006

~Katya

With tears in my eyes, I packed my bag and stepped into the sleek black Lamborghini that was supposed to drive me away.

I stared out the window as the gates of the mansion disappeared behind us, but I wasn't enjoying the view. In fact, I wasn't seeing any of it, the hot tears blurring my eyes ruined everything.

The guard beside me, Marcus, was saying something in his steady, disciplined voice, but I ignored every single word coming out of his mouth.

When we finally pulled up to St. Claire University and dropped my luggage onto the pavement, Marcus pulled out Niklaus's black card and tried to hand it to me.

I grabbed it and threw it straight onto the ground. Without missing a beat, he bent down, picked it up, and tucked it securely into a small side pocket of my bag.

Then he held out a key, handing it over to me. "Your dad said you could have it," Marcus said smoothly.

The words barely left his mouth before my hand flew across his face. A sharp crack echoed through the air as my palm slapped him right across the cheek.

"He's not my dad!" I growled, my throat raw with rage.

The sting on my palm was nothing compared to the burning rage suffocating my chest.

Marcus didn't even flinch when my hand struck his cheek. He stood there, tall and stoic in his dark suit, his expression as unreadable as ever.

He simply adjusted his jaw, gave me a brief, respectful nod, and climbed back into the Lamborghini before smoothly pulling away from the curb.

I snatched the key from his grip, turned my back on him, and dragged my bag toward the campus buildings.

I stood in the middle of the St. Claire University courtyard, clutching the apartment key so tightly the sharp metal edges dug painfully into my skin.

He wasn't my father, I won't even acknowledge him as my stepdad.

Wiping the warm tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand, I grabbed the handle of my heavy rolling suitcase and continued dragging it across the cobblestone pathway.

I ignored the inquisitive stares from the students passing by, the whispers about the luxury sports car that had just dropped me off, the curious glances at my designer luggage, and the silent questions hanging in the air.

I didn't care about any of them. All I wanted was to lock myself behind a door where Niklaus Montgomery couldn't touch me, couldn't look at me, and couldn't dictate a single breath I took.

Finding my assigned dorm building felt like navigating a maze through a fog of anger. By the time I reached my room on the third floor, my hands were shaking.

I slid the key into the lock, pushed the door open, and stepped inside, letting the heavy door slam shut behind me.

The room was quiet, furnished simply with two single beds, desks, and a window overlooking the campus quad.

It was light years away from the luxurious, suffocating elegance of the Montgomery Mansion, but to me, it felt like oxygen.

I dragged my suitcase over to the empty bed on the left and unzipped it. The first thing that caught my eye was the black velvet corner of Niklaus's black credit card, tucked neatly into the small side pocket where Marcus had insisted on leaving it.

I stared at it, my jaw clenching. He thought he could buy my compliance. He thought sending me away again like he did seven years ago and then dropping a black card in my lap would make up for erasing me from his life.

Reaching down, I yanked the card out, intending to snap it in half or throw it straight into the trash bin. But as my fingers gripped it, the quiet click of the room door unlocking made me freeze.

The door swung open, and a girl with bright energy, stylish clothes, and a confident smirk walked in, carrying a stack of textbooks.

"Hey there!" she said, tossing her books onto the opposite desk before turning to look at me.

Her eyes swept over my outfit, my suitcase, and the lingering red flush around my eyes. "You must be my new roommate.”

I nodded.

"Hi! I'm Kimberley," she practically squealed the second I stepped inside, dropping a stack of notebooks onto the desk.

Her smile was so bright, so bubbly and enthusiastic, that it felt almost unnatural after everything I had just survived at the mansion.

"It is so great to finally meet you! I was starting to think I’d end up with some super weird roommate, but you look amazing. What’s your name?"

I blinked, taking a second to adjust to her blinding energy before setting my bag down on the empty bed. "I'm Katherine. But... you can call me Katya."

"Katya," she repeated, beaming like she had just won a lottery prize. "Oh, I love that! It sounds so exotic and chic. Where are you moving in from? Did you just get to campus? Do you need help unpacking? I’ve been here since morning, so I basically know where everything is already!"

"I'm fine, thanks," I said, offering a tight, weary smile. "Just a bit tired from the ride."

"Totally understandable! Moving day is an absolute nightmare," she babbled happily, already fluffing her pillows. "Well, make yourself at home! Whatever is on my side is yours, okay? I’m so glad we’re roomies!"

Needing to wash off the tears, the sweat, and the suffocating memory of Niklaus, I grabbed my toiletries and retreated to the bathroom.

I took a quick bath, letting the hot water scrub away the tension, and stepped out drying my hair with a small towel, wearing only my short bath towel tied tightly above my chest.

By the time I stepped back into the bedroom, Kimberley was already fast asleep on her bed, completely wiped out.

A sudden knock echoed at the door. Thinking this was a girls' hostel and expecting another female student from down the hall, I didn't bother changing into clothes. I just walked over and pulled the door open.

I froze.

Standing on the other side was a tall, strikingly handsome guy who looked to be around my age.

He was undeniably cute, with sharp features and a confident, relaxed posture that took me completely off guard.

He coughed softly, clearing his throat as an apologetic smirk played on his lips. "Uh... sorry to disturb. I came asking for my sister."

I glanced back over my shoulder at the sleeping girl on the bed, then turned back to him, eyeing him up and down. "You're Kimberley's brother?"

"Yeah," he said, his voice smooth and deep. "Older brother, actually."

"She's asleep for now," I said, leaning against the frame. "I'll tell her when she wakes up that you came for her."

He didn't leave. Instead, he smiled in an unexpected, deliberate way, his eyes dropping from my face to sweep over me, taking me in from head to toe without an ounce of embarrassment. "Well, I'm Ray if you care to know."

I felt a sudden flush on my cheeks, but I offered a faint smile anyway and reached my hand forward to catch the hand he put out. "I'm…"

Before I could finish, the wet knot of my towel gave out. The fabric dropped instantly, exposing my cleavage and leaving only a tiny fraction of my breasts covered before my hands frantically shot down to snatch it back against my skin.

My face burned with pure, scorching heat. Ray’s eyes widened, a sudden spark flashing in his gaze.

Without completing the handshake, I slammed the door right in his face and shoved the lock into place.