Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1989

"Actually, my given name really is Channing... Channing Rhodes. My father chose it, but I never liked it," he explained. "When I took office, I started using my new name, Lucian. Outsiders only knew that the Rhodes family had a second son, but they never knew his real name."

Growing up, he had been entirely neglected, never once brought out to social functions or networking events by his parents.

"Three years ago..."

Coralie pursed her lips, staring at him in utter disbelief as she forced the words out. "You knew me back then?"

"Yes." Channing nodded, his voice incredibly gentle. "It was love at first sight. Getting close to you was completely premeditated."

Meeting his deeply affectionate gaze, Coralie's heart gave a violent lurch, and a sudden flush of heat rushed to her cheeks.

But Channing had a proven track record of "lying." Who knew how much truth there actually was to his words?

Seeing the skepticism in her eyes, capped off with another eye roll, Channing continued.

"I knew who you were much, much earlier than you think."

"How early?"

Coralie pressed her lips together, her confusion deepening as she demanded an answer.

She never attended high-society banquets, spending the vast majority of her time holed up in the casino. Her public appearances were incredibly rare.

When could Channing have possibly seen her?

Online?

Her reputation on the internet was absolute garbage. How could anyone possibly fall in love with *that*?

"The orphanage." Channing didn't try to hide it, his voice dropping into a low, gravelly timbre. "Over ten years ago, I saw you at the orphanage here in Caelus."

The orphanage?

Coralie thought he was making up an absurd fairy tale, but before she could voice her rebuttal, he spoke again. "You found your long hair annoying, so you chopped it all off. But you cut it way too short, so you had to use a red rhinestone hair clip to pin it back."

Hearing that, Coralie's heart plummeted again, the accusations dying instantly in her throat.

If someone dug deep enough, they might uncover the short hair, but absolutely no one would have ever paid attention to a cheap red hair clip.

Let alone the fact that it was missing a rhinestone.

So...

Channing had actually noticed her all those years ago?

How old was she back then? She wasn't even an adult!

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