Semua Bab University Series 1: Tangled Ties: Bab 31 - Bab 39

When I opened the front door, the air inside felt heavy. Quiet—but not the peaceful kind. It was the kind of silence that warned something was about to explode.“Mom?” I called out as I set my bag down by the hallway.I had just come from a full day of classes—my bag heavy with plates, half-finished iced coffee in hand. All I wanted was sleep.But that wasn’t what I got.A sharp slap met me at the door. No warning, no dramatic buildup—just the raw sting of skin hitting skin. It sent me stumbling back, nearly twisting my ankle in my shoes.“What the hell?!” I shouted, clutching my cheek. It burned. I could taste blood on my lip. “Are you crazy?!”“What do you think you’re doing?” Mom screamed. She was in a house dress, but her eyes—they belonged to someone else. “What are you doing to my family, Laura?!”Her family.“Excuse me?” I snapped. “You slap me and now you’re acting like I owe you answers?”“You’re humiliating me!” she yelled. “You’re humiliating me and Edward! Why are you tryi

Third-Person POV – ViennaShe always looked put together—heels clicking against tile, blouse neatly tucked in, phone in one hand and a stack of deadlines in the other. Vienna Xavier was the type of girl you’d assume had her whole life under control. And most of the time, she did. Or at least, she made sure it looked that way.But today? She wasn’t sure if the tightness in her chest came from the hangover of sleeping through her problems—or from the boy sitting right in front of her now.“You haven’t eaten, have you?” Jacob asked, handing her a cup of hot chocolate.Vienna raised an eyebrow. “You actually remembered that?”“I used to be your intern, remember?” he said, grinning.She smirked but didn’t answer right away. She sat down on the bench, legs crossed, eyes drifting across the quiet garden near the admin building. It was mostly empty. Just her, Jacob, and the memories she wished she could file away and forget.Jacob sat beside her—not too close, but close enough.“I didn’t thin

The night of the exhibit buzzed with quiet celebration. The hall was filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and soft music as students basked in the success of their work. Professors congratulated their mentees, and photographers moved from one corner to another, capturing the smiles and the glow of the night.Laura stood near her painting, smiling faintly as she received a few compliments. At the corner of the room, Jacob lingered, watching her longer than he should. There was a weight in his gaze—something deeper than admiration, something only he could explain.Cole noticed.He stood at the opposite end of the hall, arms crossed, his jaw tense. For most of the evening, he kept quiet, letting Laura enjoy the moment. But when Jacob leaned a little too close while they spoke, something snapped inside him.When the crowd began to thin and the noise faded to a low hum, Cole found his chance. He approached Jacob, voice low but sharp.“You should know your place,” Cole said, blocking Jac

I woke up the next morning with swollen eyes. Not exactly the kind of look you want to bring to class, so I skipped. For once, I decided… I deserved a break.So I booked a nail appointment. Got my hair blown out. Even went for a quick spa session. For a few hours, it felt nice—being touched up, polished, like I was finally in control of something.I thought self-care would fix me. New nails, a fresh haircut, hours at the spa—I did everything I could to feel lighter, prettier, maybe even stronger. For a while, it worked. I felt put together again, like maybe I could breathe.After that, I stopped by a café and opened my sketchpad. My pencil moved on its own, drawing lines that turned into faces I couldn’t name. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was Mom. Maybe it was just… someone broken. I didn’t know. I just knew I had to keep my hands busy or else I’d start thinking again.But then the sky darkened. By the time I packed up, heavy rain came crashing down. I ran under a shed, clutching my sket

I didn’t have the luxury of hiding at home. Exams were scheduled, and no matter how loud the scandal was outside, I still had to show up. Pretend like I was just another student, not the daughter of a woman plastered all over the news.Walking through the campus gates, I could feel the whispers prickling at my back. Eyes followed me everywhere. Some were curious, others judgmental, a few almost pitying—and I hated it. I hated all of it.So I kept my head down, shoved my notes tighter against my chest, and pushed through the day. One exam, then another. Swallow it down, Laura. Just swallow it all. That’s what I kept telling myself.By late afternoon, my stomach was growling. I hadn’t eaten since morning, so I decided to grab something from the cafeteria before heading home. Bad idea.The moment I sat down with my tray, I heard it.“She must’ve inherited everything from her mom… even the lying.”“Maybe it runs in the family. No wonder Cole’s only pretending to—”The words weren’t even s