As breakfast wrapped up, the tension in the room lingered like a dark cloud. Caspian had returned to his usual self, teasing Neel while Dev avoided looking at me altogether. But it was Lucas who had me on edge. He didn’t say much after his quiet request to talk, and now, I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on in his head. I tried to act normal, helping Caspian finish plating the food, but my mind was racing. I glanced at Lucas again, his eyes following me with a seriousness that I wasn’t used to. Something was definitely off. Once the kitchen cleared, Lucas stepped closer, his voice low but firm. “Let’s go. We need to talk.” His tone sent a shiver down my spine. This wasn’t the playful Lucas who had always been so lighthearted with me. This was someone else—someone serious, maybe even angry. I followed him down the hallway, my stomach twisting with every step. He led me into the room before the entrance hall, the one in which I'd only seen Ian playing video games. Ho
I couldn’t breathe. Lucas’s words circled in my head, spinning faster and faster, creating a storm of confusion, pain, and anger. Caspian—the one who had shown me a side of myself I hadn’t even known existed—was using me. Using me to hurt his brother. I couldn’t process it. It was as if everything I thought I understood about my place in this family, my relationships with the brothers, had just crumbled beneath my feet. And worse? I had let it happen. My eyes blurred with tears as I sat there, sinking deeper into the beanbag. My entire body felt like it was imploding, my heart twisting and pounding in my chest, squeezing tighter with each breath. I tried to make sense of it and tried to rationalize why Caspian would do something so cruel. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t. Caspian wasn't the man Lucas was trying to paint him to be. Lucas’s presence loomed over me, and I knew he was watching, waiting for me to say something—anything—but I couldn’t find the words. It wa
The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. Caspian stood just inside my room, his eyes locked on mine, unreadable. He always had that way about him—calm and composed, like nothing could touch him. But now?Now, there was something more. Something deeper, lurking beneath the surface, and I couldn’t tell if it was anger, guilt, or something else entirely.I couldn't read him yet. Things would have been much easier if I could just read him.“Kat,” he said softly, his voice breaking through the thick silence in the room. “What is going on? What did you and Lucas talk about?”The calmness in his tone was almost unsettling. I had expected him to be colder, to deny what Lucas had told me—or worse, confirm it with the kind of casual cruelty that Lucas had warned me about. But instead, Caspian just stood there, like he wasn’t sure what was going on. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but my heart was pounding in my chest. I clenched my fists and decided that I couldn
Neel’s text vibrated through my phone, snapping me out of my thoughts as I stared blankly at the ceiling. My body still felt heavy, weighed down by the emotional rollercoaster of the morning. Caspian and Lucas—both had a different story about themself and the other person. I was still trying to make sense of it all. To think over all the things to understand who was right. I grabbed my phone and glanced at the message.Neel: Leaving for college. Do you need a ride?I checked the time and sighed. I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. Shaking off the lingering confusion from the morning’s conversation with Caspian, I shot back a quick reply.Me: Yeah, I’m almost ready. Give me two minutes.I tossed my phone onto the bed and headed straight for the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face, I stared at my reflection. My skin looked pale, and my eyes were still puffy from all the crying. I grabbed some concealer, patting it under my eyes to hide the puffiness, and swiped on a bit of
Standing outside the university building, I found myself reaching for my phone, half-tempted to call Camilia. Part of me wanted to spill everything about last night and the morning—the mess with Caspian, Lucas, and how I’d been caught in their complicated history. Camilia would have understood; she always knew how to make things feel simpler, somehow. But just as quickly as the idea came, I pushed it away. I realised that it wouldn't be fair to dump another issue on her, especially when I didn’t even know how to put my feelings into words. Sighing, I tucked my phone back into the bag and headed to my next class of the day: Art. It was an elective, something I’d chosen on a whim, and the walk there felt like the perfect distraction. The art building was on the far side of campus, half-hidden by a row of tall trees, almost like it was its own little world. By the time I reached the door, I could already feel some of the tension easing. Art and Literature had that effect on
