, sidling up to Avery. “And oh my god, is he hot. Look at those tattoos!”

Avery raised an eyebrow but kept her voice neutral. “He’s… different.”

“Different? Please,” Janice teased. “That’s the understatement of the year. I bet he’s got some crazy backstory. Like, he got kicked out of his last school for fighting or something.”

Avery rolled her eyes. “Let’s just get to class.”

By lunchtime, Shawn Carter had already become the talk of the school. Everyone speculated about who he was, why he transferred, and—more importantly—why he seemed so uninterested in anyone around him.

Avery first noticed him staring during math class. She was taking notes when she felt it—a prickling sensation, like someone’s eyes were on her. She glanced up discreetly, and there he was, sitting a few rows behind her, his chin resting on his hand as he watched her with an unreadable expression.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in the lesson.

“Don’t look now, but the new guy is totally staring at you,” Janice whispered, nudging her under the desk.

“Stop it,” Avery hissed back, keeping her head down.

But it wasn’t just math class. In the hallway after lunch, she caught him watching her again. He was leaning casually against the wall, his leather jacket slung over one shoulder, while his piercing green eyes tracked her every move.

Avery tried to shake off the feeling, but her curiosity grew with every encounter. Who was he? And why was he so focused on her?

By the time the last bell rang, Avery was more than aware of Shawn’s lingering attention. She told herself it was nothing—probably just him figuring out the social dynamics of a new school. But deep down, it unsettled her.

“What do you think he wants?” Avery asked Janice as they walked toward their lockers.

Janice shrugged, clearly amused. “Maybe he’s got a thing for mysterious, beautiful girls with sharp cheekbones and fuller lips?”

“Janice,” Avery groaned, shaking her head.

“I’m just saying! It’s not every day that a guy like that comes in and makes googly eyes at anyone, let alone you.”

Avery opened her locker and grabbed her books, trying to ignore the warmth rising to her cheeks. “He’s not making googly eyes. He’s just… staring. It’s weird.”

“Weird or not,” Janice said with a sly grin, “you’ve got his attention. And if you ask me, that’s not a bad thing.”

Ryan Hayes had been having a pretty normal day until he saw Shawn Carter. The new guy was already irritating—walking around like he owned the place, acting too cool for Crestwood’s carefully maintained social hierarchy. But what really set Ryan on edge was the way Shawn kept looking at Avery.

Ryan didn’t understand it. Avery was just… Avery. Sure, she looked different now, more confident and polished, but she was still the girl he’d always teased, always kept at arm’s length. Seeing someone like Shawn zeroing in on her made Ryan’s chest tighten with something he didn’t quite recognize: jealousy.

It wasn’t until the end of the day, when Ryan saw Shawn lingering by Avery’s locker, that the feeling became impossible to ignore. Shawn didn’t approach her or say anything; he just watched her with that same intense gaze. And for the first time, Avery seemed to notice.

Ryan clenched his fists, his jaw tightening.

“Who does this guy think he is?” he muttered under his breath.

Blake, one of his friends, glanced at him. “What are you talking about?”

As Avery closed her locker and turned to leave, Shawn’s eyes followed her until she disappeared down the hallway. Ryan stepped forward, his fists still clenched, and made a mental note: this wasn’t over.

For Shawn, Avery seemed to be the only person at Crestwood worth noticing. For Ryan, the thought of someone else noticing Avery was enough to make his blood boil.

And for Avery? She was caught in the middle, unsure of whether Shawn’s attention was a blessing or a curse.