Chapter 4

By the time they left the lounge, one of the maids told them that Selena and Lucian had played video games for a while before going to bed.

During the meeting, Moraine had told the Knights about her worries and some of the things she had witnessed at her school that she couldn't do much about because the parents involved were people with enough money and influence to make even the law bend for them. The Knights understood her concerns and assured her that Selena would be safe. They told her that they made sure students in their school did not bully one another.

That shocked Moraine. For one, it meant they were good people. They were unapologetically rich, but they didn't seem to use their wealth to look down on others. They didn't tell her exactly how they handled bullying in their school, but they had given her their word, and Moraine was going to have to hold them to it. It was already late, and Selena had fallen asleep, so Moraine decided to stay in the guest room and leave the next morning.

Selena woke up feeling very much alive. She had never slept on such a soft, silky, expensive mattress before. The ones she had at home were good, but this one was on another level

She felt strangely happy as she got out of bed, brushed her teeth, and took her bath.

When she had entered the room yesterday, she had noticed that the maids had already arranged her clothes, shoes, and everything else she owned inside the wardrobe but what touched her the most was the picture of her parents hanging on the wall beside her bed. She was incredibly grateful to the Knights for everything they had done for her. Because if she really thought about it, they barely knew each other. Yet ever since the day they had come to her hometown, she had found herself trusting them.

How many people on earth would leave their businesses and homes just to travel to see someone they barely knew simply because they had met her once? She finished getting ready, made her bed out of habit, and went to knock on Lucian's door. She knocked once. Twice. Three times. No answer. She pushed the door open slightly.

“Lucian?” Nothing. She stepped inside and smiled when she saw him sleeping. He looked so cute and harmless when he was asleep. Yesterday, they had talked for a while. He was still a little closed off, but he was much better than before. He had even suggested that they play a video game together. He taught her how to play, and somehow, after learning for the first time, she had beaten him. The genuine reaction on his face had made her laugh.

He had shown her to her room afterward, which had left her amazed and awed, and then he had shown her his own room. Before she left, he had given her one strict instruction. “Knock before entering. And wait until I tell you to come in.” She had agreed. But she had knocked three times. He hadn't answered. So technically, she had a good reason to enter. At least, that was what she told herself. She walked over to the bed and tried waking him. Nothing. She opened the curtains, letting sunlight flood the room. Still nothing. So she started singing. Loudly. And terribly.

Lucian finally stirred. He opened his eyes and immediately gave her a long side-eye.

“Why are you in my room?” Selena grinned.

“Good morning to you too.” She walked toward the door. “I'll wait for you at the table. Don't take forever.” Then she left before he could respond.

Moraine and the Knights were already seated at the breakfast table when Selena arrived. She exchanged greetings with everyone before taking the seat beside her aunt.

“I'll be leaving after breakfast,” Moraine announced.Selena frowned slightly. She had known her aunt would leave the next morning, but somehow, knowing it was actually happening hurt more than she expected.

Moraine noticed immediately. She pulled Selena into a hug.

“I'll always come to visit you,” she assured her. “And I'll bring your favorite snacks too.”

Selena smiled against her shoulder. “You better.”

A few minutes later, Lucian came downstairs.

Selena looked up. And almost forgot how to breathe. He was wearing wide-leg pants and a simple tank top, looking like some heartbreak prince who had accidentally wandered into breakfast. She caught herself staring. Then she realized Moraine had caught her too. Her aunt's lips twitched into a knowing smile. Selena immediately looked away. Breakfast continued in relative silence.

Thirty minutes later, it was time for Moraine to leave. The Knights had already arranged for the previous driver to take her back to the hotel where she had left her car.

Moraine hugged Selena tightly before leaving.“Be careful,” she whispered. “And never let anyone trample on you. Even though they have given me their word that you'll be safe, you still need to look out for yourself.”

Selena nodded. “I will.” Moraine gave her one last hug before walking away. Selena stood there watching until her aunt disappeared from sight.

Monday came quickly. The Knights took Selena to school, completed her enrollment, sorted out everything she needed, and officially welcomed her into the school community. That was where she met Claire and Katie. They met during one of their first classes, and somehow, the three girls clicked almost immediately. Before long, they were inseparable. They went everywhere together. They studied together, ate together, played together, walked to classes together, and eventually started visiting one another's homes. The Knights had no problem with Claire and Katie coming over.

Lucian, however, seemed to have a particular problem with Katie. He was always picking on her.

At one point, their teasing escalated into an actual exchange of insults.

“Both of you, stop!” Claire snapped.

