Chapter 2

2

The next morning, I gathered my documents and prepared to head to the university.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I locked eyes with Caspian. He was sitting at the breakfast table, looking effortless in his suit.

"Where are you going? I thought you didn't have classes today."

"Oh, the Art Club has an event. They're short-handed and asked me to help out."

It was a clumsy lie. If Caspian cared even a little, he would remember I told him weeks ago that I'd quit that club.

But he didn't remember. He just nodded.

"Fine. Let me finish my coffee and I'll drive you."

"No thanks. I already called an Uber."

"Then call me when you're done. I'll be in that area for a meeting later. I can pick you up."

"I'm okay, Caspian. You're busy. I can just get a ride back."

I closed the door before he could argue. The cold wind bit at my face, and I realized Caspian probably felt something was off.

In the past, I would have done anything to spend an extra ten minutes in his car. I wanted everyone to see us together.

Today, I was running away.

He probably figured I was just being dramatic. He likely thought I'd be back to my old self in a few days.

On the other side of the door, I hurried down the street and opened my ride-share app.

I hadn't actually called a car yet. I just couldn't spend another second in that house with him.

I had loved him for seven years. Every time he showed me a crumb of kindness, I crawled right back to him.

I was so close to breaking. I couldn't let myself waver again.

At the university, I went straight to Professor Miller's office. He was thrilled I'd changed my mind.

He promised to expedite my paperwork so I'd have time to pack.

"Actually, Professor... can you put me at the top of the list? I want to get there as soon as possible."

"And, could you keep this a secret for now? I want to tell my family myself. A surprise."

Professor Miller smiled and tapped his pen against his chin.

"You young people and your surprises! Fine, I'll keep your secret."

I thanked him and left the office. As soon as the door closed, my fake smile crumbled.

Family? What family did I have left?

When I was fourteen, my mother was dying. Before she passed, she sent me―her illegitimate daughter―to the Sterling estate.

She thought the Sterlings could give me a better life than a dying woman with nothing.

But shortly after I arrived, my father died in a freak accident.

His legal wife hated my guts. The rest of the Sterling relatives just saw me as a burden. Nobody wanted to deal with me.

At my father's funeral, they passed me around like a hot potato.

I stood there with tears in my eyes, wanting to tell Mrs. Sterling that I didn't eat much. I wanted to ask her to just let me stay.

But when I looked at her, she exploded in a rage.

"What's with that face? You're just like your mother, acting innocent to get sympathy!"

"If it wasn't for her, my husband would never have ignored me all those years! That home-wrecker deserved to die, and so do you!"

She grabbed a heavy metal chair and swung it at me with everything she had.

I curled into a ball, waiting for the pain. But it never came.

Instead, I heard a sickening thud and a heavy groan. Then, the metallic scent of blood filled the air.

Caspian Sterling, who was only twenty-one at the time, had used his own body to shield me.

The sharp metal edge had sliced a deep gash across his back. I felt his blood drip onto my face.

Through my sobbing, I heard his voice.

"This kid is pretty cute. I'll take her. I'll raise her."

"I'm Caspian. Based on the family tree, you'll call me Uncle."