Catherine’s POV
All I could think about was a way to get back at Julian or at least get him out of my head. I wanted to scream, cry, throw sothing at him but instead, I did the next stupid thing that ca to mind.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Collins’ number. The call didn’t go through because apparently I was still blocked but I wasn’t giving up. I went downstairs and picked up the landline phone, dialing his number again.
He answered after a few rings, and his flat voice ca. "Who’s this?"
"Collins... it’s ," I said quietly. "Please don’t hang up."
He stayed silent. For a second, I thought he would cut the call. My throat tightened as I forced out the words, "I just... I want to see you. Please can you co and pick up?"
He didn’t reply imdiately but I could hear his breathing on the other end. Finally, he said, "Alright, I’m coming."
After he ended the call, I stood there, staring at the phone in my hand. Then I turned and ran upstairs to change before I could think twice about it. I was wearing shorts and a singlet, definitely too exposed for going out, so I pulled on a navy-blue hoodie, black socks, and my sneakers. I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes were red and puffy, face blotchy from crying.
"You’re such an idiot for caring for that bastard," I muttered to myself, before walking out of the Vaughn mansion.
I stood by the gate, my arms folded, while I waited. Fifteen minutes later, Collins’ car pulled up. He lowered his window, studying for a mont before unlocking the door. "Get in."
I climbed in without saying a word. When he turned to look at , his brows drew together. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing," I lied.
"Your eyes are swollen. Have you been crying?"
"No. It’s nothing," I muttered, looking away.
He didn’t start the car. Instead, he parked properly by the curb and turned toward . "Catherine, talk to . What happened?"
That was the mont sothing in snapped. I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to think. I just wanted to stop feeling like my heart was bleeding every ti I thought about Julian. So I reached forward, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and pulled him closer.
Our lips t in a clumsy, rushed, and ssy kiss. After a while, he pulled back, searching my face for an explanation... maybe. "You sure you’re okay?"
I couldn’t answer. The weight of what I’d just done hit .
He exhaled, looked away, then said, "Do you maybe want to go sowhere quieter? My safe house."
"Safe house?" I repeated, raising a brow.
He smirked, starting the car. "You’ll see."
I didn’t know what to expect, but when we arrived, my jaw nearly dropped. The house was tucked deep inside a private estate. It was big and modern. Everything inside scread wealth. Gold-accented walls, black marble floors and expensive furnishings.
I couldn’t help it; I turned in a slow circle, taking everything in. "Wow... this place is beautiful."
A warm breath brushed my neck, and I froze. Collins had co up behind , his arm snaking around my waist.
"You like it?" he whispered against my ear.
My pulse jumped. I forced a small smile. "Yeah. It’s... nice."
He turned around then bent his head. I knew what he wanted before he leaned in. My body stiffened.
I turned my face away at the last second. "I—uh, need to use the restroom."
He paused, before nodding toward the staircase. "Upstairs. First door on the right."
When I walked into the room, my chest tightened. Why was the bathroom inside a bedroom? I didn’t want to think too deeply about it, so I just closed the door behind and leaned on the sink.
I stared at myself in the mirror for a long mont, shaking my head. "You better not act like you weren’t the one who put yourself here," I whispered to my reflection. "You called him, rember? You started this."
I sighed and rubbed my eyes. My reflection looked back at , tired, confused and lost. "Julian Vaughn, look what you’ve turned into," I muttered under my breath, almost laughing bitterly.
After a few minutes, I washed my hands and stepped out.
Collins was lying on the bed now, one leg propped up, cigarette between his fingers, and a drink poured into two glasses on the table beside him. The room slled like tobacco and alcohol.
He looked up at , smiling lazily. "Co here."
I hesitated for a second, then walked closer and sat at the edge of the bed. He picked up one of the glasses and handed it to . "Here."
I shook my head. "No, thanks. I don’t really have a head for alcohol."
He gave a look but didn’t push. "Suit yourself." He took a slow drag of his cigarette and then extended it to . "You can at least try this."
