CHAPTER 75: CONNIVING BITCHES

Catherine’s POV

For the rest of the morning, I stayed in my room and refused to step out even though I knew my stomach was growling. Even though Julian mentioned he was stepping out, I was skeptical and didn’t want to risk seeing him.

I couldn’t hold it anymore, so I eventually dragged myself out of bed, pulled on an oversized t-shirt and shorts, and padded downstairs slowly, trying to prepare my calm, indifferent and unbothered expression.

I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a plate, and opened the refrigerator to take out the leftover pancakes from yesterday but when I closed the fridge, my eyes widened in shock at who I saw.

Right there in front of me, standing like she was a member of the family, was Sasha.

Her lips curled into a small, satisfied smile, and she lifted her hand in a lazy wave. "Morning, sweetheart."

I froze so hard my pulse had to remind me to breathe. What the hell? Why was SHE here?

"Sasha?"

"What... what are you doing here?"

She didn’t answer immediately. She looked me up and down like I was something she stepped on accidentally. A split second later, when she was about to reply, Lucy’s voice came.

"Oh, there you are," Lucy said cheerfully as she walked into the kitchen and went straight to Sasha. She wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Gotten a drink yet?"

My brain nearly exploded while trying to make sense of what just happened.

WHAT’S Really Happening? Why are they smiling at Sasha?! My confusion hit me like a throat punch.

The last time those two were in this house together, I had watched them practically claw each other’s faces off. Their words alone could’ve set furniture on fire.

And now... they were touching, laughing and acting like besties?

Lucy glanced at me, her arm still around Sasha. "Catherine, you look shocked."

"I—" I blinked rapidly, refusing to accept that this wasn’t a nightmare. "Why is she here? And why are you acting like... like you two are friends now? Did I miss something?"

Lucy scoffed, an exaggerated sound that dripped with mock innocence. "Oh yes, we are friends now. No need to be shocked. This friendship was bound to happen eventually." She patted Sasha’s shoulder. "Thankfully, we figured out who the real bitch is."

My mouth fell slightly open. The real bitch? She was referring to me.

Sasha made a small tsking noise as she stepped forward. "You know, Catherine... I almost feel bad for you." Her eyes flashed a mocking sympathy. "Going around kissing Julian and pretending you have nothing going on with him."

My posture stiffened and my muscles became rigid. "What did you just say?"

She smiled sweetly, like this was all entertainment for her. "You heard me."

I stared at her, my lungs squeezing tighter and tighter. How on earth did Sasha find out? Did I just waltz back into her bad book? How the fuck did she know about Julian and I kissing? Was it Collins who told her?

Right there, in my pull of thoughts, I suddenly remembered that Collins wasn’t in school the day the kiss between Julian and I happened. Wait a second!

That day, while kissing, we heard a noise behind the door and concluded it was a rat. But when I left the classroom, I found Sasha standing in the hallway, which was very weird.

Could it be that? Oh no! Shit! No... it couldn’t be. Yes. It absolutely could.

Sasha was the one who took the picture and she probably sent it to Collins.

My breath left me in a slow, shaky exhale.

Her smile widened like she could see the exact moment the truth hit me.

"Oh, she’s finally putting it together," she said with a victorious little laugh.

Lucy giggled like this was a comedy show and my hands curled into fists.

"You took that picture," I shot, my voice barely stable. "You were the one who sent it to Collins."

Sasha didn’t even look guilty, neither did she deny it nor flinch. Instead, she tilted her head and asked, "And what if I did?"

Something hot and sharp rose in my chest.

"Why?" I demanded. "Why the hell would you do that?"

"Shut your mouth, you tramp. You don’t deserve Julian. You are just a slut and a gold digging bitch! You do not deserve Julian’s attention."

My heart lurched painfully. "Fine! I’m the tramp, the gold digger, the slut. But you, Sasha? You are worse. Save yourself some dignity and leave Julian alone, he will never accept you."

She raised her brows, giving me a piercing stare. "Oh, really? That’s funny."

Lucy added, "and you think he has accepted you?"

My breath hitched. "What?"

Lucy crossed her arms, stepping closer. "Let me guess... Julian told you he’s ’never been with anyone before,’ didn’t he? He told you you’re special and said all the right things?"

I swallowed hard, heat crawling up my neck.

Her laugh was cruel. "Sweetheart, don’t get your hopes high, you’re just another girl he wants to ruin."

Something inside me snapped. "Shut up."

But she only looked amused. "Why? Is the truth too much?"

"No," I said through clenched teeth. "But listening to you talk is."

Sasha stepped forward with an ugly smirk. "Careful. You’re outnumbered."

My heart hammered violently, but I lifted my chin anyway. "I don’t care."

Lucy eyed me like a cat studying a mouse it wasn’t done playing with. "Do you want to know what Julian told me about you? He said you are naïve, pathetic and easy to manipulate."

Hearing her say that hurt me a lot, more than it should have but I forced myself to breathe and not to react.

"You’re lying," I whispered.

She smiled like she was pleased. "Believe what you want."

My jaw tightened. My skin was burning. My chest felt like it was caving in. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears.

I stepped backward slowly, my breathing uneven. "I’m done with talking to you two."