That was still happening?
Of course I hadn’t seen a dime. His secretary and my aunt were thick as thieves. I was willing to bet every cent went straight to Riley’s purse collection. But I couldn’t tell him that.
I just nodded and smiled. “Yes. I forgot to thank you. Thank you, Uncle.”
He smiled and patted my head. “You don’t need to thank me. It’s my duty. You’re family.”
Family.
What a lovely word to say out loud. Even if the reality didn’t match.
He got in the car and drove off. I stood there and watched the sleek vehicle disappear around the corner.
When they were gone, I looked down at the stone near my foot and kicked it down the sidewalk. The echo of it skipping down the street was the only sound around me.
“Don’t worry,” I whispered. “I’ve got this. I’ll figure it out. I won’t let anything happen to you, Seb. Even if it means making a deal with the devil, I’ll protect you.”
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That working Armani ad of a boyfriend
That walking Armani ad of a boyfriend
Violet
I opened the classroom door and stepped inside.
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I stepped into the usual mix of chatter, clicking phones, and someone snoring quietly in the back. It felt like a typical college morning. Except, something was off.
The moment I walked in, every head turned. I froze, my fingers tightening around my bag as dozens of eyes locked
on me.
I wasn’t used to this. Normally, I was invisible, the quiet one. The scholarship student. The girl who always sat near the window with her nose in a book.
People only knew me as Penelope and Kai’s friend, and only when they were around. The moment they left, I faded into the background. And I didn’t mind. Being invisible was better than dealing with unnecessary drama. I had enough going on in my life, I didn’t need more stress.
I looked around, trying to figure out what was happening, and then my eyes landed on her.
Riley.
She sat casually at her desk, legs crossed like a queen on a throne, that awful smirk on her lips, just like her mother’s. Her arms were folded, and she was watching me like she was proud of something.
My stomach dropped.
She must’ve told them everything.
They didn’t even try to lower their voices. People were already talking around me.
“That’s her.”
“Who?”
“The girl whose boyfriend let her drown to save someone else.”
“Wait, she was dating Matthew Sinclair? Didn’t he graduate, like, two years ago?”
“Yes, she was his girlfriend.”
“This one? She’s just a nerd.”
“Yeah. And he saved Nora at the Sinclair’s party. I mean, come on, Nora’s gorgeous and delicate. I’d save her too if I were him.”
I didn’t react to their words. I just stood there, my face calm, and unreadable. This wasn’t the first time Riley had tried to humiliate me, and it wouldn’t be the last.
She had spread rumors, tried to bully me, cheat me, twist everything she could. Give it a week or two, this would pass, just like the rest. There was no point wasting my time on any of them.
I turned toward the window seats, preparing to make my way to my usual spot, when a voice stopped me.
“You people must like running your mouths. If you used more of your brain cells than your mouths, the world might actually improve.”
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That walking Armani ad of a boyfriend
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Everyone froze.
That voice.
I turned my head toward the doorway.
Penelope leaned against the wall, her black bob tucked behind one ear. A small tattoo peeked out from her neck, and another curled around her wrist. She wore a cropped white top, tiny black shorts, and a bomber jacket. Her arms were crossed, and the look in her eyes could’ve set someone on fire.
Behind her, lounging like he hadn’t a care in the world, was Kai. Hands in his pockets, sleeves rolled up to reveal full ink down both arms, hair messy like he just got out of bed and didn’t give a damn what the world thought. His dark gaze scanned the room lazily.
“Anyone want to say that shit again?”
Several people looked down at their phones. Others shifted awkwardly in their chairs. No one said a word.
Riley frowned at them, rolled her eyes, and looked away.
If I had to describe my friends in one word?
Crazy.
The kind of crazy you don’t mess with. The kind of crazy that makes even the boldest bullies shut up and back off.
Penelope was what people liked to call a psychopath with eyeliner. Beautiful, terrifying, and always one second away from throwing a punch. If she picked a fight, she’d probably win it. And if she didn’t?
Well, she had Kai, her boyfriend, a man who would burn down the world for her.
People at school called them the Psycho Couple.
We’d known each other since we were kids. Our parents were close, so we spent a lot of time together growing up.
Even after I lost my parents, Eleanor’s mom wanted to take us in, but my aunt wouldn’t allow it. She made herself look like the perfect guardian in front of the court. Behind closed doors was a different story entirely. But there was nothing anyone could do. And besides, I didn’t want to burden anyone.
“Now you’re all quiet, huh?” Penelope snarled at the frozen classroom, cracking her knuckles. “You better start apologiz-”
I grabbed her wrist gently and gave her a small smile.
“Let’s talk outside.”
She frowned, annoyed. “Wait, wait, I still have a lot to say-
I didn’t let her finish, I was already dragging her out of the classroom. Kai was still standing there, staring at everyone like he was posing for a picture.
I rolled my eyes and grabbed his arm. “You too.”
We reached a quiet hallway near the east wing, far from curious eyes. I sighed, finally letting go of their hands. Before I could say a word, Penelope stepped forward and pulled me into a tight hug.
