CHAPTER 82: DID YOU TAKE MY GIFT?!

Catherine’s POV

Before Lucy could look under the bed, her phone suddenly rang.

She flinched, hissed, and snatched the phone from the vanity.

"What?!" she barked into the phone.

There was silence on the other end, and then Lucy snapped again, with a sharp and annoyed voice. "I said stop calling me!"

Another pause, followed by her cold, furious, cutting voice. "I do not love you anymore. Leave me the fuck alone, Chris."

Chris? Under the bed, my eyes widened. Who the hell was Chris? Who the hell loved Lucy?

But there was no time to wonder. Lucy abruptly ended the call, muttering curses under her breath, and stormed out of the room with the grace of an angry tornado.

The moment the door slammed shut, I rolled out from under the bed like a fugitive escaping prison. Kiera burst out of the closet at the same time, her hair messy, and her face flushed with adrenaline.

We stared at each other for half a second. "We better leave before she returns."

With no other words spoken, we bolted, making sure the coast was clear.

We raced silently down the hallway and slipped into my room, shutting the door behind us like we were sealing a vault.

Only after the lock clicked did I finally exhale.

Kiera leaned against the door, clutching her chest dramatically. "Jesus. I almost died."

"Tell me about it." I pressed my palm to my forehead, the stolen gift resting under my armpit. "I thought she was going to drag me out by my ears."

We stood there in silence for a moment, letting our hearts calm down. Suddenly, Kiera turned to me with a particular look.

The "start talking" look.

"What?" I asked, pretending not to notice.

Kiera raised a brow. "You know what."

I walked to my bed and sat, grabbing a pillow and placing it on my lap like a shield. "Huh? Know what?"

She walked over and sat beside me, crossing her arms.

"I want the full story. Why are Lucy and Sasha bullying you?"

I winced. There it was, the question I hoped she wouldn’t ask.

I rolled my eyes and stared at the pillow, squeezing it. "It’s nothing, really."

"Catherine," she called my name like she was warning me.

I sighed in frustration and lifted my head. "Fine. They... both have some obsessive crush on Julian, okay?"

Kiera’s eyes narrowed. "And...?"

"And they think Julian likes me."

Her stare turned deadpan. A slow, skeptical expression took over her entire face. "I don’t believe you."

"What the hell? Why?"

"Because," she said slowly, "the way Lucy was talking in that room? That wasn’t ’she thinks he likes you.’ That was ’he definitely does.’"

My chest tightened. I stood up quickly, feeling shy and exposed, and walked to my dressing table. I leaned against it, facing her. "What else do you want me to say?"

"The truth." Kiera leaned forward. "Do you have something going on with Julian?"

My fingers curled against the surface of the table. I bit my lower lip, heat creeping into my cheeks... and nodded slowly.

Kiera’s eyes went wide. "No. You’re lying."

"I’m not."

She slapped both hands over her mouth and squealed. Literally squealed, before she jumped up from the bed like she had springs on her feet.

"Oh my God! Oh my God, Catherine! Are you serious?!"

I nodded again, embarrassed.

She rushed to me, gripping my shoulders. "Okay wait—wait—have you two had sex?!"

"NO!" I shouted immediately. "We’ve only kissed!"

She clicked her teeth loudly. "Ah. Boring."

I threw my hands up. "It’s not my fault! Besides... I don’t even think Julian likes me enough. I feel like he’s just messing with me." My voice dropped. "Half the time, I don’t know what he wants."

Kiera stared at me like she was analyzing a puzzle.

Then she flashed a slow grin. "Catherine, do you know why you and I met today?"

I blinked. "...Jogging?"

"No," she said dramatically, grabbing my hands. "Destiny."

My brow pulled up. "What?"

"It was destined!" she declared proudly. "The universe literally put me in your path so I can help you with all this. I am going to help you find out whether Julian actually likes you."

I blinked again. "...Why do you sound like some guardian angel?"

"I prefer goddess," she corrected with a grin.

I burst out laughing but before I could say anything else, a loud knock came at the door.

"CATHERINE!" Lucy’s harsh voice rang from the hallway. "Open your door!"

