CHAPTER 69: LET ME FUCK YOU

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 something at him but instead, I did the next stupid thing that came 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 came. "Who’s this?"

"Collins... it’s me," 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 come and pick me up?"

He didn’t reply immediately 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 me for a moment before unlocking the door. "Get in."

I climbed in without saying a word. When he turned to look at me, 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 me. "Catherine, talk to me. What happened?"

That was the moment something in me 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 time I thought about Julian. So I reached forward, grabbed the collar of his shirt, and pulled him closer.

Our lips met in a clumsy, rushed, and messy 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 me.

He exhaled, looked away, then said, "Do you maybe want to go somewhere 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 screamed 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 come up behind me, 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 me 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 me and leaned on the sink.

I stared at myself in the mirror for a long moment, 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, remember? You started this."

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. My reflection looked back at me, tired, confused and lost. "Julian Vaughn, look what you’ve turned me 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 smelled like tobacco and alcohol.

He looked up at me, smiling lazily. "Come 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 me. "Here."

I shook my head. "No, thanks. I don’t really have a head for alcohol."

He gave me a look but didn’t push. "Suit yourself." He took a slow drag of his cigarette and then extended it to me. "You can at least try this."

"I’ve never smoked before."

"There’s a first time for everything," he said with a smirk.

I hesitated again. Saying no twice would make me 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 me. "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 me 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 someone else want me 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 came out sharp.

My eyes blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." He strangely let out a short laugh that sounded bitter. "Why the hell did you call me 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 me out of nowhere, kiss me 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 me."

His jaw clenched, his eyes turned monstrous. "What do you take me for, huh? Someone you run to when your stepbrother gets tired of playing with you?"

His words hit me 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 me 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, zoomed in, but painfully clear, of me and Julian in class, with his hand cupping my face and my lips on his.

My breath caught. The world seemed 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 me 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 me!" My voice cracked.

He smirked. "Someone sent it to me. Guess I wasn’t the only one who noticed your little forbidden game."

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 me to smell the smoke in his breath. Then snatched the phone back from me, slipping it into his pocket.

I pressed my fingers to my temples, forcing myself to breathe, to think. I couldn’t let him see me fall apart.

"Delete it," I said finally. My voice came out hoarse. "Please."

He flashed a devious smile at me. "Fine."

I felt relieved but only for a second.

"Only if you let me fuck you now."