Chapter Three

Kiara’s POV

The cafeteria was full. 

Hundreds of students were seated as they talked, laughed and ate. The noise was deafening but the minute I walked into the room with Aurora, something shifted in the air. 

The room didn’t completely go silent because they were whispering and murmuring.

“That girl is with Aurora?”

“First it was Xavier, now she’s moving around with Aurora?”

“What’s it with them? Is she really important or they’re trying to help her?”

I could feel eyes on me from every corner of the room. My heart started racing as my stomach twisted. 

I wasn’t supposed to be here. 

Aurora didn’t look like she noticed—or maybe she didn’t care. Her bright smile was plastered on her face as she walked across the room with confidence, practically dragging me with her. 

“We’re going to be sitting with my friends,” she said as she led me to a table in the middle of the room. 

That was when I saw her. 

The girl with dark hair from earlier—the one who had made fun of me. 

She was even more beautiful and her hair cascaded down her shoulders, her brown eyes filled with indifference. She sat like she was the queen of the school and her perfectly manicured fingers tapped away impatiently at the table. 

The moment her eyes landed on me, her glossy lips curled into a frown. 

“Really? Aurora?” She asked sharply, her voice echoing through the air. 

“What is it, Cassie?” Aurora asked with an unbothered smile. 

Cassie looked between both of us before she turned to me with full hostility. “Why would you bring their charity case to our table?”

Aurora’s hand was still linked with mine but I started feeling uncomfortable. The air was thick with tension.  

“Don’t call her that,” Aurora said firmly. “And she’s my friend,” she added, tilting her head. 

I was her friend?

Cassie let out a bitter laugh. “Friend? Aurora, what’s with you and weird, ugly people?”

The hall was in chaos as everyone started laughing. 

I clenched my jaw as my fingernails dug into my palm. I should walk away. I didn’t need to be the center of attention. 

But before I could, Aurora tightened her grip on me. “Kiara stays.” Her voice was firm. 

Cassie looked at me with dark eyes. “No. She doesn’t!”

Everywhere was silent now and all attention was focused on us. They watched us like we were some sort of entertainment. 

“I don’t care how she became your friend or whatever she told you,” Casandra said as she crossed her arms. “What I know is that she isn’t staying here and if she has any sense, she’ll not only leave here but the school.”

I wanted to disappear.

“I… I think it’s best for me to leave,” I said quietly, my voice breaking. “Everyone is staring and.. I-I don’t want to cause any problem.” 

But Aurora didn’t let go of me. “She stays,” she said cheerfully but her voice was firm. 

“Fine,” Casandra said as she narrowed her eyes. Then, a slow and cruel smile that sent shivers running down my spine curled at her lips. 

Before I could figure out what was happening… splash.

Something cold and thick was poured over my head. 

I gasped as the coldness from the liquid sent shivers through my body. Everyone in the cafeteria erupted into laughter. 

The sickening smell of strawberry smoothie clung to me as thick globs of liquid dripped down my face and chest.

I was frozen in place as Cassandra’s mocking laughter sliced through the air. 

“Oops,” she said, feigning innocence. 

My hands trembled as the wetness seeped through the fabric of my shirt, make the cloth cling to my chest uncomfortably. 

More laughter. More whispers.

I needed to leave. I stumbled backwards but before I could leave, strong arms caught me.

Immediately, the room fell silent. 

I looked up and I froze again. 

He was… beautiful. 

He was tall, muscular. And his dark hair was all over the place as his golden eyes looked at me with an emotion I didn’t know. 

But more than that, I was shocked because he looked exactly like Xavier. 

My breath caught. Was this his brother?

He didn’t say anything. He simply removed his jacket and wrapped my body with it, covering my chest from any further humiliation. 

The fabric was and the smell was comforting—it was a mix of something rich and manly. 

I opened my mouth to speak when the door burst open.

The air in the cafeteria became heavy as I watched Xavier storm towards us and Cassie went pale. 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Xavier asked, his voice low and dangerous. 

“Xavier, I-I… was… I,” Casie stuttered. 

“You’re pathetic and you find joy in mocking another person?” His gray eyes locked onto hers with undiluted anger. 