Oh shit. Kiera and I looked at each other.

"Does she know we were in her room?" I muttered and Kiera gave me a hard look, whispering, "Just hide the gift! Whatever she thinks or says shouldn’t matter. We didn’t enter her room!"

My eyes widened. "Shit, yes!"

I grabbed the hoodie and shoved it between my mattress and the bed frame. Kiera snorted as I frantically smoothed the covers like a criminal hiding evidence.

We both giggled quietly like two mischievous little devils.

Another bang came on the door.

"CATHERINE! OPEN UP!"

Kiera mouthed, "Act normal."

I nodded and inhaled deeply. My heart pounded violently as I reached for the doorknob.

With one last inhale, I turned the handle and opened the door. And there she was, looking all furious and ready for war.

I forced a sweet smile. "Lucy?"

She didn’t even wait for me to finish pulling the door back and shoving her way in like she owned my room.

I stumbled a little. "Excuse you," I snapped, closing the door behind her. "Why are you barging into my room like that?"

She didn’t answer, not immediately, at least.

Because her eyes landed on Kiera sitting comfortably on my bed.

"And who is that?"

Kiera stared at her, I noticed the unimpressed look on her face.

I crossed my arms. "Is that supposed to be your business?"

Lucy scoffed loudly and dramatically, like I had personally spat on her ancestors. "Catherine, if you don’t watch your tone," she sneered, stepping closer, "I might hit yoy again."

I almost laughed. She talked so big for someone who needed Sasha to throw a proper punch but before I could respond, Kiera stood up slowly and walked right up to Lucy, stopping only a few inches away.

"Talk to Catherine with respect," she said calmly, "or you

will be the one leaving with bruises."

Lucy blinked and her mouth opened but closed after a second.

Her brain must have processed the math of two girls vs. one. A fight she would absolutely lose and a humiliation she could not afford, so she swallowed whatever insult was sitting at the back of her throat and forced her face into a cold mask, turning away from Kiera like she didn’t exist.

Her arms folded under her chest as she faced me again.

"Fine," she said sharply. "I didn’t come here to fight anyway."

She narrowed her eyes. "Did you take that gift Julian bought for me?"

My heart skipped but I put on the calmest face I could manage. "No."

Her eyes scanned my room suspiciously, as if expecting the hoodie to magically jump out and scream CONFIRMATION. But of course, it didn’t.

She clicked her tongue. "Okay." She shot me one last threatening look. "If I find out you’re lying..." She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to. Her glare said it all.

And then she turned around dramatically and stormed out of my room.

The instant the door clicked shut, Kiera burst out laughing. "What a rotten egg."

I choked on air. "A rotten what?"

"Egg!" she repeated proudly. "Rotten, stinking egg! She walks around smelling like insecurity and desperation."

That made me laugh so hard, tears threatened to come out.

When I finally calmed down enough to breathe, Kiera flopped back onto my bed dramatically and stared at the ceiling.

"But on a serious note, that girl is unhinged."

"No kidding," I muttered, sitting beside her. "Wait till you meet Sasha."

"I might actually throw up. And they hate you because of Julian?"

I groaned and covered my face. "Yes. So annoying."

"Annoying?" She scoffed. "Girl. They’re acting like he’s a diamond ring and you’re trying to steal their inheritance."

I removed my hands and glared at her. "Lucy will be more furious if she finds out that the gift was actually meant for me."

Kiera’s head snapped toward me. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah," I muttered, staring at the ceiling. "But Lucy took it before I could say anything. And then Julian didn’t even correct her. So I thought he bought it for her."

"He’s so romantic." She laughed and playfully smacked my arm. I scoffed, if only she knew how annoying he could be.

"Don’t worry. We’re going to handle everything and your confusing stepbrother."

I peeked at her through my fingers. "How?"

Kiera smirked. "One step at a time."

I dropped my hands and exhaled, feeling my shoulders finally relax.

Kiera stretched and sat up. "Come on," she said, grabbing my pillow like it was hers. "Let’s plan out phase one."

I blinked. "Phase one?"

She grinned wickedly.

"Oh, Catherine, you have no idea how vicious I can be when I want to."