“Okay everyone, we will stop here today,” the professor said looking around the room. “We will continue again in the next class. Write your student ID at the bottom of your canvas and leave it here.” “We can't take it home?” O.G. questioned, cleaning his fingers with tissue paper. “I kind of like what I've created, might sell it online.” The class laughed, I couldn't stop myself either at the bluntness with which he said that. His painting was also nothing special, it looked like what most of us have created, but the colour contrast made it stand out among the others. It was very bright and fluid, with definite black strokes. It looked beautiful. “Not today,” the professor answered. She came to look at his painting and looked impressed. “They need to dry. I'll put them away safely when they are dried. You all can leave.” Everyone started collecting the materials they had brought to put back on the shelves. Neel took pictures of both of our canvases despite my protest
“No, you can't hold yourself responsible for what others feel. That's stupid, Kat.” The words hung in the air between us, and for a long moment, Dev just looked at me, his expression open, soft. There was a kind of gentleness in his gaze, a patience that made me feel like something scratched my heart. For all the times I had been pulled in one direction or another swept up in Lucas’s magnetism or Caspian’s quiet intimidation, here was Dev—solid and steady, a place where I didn’t have to choose sides or overthink what he was feeling. “How can you be so understanding about it?” I finally asked, almost in awe. “It’s like… nothing fazes you. I don't think I've met someone like you before in my life.” He smiled, but it was a faint, almost sad sort of smile. “It’s not that I’m unshakeable, Kat. But sometimes, I think we get so wrapped up in the noises in our head that we forget to see what’s right in front of us.” “I don't think I could ever be like that,” I accepted because I
I glanced over at him, seeing the quiet wisdom in his expression, the gentle way he moved through the world without letting the noise in his head consume him. There was something calming about watching Dev work. Every movement was deliberate and steady, as though he’d found some peace in the simplicity of planting seeds and getting his hands dirty. He didn’t need the drama or intensity; he didn’t need anything other than what was right in front of him. “Maybe you’re right,” I said, pressing another seedling into the earth. “I’ve been so caught up in trying to figure everyone out that I forgot to think about what I actually want. It’s like… I keep getting wrapped up in all the things I don’t know, all the things I’m trying to understand about other people, but I haven’t stopped to listen to myself.” Dev paused, glancing over at me with a hint of a smile. “And what is it you want, Miss Katherine?” I smiled at the way he ended his sentence. It was like a therapist talking with t
“Kat? What’s wrong?”I stared at him without saying anything. He looked hot without his glasses and perfectly combed hair. He was in a T-shirt and a pair of joggers. His hair was ruffled and I almost felt sorry for waking him up just because I was feeling hot. I wasn't even sure if he would fuck me, but I had no other option. I couldn't go to Lucas or Harry in that condition; Dev was the only one I felt would understand the condition I was in and wouldn't judge me for it. “Can I come inside?” I questioned and he nodded his head, pulling the door all the way. “Come in...” He stopped when he noticed I was only wearing the top, and nothing else. It was one of those oversized tops, so he didn't notice much when I was in the darkness of the hallway, but in his room, under the bright lights, he saw it, and his cheeks turned red. He looked at me in confusion, like a deer caught in the headlight. “Thank you,” I said, biting my lips seductively. “And sorry for waking you up.” “What is go
“One...” I was able to speak it out, raising my ass due to the sting that I felt afterwards. It hurt! It really did hurt! “Good! You remembered the rules.” He sounded almost impressed, and for some reason, that brought a smile to my face. “Not many remember the rules on their first time. I guess the internet articles did teach you a few things.” I was about to respond when without warning he spanked my other butt with the same force, if not more. I felt the vibration of the impact travelling up to my heart, and down to my crotch. I moaned. “Ah… two!” I remembered to count, clenching my jaw to hold back the cry. I wanted to turn back and finger myself because the sexual tension in my core was rising to a new height. “I thought you would forget about the rule, and I will get to hit you double the amount,” he said mockingly, and I braced myself for the next impact. “Not my day, I guess. Well, in that case, I've to make these forty spanks worthwhile.” The next hit didn't come