“Seriously,” Selena added. “Before they come to complain that we're disturbing the peace of the estate.”That finally shut them up.

For the most part, the Knights were impressed by Selena's results and never missed an opportunity to praise her. Unfortunately, the more they praised her, the more Lucian's jealousy began to crack the stable friendship they had built. It wasn't enough to destroy it. But Selena noticed the difference. The following year was their second year at school. That was also when Selena began realizing that her feelings for Lucian were becoming something more. She knew she had always had a crush on him.

But Claire made her look at him differently one afternoon when she admitted that she kind of liked him too.

“You know he actually listens to you, right?” Claire pointed out.

Selena shrugged. “So?”

“And he doesn't act like a complete jerk around you.”

“That's because I'm special.” Claire rolled her eyes.

“You're impossible.” There were other little things too.

The way Lucian remembered small details about her. The way he always saved her a seat. The way his mood changed whenever she was upset.

The way he seemed to notice her before he noticed anyone else. And to think that he was jealous when his parents wanted her to join their school but now he is the one being all elder brotherly.

Selena never told him how she felt. She didn't want to ruin their friendship. So she kept it to herself.

By their third and final year, university was the main topic of conversation. Selena, Claire, and Katie had all decided on the same university.

Lucian, however, wanted to study abroad. It made Selena sad. She had actually convinced her friends to choose their university partly because Lucian had once said he liked it. Now he was planning to leave. She didn't tell him how much it bothered her.

Two months before their final exams, the school gave their class a short break.The Knights agreed to let Selena, Claire, Katie, and Lucian go on the trip with their classmates to Moraine's city. The city was known for several excellent educational institutions, academic programs, libraries, and opportunities that could be useful to students preparing for university. But for Selena, there was another reason for going. She wanted to see her aunt. She missed Moraine terribly. They had still been talking on the phone, but something had changed.

Moraine hadn't called her in almost three months, and Selena hadn't seen her in nearly a year. She needed to know what was going on. The students travelled by school bus, but by the time they arrived, it was already evening. Everyone stayed at the hotel for the night. Selena, however, took a ride to Moraine's old address. She had been there once before, the previous year, when the Knights had accompanied her, but when she arrived, Moraine no longer lived there. Selena's stomach dropped. She immediately called her aunt. Voicemail. She called again. Still nothing. Panic began creeping in. She called Brandon instead.

“Mr. Knight, has Aunt Moraine called you?” There was a pause.

“No. Why?” Selena explained what had happened.

Brandon could hear the panic in her voice. “Selena, go back to the hotel and settle down. I'm going to make a few calls. I'm sure there's an explanation.”

Selena reluctantly obeyed. That night, she barely slept. The next morning, Brandon called.

“Moraine is fine,” he told her.

Selena let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

“She’s currently on an international school conference trip. She'll be back in about three months.”

Selena frowned. “Three months?”

“She said you shouldn't worry. She'll call you this evening when it's a reasonable time in her time zone.” Selena thanked him and hung up. For the first time all night, she felt relieved. Then she fell asleep.

The school trip eventually ended, but something wasn't right with Katie. Both Selena and Claire tried asking her what was wrong. Katie refused to say anything. Eventually, they stopped pushing. They figured that when she was ready, she would tell them.

Then exam season arrived. Everyone became serious. Lucian and Selena were mostly confined to their rooms because they had to study, and there was absolutely no room for distractions.

The Knights weren't worried. They simply instructed the maids to take food and snacks to them from time to time.

Finally, the last exam arrived. When Selena stepped out of the examination hall, she felt like she could breathe again. She immediately went looking for Claire and Katie. But when she asked their homeroom teacher, she was told that both girls had finished their exams on time and left. Selena frowned. That was strange because they never left without each other. Before she could decide what to do, her phone rang.

Claire.

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you before we left,” Claire said. “Something happened at home.”

Selena's concern grew. “What happened?”

“I'll tell you when I come over, okay? There's something I need to talk to you about.” Selena agreed.

She went home and waited. But while waiting, she couldn't help noticing that something had changed with Lucian too.

Ever since the school trip, he barely talked to her. Sometimes, he didn't talk to her at all. He spent most of his time upstairs and wasn't even hanging around the gaming room anymore. 'Rich kid problems', she told herself. She had no idea what was actually going on.

Just as Claire had promised, she and Katie came over later that day. The moment Selena saw Katie, she knew something was wrong.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, like she had been crying. Selena looked at Claire. “What happened to her?”

Claire closed the door behind them.Then she looked at Selena.

“She’s ten weeks pregnant.”