Cassie shrunk back but she didn’t back down completely. “It was nothing more than a joke,” she mumbled. 

“Really? A joke?” He growled. “Bullying someone in front of the entire school is a joke?”

Her face turned red from embarrassment. Xavier didn’t wait for her to respond before he turned back to the boy that had caught me. 

“Take her away from here.”

I blinked. What?

The guy nodded, his eyes unreadable before he grabbed my hand. “Let’s go,” he said softly. 

My legs were frozen. I didn’t know who he was but my body moved before I could stop it, wanting to escape before I would be humiliated again. 

“I swear that if you ever try something like this again I’ll-“ 

Was the last thing I heard from Xavier before the door closed shut behind us. 

The hallway was empty and I didn’t realize that my hand was shaking until he spoke up. 

“Are you fine?”

He let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. “You don’t have to pretend. You’re not fine, and that’s okay.”

The tension in my chest loosened slightly, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

“You’re Kiara, yes?” he asked, his voice steady as he leaned against the wall, casually watching me.

I hesitated, then nodded. “And you’re...?”

“Kai.” A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips.

Kai. His name echoed in my mind. He wasn’t Xavier, but there was something about him that made me think he was connected to him in some way.

“And yes, I am Xavier’s second brother. Triplets.”

My brows shut up in shock. There are three of them? Are they all this hot?

“Thank you,” I said, trying to shake off the swirl of thoughts. “For catching me back there.”

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk curling onto his lips. “I wasn’t sure you were going to make it, but I’m glad I caught you.”His eyes roamed over me with a teasing glint. “I can’t have that. I’d much rather have you awake, and focused on me.”

I flushed, my heart hammering in my chest. “I wasn’t going to faint,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Good,” he said, his grin widening as he took a step closer to me. “Because I like it much better when you’re looking at me like that. Makes it more interesting.”

The heat on my face flared, and my stomach did an involuntary flip. Was I staring? I quickly dropped my gaze, my heart racing in my ears. The way he looked at me made it impossible to think straight.

I felt him move even closer. Too close.

Before I could back away, my heart thudded in my chest as he effortlessly stripped off his shirt. My mouth fell open, and my gaze immediately landed on his bare chest.

“What are… you doing, Kai?” I stammered, feeling the blood rush to my cheeks.

He was perfect—every line of his muscles carved as if he were made by the gods themselves. I tried to look away, but my eyes betrayed me, lingering a second too long on the defined V line that led to—.

“Relax.” He held the shirt out to me, a teasing glint in his eyes. “You need a change of clothes. Wear this.”

I stared at his outstretched hand, feeling a sudden rush of heat flood my body. My fingers hesitated before reaching out. The moment our skin brushed, a jolt ran through me, and I quickly snatched the shirt from his hand, my heart pounding.

I practically ran to the restroom to change, desperate for a moment to calm myself. His scent still lingered on the shirt—warm, musky, and so intoxicating. I could barely focus as I slipped it on, the fabric clinging to me. It was his. I was wearing his shirt.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to walk back out.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kai didn’t answer right away. Instead, he moved closer to me, his gaze never leaving mine.

Too close.

I instinctively stepped back, but the wall pressed against me, and I was trapped in a second. My heart raced as his hands came up, caging me in. The air around us thickened with something heavy and scary… Was he interested in me? Was that even possible?

His golden eyes studied me carefully, flicking down to my lips. My breath hitched. Did he want to kiss me? Was he waiting for me to make a move? My plse thundered in my ears.

Then, as if sensing my thoughts, he spoke, his voice low. “You’re really beautiful.”

I froze. His words hit me like a wave, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My face burned, and I was sure I looked like a blushing mess.

“I… thank… I–” My words faltered. I couldn’t form a simple sentence.

“What has your tongue tied?” he asked, a teasing smirk pulling the corners of his mouth. “Is it me?”

My stomach did a flip, and I could barely keep my balance. The intensity of his gaze, the heat of his body so close to mine... I was sure I would burst into flames.

But quickly, he stepped back, his demeanor casual as if nothing happened. “Let’s go,” he said, his voice light. “Let’s leave before Xavier starts a war in there or comes for my head.”