Chapter 1
KAYLA'S POV
“Kayla, I just caught your boyfriend with another girl on campus.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Check the picture I sent to you. I caught him red-handed last night kissing her.”
Brittney, my coursemate and friend, said into the phone.
Without thinking, I rushed to check my messages to see the picture from her. I quickly opened it just to see… Brad?
My eyes widened in shock.
“The girl he is kissing…”
“That's Stella, your best friend.” Brittney said, “that girl's cunning, I knew she would betray you one day.”
I staggered backwards.
“No, no no no. It can't be.”
There was no way Stella would be with Brad. She clearly knew he was meant for me, not anyone including her. Worse still, today marked our three year anniversary.
“Who else knows about this?” I asked Brittney.
“No one. Just me and you.”
I nodded slowly. “Good. Let it be that way till I find the real truth.” I told her.
“Fine.” Brittney said and hung up.
Brad?
As in Brad Winston?
“How dare he? How dare he cheat on me with Stella?!” I yelled as I gripped my fist in anger.
At that moment, I heard a knock.
“Get out! I don't want to see anyone!” I yelled.
“Kayla, it is your father.”
I froze again and looked at the door. Without hesitating, I rushed to open it. Standing in front of my door was my cold looking father. He looked at me for a while, before walking into the room.
“You look unhappy,” he said to me. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing, father.” I quickly answered.
My father raised a brow.
“It is not about Brad, is it?”
I averted my gaze to him. “What do you mean?”
He let out a smile.
“So it is about him.” he muttered, then walked to the window, “It is clear that your relationship with him has not been stable.”
“He is the problem here, dad.”
“Every relationship has a problem.”
“He–”
“Whatever you say would not justify anything. You know your relationship with him is an important one.” my dad interrupted.
I rolled my eyes.
Of course I knew. I was aware that the relationship was just a means to raise his status as a Mafia Lord and keep his tracks hidden. Since Brad's father was a governor and a powerful one at that, he was the right choice for my father.
“The quicker I expand my territory, the harder it would be to suppress my empire. And that is why you have to tolerate whatever Brad throws at you.”
I paused and stared at the floor.
Whatever Brad throws at me?
Even if it meant cheating on me?
I scoffed.
“Dad–”
He quickly raised his hand to shut me up.
“No more words. You will do as I say, darling.” he said with a smile, “now, get dressed, you need to get going.”
As I watched him turn to go, I clenched my fist. Then he paused and turned.
“And Kayla,”
I raised my gaze to him.
“Your grades have been dropping a lot. So I have planned to get you a tutor.”
“I don't need a tutor!” I shouted in anger.
He smirked.
“Well, you have no choice. You can't lead my empire with that brain of yours.” he said and slammed the door.
Once he was gone, I let out a frustrated yell.
Why was my life so controlled? I asked myself as I paced around the room.
Ever since my mother's death, things had been going in a different path. Nothing was working out for me.
At that moment, my mind went back to Brad and before I could think of anything, I walked to my desk, sat on the chair and began to apply my make-up. When I was done, I grabbed my hand bag and stormed out of the room.
***
Ravenhurst University was a twenty minutes drive from my house. On arrival at the parking lot, I got down and carried my bag.
As I walked to class, my eyes darted around, searching for the the betrayer.
“Stella.” I said with gritted teeth, “you have crossed a boundary.”
At that moment, I felt someone crashed into me.
“Oh my God! You looked… hot.” a familiar voice said.
I turned abruptly to see Stella behind me. Suddenly, I felt the urge to hold her by the neck and choke her, but I withheld myself. Looking at the situation of things, I had a plan in mind.
“I know, right?” I said as I let out a smile.
“Don't you think the skirt is too short?” Stella asked me.
I looked down at the mini skirt worn over my tight top and smiled. I had worn it on purpose.
“It showcases my sexy legs, so why should I bother?” I asked her.
“You know you always pull off whatever you wear and this looks perfect.” she said then tugged her arms in mine, “I'm sure Brad can't wait to see you, he would be all over you.”
I raised a brow.
Liar.
I could sense the lie in her tone, but I smiled slightly and began walking toward the building.
“Brad has always been obsessed with my body. I guess he doesn't have a choice.”
Just as we reached the hall, I saw lots of people rushing into it. Then I noticed something, they were all glancing towards my direction and whispering.
I bent my head slightly trying to think of what was going on. All of a sudden, Stella looked at me, a changed expression on her face.
“Kayla, look I know this might be quite awkward, but it wasn't my idea–”
“What are you talking about?” I said with a confused face.
Was she trying to apologize for kissing Brad or what?
“I didn't persuade him to do it, he took advantage of our friendship.”
Yeah, right.
So this was what it was about.
“Look here Stella, I–”
I paused and looked behind her with a shocked expression.
Stella smiled, she knew what I had seen.
“Brad?”
Brad grinned as he approached me. Looking at him, I could tell he was even more handsome with his slicked back hair. This was the same boy everyone on campus was dying to have.
“Kayla.” he called me as he stopped before me.
I looked at his well sculptured face, the same one I usually adored, then my eyes settled his dark gaze. There was something about the way he looked at me.
I paused and looked away.
For a moment, I thought something was wrong with me.
Wasn't he the same guy I caught cheating with Stella?
Then my eyes averted to the bouquet of roses in his hand. Brad smiled and handed them to me.
“Happy three year anniversary.” he said with a happy tone.
I looked at him, noting his cheerful look, then I glanced at the students cheering and making videos of us at the background.
I let out a sigh.
It is just a dream, Kayla. All this is just a dream, I told myself.
Without thinking, I collected the bouquet from him and smiled back.
“Happy three year anniversary, babe.” I said and reached for his lips.
Brad leaned in and kissed me as the crowd erupted into laughter. To them, their “perfect couple” were celebrating their anniversary, but to me, I wanted to be away from him and away from everyone.
I needed to clear my head.
Amidst the laughter and talks, I glanced at Stella. Her face was filled with jealousy as she stared at us and when our gaze met, she forced a slight smile.