"I’ve never smoked before."
"There’s a first ti for everything," he said with a smirk.
I hesitated again. Saying no twice would make look uptight, and I didn’t want that, so I took it, brought it to my lips, and tried to inhale like I’d seen in movies.
The smoke hit the back of my throat and burned. I coughed so hard that tears stung my eyes. Collins burst out laughing.
"That’s not how you do it," he said, taking it back from . "You draw it slowly, like this." He inhaled and exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "See?"
I wiped my eyes and gave him a deadpan look. "If I try that again, I’ll probably die."
He chuckled. "Fair enough."
I folded my arms and leaned back slightly, pretending to be more relaxed than I actually was.
Then he leaned forward, his eyes narrowing just a little. "Why did you really call tonight, Catherine?"
My mind scrambled for words that didn’t sound like lies. But what was I supposed to say? I called you because I was angry at Julian? Because I wanted to prove I could make soone else want too?
I couldn’t tell him that. I couldn’t even admit it to myself. I swallowed hard, still unsure of my reply. "I- I wanted to see you."
He moved closer, his hand brushing against my arm, then trailing lower, testing boundaries I didn’t even realize I’d set. I shifted away instinctively, inching toward the edge of the bed.
He stopped and dropped his hand to his lap.
"What’s your problem?" his voice ca out sharp.
My eyes blinked. "What?"
"You heard ." He strangely let out a short laugh that sounded bitter. "Why the hell did you call if you are just going to sit there acting like a damn virgin?"
Why was he acting this way?!
My heart jumped, but I refused to show it. I straightened my spine and looked him dead in the eyes. "I’m not acting like a virgin," I said flatly. "Because I am one."
He scoffed, his expression twisting into disbelief. "Oh please save your lies."
I shook my head. "I’m not lying."
He ran a hand over his face and gave a hollow laugh. "Bullshit. You call out of nowhere, kiss like that, and then start playing innocent?"
"I should go," I quickly said, rising to my feet but before I could move, Collins’ hand shot out and grabbed my wrist in a rough, firm, and unrelenting way.
"Let go," I said, trying to pull back.
He didn’t. His grip only tightened, making my skin sting. "You must think I’m stupid."
My pulse spiked. "Collins, you’re hurting ."
His jaw clenched, his eyes turned monstrous. "What do you take for, huh? Soone you run to when your stepbrother gets tired of playing with you?"
His words hit like a slap. I stared at him, confused. "What are you talking about?"
He laughed bitterly, shaking his head like I’d just told the world’s funniest joke. "You really want to pretend?"
"Pretend what?"
"Fine," he said, letting go of only to reach into his pocket. He pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and shoved it in my face. "Here!"
At first, I couldn’t process what I was seeing.
The screen showed a grainy photo, zood in, but painfully clear, of and Julian in class, with his hand cupping my face and my lips on his.
My breath caught. The world seed to stop moving.
I snatched the phone from his hand and stared at it, disbelief sinking deep into my bones. "What? How did you get this?"
Collins folded his arms, watching with cold satisfaction. "So it’s true."
I looked up, my heart racing. "Where did you get this picture, Collins?"
He didn’t answer.
"Answer !" My voice cracked.
He smirked. "Soone sent it to . Guess I wasn’t the only one who noticed your little forbidden ga."
I felt my stomach twist. My skin went cold all over. "Who sent it?"
He shrugged, tilting his head. "Does it matter? You and your stepbrother... wow, Catherine. That’s a new low."
"Stop it," I whispered.
He took a step closer, taunting. "Why? You thought no one would notice?" He leaned forward, close enough for to sll the smoke in his breath. Then snatched the phone back from , slipping it into his pocket.
I pressed my fingers to my temples, forcing myself to breathe, to think. I couldn’t let him see fall apart.
"Delete it," I said finally. My voice ca out hoarse. "Please."
He flashed a devious smile at . "Fine."
I felt relieved but only for a second.
"Only if you let fuck you now."
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