로그인Kendra’s POV The subtle whispering in the hallways had graduated from background static to a deafening roar. Or at least, that’s how it felt inside my head. Every time two people leaned close to exchange notes by the lockers, every time a group of upper-classmen turned their heads as I walked past, my stomach clenched into a hard, painful knot. I could still feel the phantom residue of that guy’s crude remarks in the corridor last week, paired with the nauseating, suffocating reality of what had happened with Clara.I hadn’t spoken to Clara since the night in her foyer. My texts went unanswered; my calls dropped straight to voicemail. She was cutting me out of her life entirely, a silent, bleeding excision that hurt worse than any screaming match.And then there was the campus rumor mill itself. It had taken on a life of its own.I pushed through the doors into the student lounge, clutching my thermal coffee cup like a lifeline. I barely made it three steps inside before I heard it—t
Leo’s POVToday was our first formal working session with Julian.I set my portfolio down on the polished wooden surface, smoothing the front of my blazer. Beside me, Kendra was quietly organizing her notes, while Lena sat slightly rigid, staring down at her tablet with an intensity that suggested she wasn't actually reading a single word on the screen.I had noticed it over the past few days—Lena carried a certain underlying tension whenever we navigated the company tower. As a new classmate who had only recently been grouped with her and Kendra, I didn't know much about her personal life or background; I simply assumed the intimidating atmosphere of a multi-billion dollar corporate headquarters was enough to make any ordinary student feel out of their depth. But today, sitting across from Julian, that cautious energy in her seemed amplified tenfold.The side door clicked open, and Julian entered.He moved with the effortless, absolute authority of a man who owned the room before he
Lena’s POV The ping of a notification broke the heavy silence of my apartment later that evening. I pulled my phone off the bedside table, unlocking the screen to find a new group chat titled Vanguard Project, created by Leo.Leo: Good evening, team. Since Professor Harrison expects us to have preliminary data by next week, I suggest we visit the company to pull public records and map out their structural layers. When are we free today ?Kendra was the first to reply with a thumbs-up emoji and a proposed time in the afternoon. I stared at the screen, a knot tightening instantly in my stomach. Visiting the company was the last thing on earth I wanted to do. Between Richard’s suffocating presence, Adrian’s blind devotion, and Julian’s terrifying, razor-sharp awareness, walking into that building felt like walking straight into a lions' den.Yet, I couldn't object without raising suspicion.Lena: This afternoon works. And since I’m already somewhat familiar with the corporate layout fro
Lena’s POV Kendra slipped back inside, looking flushed, disheveled, and completely shaken. I watched her out of the corner of my eye as she made her way down the tiered aisle, trying desperately to smooth down her hair and compose her expression before sliding back into the seat beside me.I frowned, leaning over slightly so my voice wouldn't carry across the rows."You took quite long out there," I whispered, studying the tense line of her jaw and the way her fingers trembled as she pulled her notebook from her bag. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."Kendra swallowed hard, avoiding my gaze for a fraction of a second too long before offering a tight, unconvincing smile. "I'm fine. Just... ran into someone who annoyed me in the hall. It’s nothing."Before I could press her further, the classroom chatter abruptly died down as Professor Harrison cleared his throat at the front of the podium. He picked up a stack of printed assignment sheets, tapping them against the maho
Kendra’s POV While Professor Harrison droned on about comparative frameworks and Lena nodded along beside me, my mind was entirely somewhere else—trapped back in Clara’s grand foyer, staring at her tear-streaked face and listening to her mother’s voice asking what was wrong. The guilt wasn't fading; if anything, it was festering, turning into a heavy, nauseating knot in the pit of my stomach.My bladder felt uncomfortably full, and my head was pounding with a dull, persistent ache."I need to step out for a minute," I muttered to Lena, pushing my chair back."You okay?" Lena asked, giving me a searching look."Yeah. Just need some fresh air," I lied smoothly, offering a weak smile before turning down the corridor toward the female’s restroom.I stepped into the quiet, tiled interior, splashing cold water against my face and staring at my pale reflection in the mirror. My eyes were bloodshot, bruised by exhaustion and the relentless anxiety eating away at me. After using one of the st
Lena’s POV I lay flat on my back for several long seconds, staring blankly at the ceiling as the events of the past few days crashed down on me all at once. The sterile conference room, the heavy mahogany desk, the terrifying sound of Richard’s breathing, and Julian’s cold, triumphant smile as he caught us dead-to-rights.Every muscle in my body felt heavy, aching with an exhaustion that sleep couldn't fix. My chest tightened just thinking about stepping onto campus today. Adrian would likely text me later and the mere thought of reading his words made me feel like a fraud.I forced myself out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom, stepping under a hot shower to scrub away the lingering cold sweat and exhaustion. By the time I dressed in a structured grey blazer and white blouse, I felt at least physically human.My phone buzzed on the nightstand just as I was tossing my laptop into my bag. I picked it up to see a text from Kendra flashing on the screen.Kendra: Just getting dr
Lena’s POV🌸I stood in our cramped apartment, zipping up my worn delivery jacket with a heavy sigh. The clock had already ticked past 10 p.m., and every muscle in my body screamed for rest. But rent was overdue by two weeks, Cleo’s school fees kept piling up like accusations, and the electricity c
Kendra’s POV My heart was still hammering as I left the bathroom. Professor Kane’s words kept echoing in my head — low, filthy, and dangerously tempting. I could still feel the ghost of his fingers brushing under my skirt, the heat of his breath against my ear.I should have gone straight to Crimin
Kendra’s POV I walked through the campus gates with extra energy in my hips, the morning sun kissing my exposed thighs as my short plaid skirt danced with every step. Lena walked beside me, still looking slightly dazed and flushed from her wild weekend. I couldn’t stop smirking. My innocent best fr
Lena’s POV 🌸The apartment door clicked shut behind me just after 3:30 a.m. The sound felt impossibly loud in the silence. I stood in the dark living room for a long moment, heart still racing, legs unsteady beneath me.Cleo was asleep on the couch, curled into a tight ball with one arm hanging of







