All Chapters of University Series 1: Tangled Ties: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

 “We’re playing a game today?” I smiled at the excitement I felt upon hearing the announcement from our teacher. It was the second day of our trip, and they had set up a treasure hunt. Finally, something thrilling. Something worth my time. I glanced around at my classmates. Some of them were already pairing up, discussing strategies. Others were groaning, clearly not fans of running around looking for clues. But me? This was my kind of game. “You all have to find the hidden treasure before sundown,” our teacher explained. “There will be clues along the way. Follow them carefully. And of course, stick with your partners.” Partners. I frowned. My excitement immediately dropped. Son of a bis

The house was dimly lit when I stepped inside. The familiar scent of home wrapped around me, but something felt off. As I walked past the living room, I froze. “What the hell are you up to?” A voice—low, hushed—came from the study. Edward. I took a slow step forward, pressing myself against the wall as I listened. “You have to be patient,” his voice was firm but quiet, like he didn’t want anyone to hear. “I told you, I’m handling it and I already told you, this isn’t the right time.” My stomach twisted. There was a response from the other end of the line, a woman’s voice—soft, but enough for me to h

“Wow, Faye, you look like a panda,” Cole teased, leaning against the classroom door frame. His grin was wide, and the playful glint in his eyes made my headache worse. “Did you sleep? Those eye bags are huge.” I shot him a glare, feeling the sting of his words, even though I knew he meant them in jest. “Shut up,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes and trying to ignore the exhaustion weighing me down. I hadn’t slept well in days, and it wasn’t just because of work or school. The image of Michelle and Edward kept replaying in my mind, spiraling my thoughts every time I tried to rest. Cole raised his eyebrows but didn’t press the issue. He was always light-hearted, cracking jokes and never digging into anything too serious. It was part of the reason I’d bee

It was still early—five in the morning—and the world outside was cloaked in darkness. I was already standing in front of the house. The silence around me was deep, almost as if it was swallowing every sound that dared exist. I wrapped my arms around myself as the cold morning air brushed against my skin. I still felt weak, a little dizzy, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from walking away. I slipped inside quietly. I had no intention of explaining myself to anyone. I went straight to my room, not even bothering to change clothes. The moment I locked the door, that’s when I broke down. I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face into the pillow. The tears came without warning, even before my thoughts could catch up. Everything felt heavy—my chest, my head, my entire body. Within minutes, I was sobbing so har

I used to think silence meant peace. That if the world stopped shouting, I could finally breathe. But lately, silence has been louder than any argument. Louder than Michelle’s lies, or Edward’s fake concern. Louder than Emily’s refusal to meet my eyes.Today, the silence screamed again.I sat in the library room—Edward’s precious little sanctuary, where every book was neatly arranged by genre, then by color. A man who fakes emotions but alphabetizes pain. I was supposed to be here just to pass the time. Pretend I still cared about being in this house. But today, I had a different reason.Hidden in the back shelf, behind a row of old medical encyclopedias, was a folder.Red.Unlabeled.And dusty enough to suggest it hadn’t been touched in years.My fingers trembled as I opened it, scanning page after page. Names. Receipts. Wire transfers. Some were from foundations I didn’t even know existed.One document had Michelle’s name signed as a “consultant” for a company that, on paper, helped