“Huh?” I mumbled, frozen for a second.
I glanced at Kai. He just tilted his head like, really? You’re surprised?
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Oh. So they already knew about it.
I smiled faintly, returning the hug. Penelope, for all her wild temper, had always been soft with me.“Hey, I’m okay.”
Kai leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching us with a calm expression. Penelope pulled back and looked me in the eye
“I’ve been calling you, why didn’t you answer your phone. I was so worried.”
“Sorry, I left my phone at the party. And I’m okay, Pen, you don’t have to worry about me.”
“Bullshit,” she said instantly, “You were almost drowned, and that walking Armani ad of a boyfriend chose someone else over you.”
I looked down. “Ex–boyfriend.”
She huffed. “Good. He should’ve been dumped years ago.”
Kai spoke up. “You want me to break his legs or something?”
I waved Kai off. “It’s not worth it. I don’t want you getting involved with him. The Sinclairs aren’t people you just mess with. Your dad would kill you if he knew you even tried.”
He frowned, and Penelope’s arms crossed tightly over her chest.
They got the message. As impulsive and insane as Pen and Kai could be, they weren’t stupid.
Penelope exhaled sharply, tugging on the sleeve of her jacket. “I called your brother last night. He told me you’re staying at your uncle’s. Why? That family is literal hell. That witch Riley and her Stepmom are going to make your life miserable.”
Kai nodded in agreement. “Just stay with us. We have the space.
>>
I shook my head, scratching the back of my neck. “It’s fine. I can deal with them for now. It’s only temporary.”
Penelope raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to stay with us?”
I hesitated, not knowing what to say.
She stared at me for a second, then looked down. “You’ve been like this ever since your parents died. You keep thinking you’re a burden. When are you going to realize there are people around you who will never see you that way?”
Her words hit harder than I expected.
I looked at her, at Kai standing behind her with that lazy gaze of his that missed nothing. And I knew she was right. They would never see me as a weight to carry, but I was still scared.
When I was younger, my aunt drilled it into my head that people would always get tired of me. That I was a stray clinging to scraps. That anyone who cared for me would eventually walk away. I didn’t want to lose them too.
“I’ll leave when I find a place,” I said. “I promise. It won’t be long.”
Penelope searched my face and nodded. “Okay. Just make sure you take care of yourself, if that aunt of yours touches you again, I swear I’ll end her.”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t go to jail on my behalf.” My eyes flicked to my phone. “Crap. I’m going to be late.”
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Amante of boyfrend
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“You’re always so uptight,” Kai said, placing a hand on my head and ruffling my ponytail. “Don’t run, shorty. You’ll trip and bruise your already ugly face.”
I swatted his hand away. “You deserve a punch to the face.”
“Are you threatening your best friend?” he grinned.
“Try me, dumbass.”
Penelope pulled me into another hug. “We’ll see you later, okay?”
I nodded, squeezing her tightly before letting go. “Go to class before you get kicked out again.”
Then I turned and sprinted down the hall. I was almost at the corner when my foot caught on something, and I stumbled forward. I didn’t fall. A hand caught my waist, steadying me. My breath hitched, and I looked up into familiar brown eyes.
Mr Roman.
“M–Mr. Roman…”
He tilted his head slightly, his hand still firm on my waist.
“This is the second time I’ve had to catch you, Miss Violet,” he said. “I’m beginning to wonder if you’re doing it on purpose.”
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4/4
⚫26 Bonus
She’s such a suck–up
Wolet
This was so embarrassing.
Why do I keep tripping like some clumsy heroine from a bad teen drama? No, actually, why does he keep catching me every single time? Roman wasn’t my knight in shining armor. If anything, he was the kind of man who would watch a woman fall flat on her face with that blank, unreadable stare of his and then calmly walk away like it wasn’t his problem.
And yet, here he was again.
His hands were still on my waist. And God, that scent made my heart do a stupid little flutter I absolutely refused to acknowledge.
“Miss Violet,” he said.
T–res
“You’re heavy.”
My brain short–circuited.
Oh my God.
My eyes flew wide as I yanked myself out of his hold, nearly stumbling again in the process. My face flushed so hard it burned.
“I–I apologize, sir.” I stammered, trying desperately to sound like a functioning human. “I didn’t want to be late to class.”
He straightened up. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Do what?”
“Rush. At least to my class.”
That made me pause.
What?
I raised an eyebrow before I could stop myself. Really? This was coming from the same man who once locked a student out of his lecture for being thirty seconds late. Who had the coldest poker face known to mankind. That guy was now saying I didn’t have to rush to class?
As if reading my thoughts, he added indifferently, “You’re different.”
Different.
I stood there like an idiot. What did that even mean? Different how? Different as in teacher’s pet?
I wanted to ask, but his gaze was already drifting past me, “Go in, Miss Violet.”
I nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”
I stepped into the classroom, and as usual, a few eyes turned my way, but they didn’t linger. People didn’t really pay attention to me anymore. Sometimes, having crazy friends had its perks.
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