Caspian was sitting on my bed, leaning back a little with his strong arms at his sides. His legs were spread to give me a good look at his package. His features were sharp and flawless. He was truly God's sexiest creation and the most handsome among all the brothers. His forest-like dark green eyes undoubtedly beckoned me to be drawn into them since the first day I saw him. I couldn't wait to run my hand through his dishevelled, dark-brown hair, but somehow I felt like he was planning something else. I felt butterflies in my stomach seeing the first few buttons on his white shirt undone, revealing his bare chest. Just a glimpse of the muscular chest behind the fabric made me feel hot. I felt the urge to run my tongue down his body. He glanced at his wristwatch and then up at me, causing me to close my eyes in anticipation. He knew what he was doing to me, coming dressed up in his work clothes instead of the jeans and T-shirt he was wearing during dinner. “I-I… I don't know wha
“You knew he was watching us?” I didn't know what to think anymore. Caspian’s confession hit me like a blow to the chest. My trust in him, the way I defended him against Lucas, suddenly felt like a mistake. That familiar nagging voice, the ‘what if’ in the back of my mind, screamed louder than ever. I couldn't completely let go of the doubts, and Caspian saying he knew Lucas was watching us in the backyard brought back the fear. I took a deep breath and turned toward him. Caspian, who usually carried an air of confidence and control, now looked almost… remorseful. His head was down, and his eyes downcast as if he could already read my thoughts. “Don’t,” he whispered, his voice breaking as he continued. “Please, Kat. Don’t go there.” “W-why?” My voice was barely steady when I questioned, because my emotions were in a chaotic swirl. “Why didn’t you stop when you saw him? Why didn’t you tell me then?” He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his dark hair before sitting dow
The dining room was alive with chatter, the brothers bouncing between casual banter and stories while Mom and Derek listened with amused smiles. The long table was set with a spread that smelled heavenly—roast chicken, fried rice, creamy mashed potatoes, spicy crabs and grilled vegetables. Normally, the warm, lively atmosphere would have made me feel comfortable, but things were different that night. While I was extra cautious with Ian sitting beside me, nervously scratching his knuckles, I also had to deal with Caspian, who was directly across from me. He wore a dangerous smirk, and every so often, he would run his toes along the length of my legs. On the other hand, since the start Lucas had been quiet. He wasn’t talking like the others. Even Ian made a few comments when Derek addressed him, but Lucas just shrugged whenever someone asked him something. Instead, he’d been watching me. More specifically, he’d been watching Caspian, whose occasional glances my way seemed to int
Harry’s eyes looked for answers when he stepped into Ian’s room. His gaze was bouncing between the two of us like he’d stumbled upon something scandalous. “What’s going on here?” he asked his tone light but carrying the curiosity of someone who definitely knew something was brewing between them but wasn't sure. “Is everything alright? Ian?” I glanced at Ian, who had stiffened at the question. His fingers were fidgeting with the edge of his shirt, and the nervous energy radiating off him was almost visible. He didn’t want to talk about what had just happened, and I couldn’t blame him.I knew I couldn't leave it to him to answer because if he was socially awkward, there was also a huge possibility that he had trouble lying. I never had that difficulty, maybe because I was born to two of the biggest liars in the world. “It’s nothing important,” I said quickly, offering Harry a small smile. I stood, brushing imaginary dust off my jeans. “I was just asking him if there was something he
The moment I stepped back into the house, I felt a sense of relief. The cool air brushed against my heated skin, and I felt the shift in energy. My earlier interaction with Caspian still lingered in my thoughts, but as I walked toward the kitchen, I noticed Ian standing near the counter. He was pouring a glass of water, his shoulders stiff and his movements looked almost robotic. His silver hair was slightly dishevelled, and when he turned briefly to glance at me, I caught the telltale redness in his puffy eyes. My heart tightened. Ian rarely showed any vulnerability, preferring to stay quiet and blend into the background. Seeing him like this sent alarm bells ringing in my head. I forgot about Caspian almost instantly and walked towards him. “Ian,” I called gently, trying to understand what must have happened. He froze, his glass of water clutched tightly in his hand. He didn’t meet my eyes. Instead, he turned to stare at the counter as though it might give him an escape. “I
Mom was talking animatedly to Dev, her laughter light and carefree, while Derek engaged Caspian in a conversation about work. I sat there, feeling like an outsider, as Mom and Dev talked about the places she visited with Derek. It hurt me to see that Dev knew more about her than I did, and the way she talked with him showed how strong their relationship was. However, she read my mind because her eyes lit up all of a sudden as she forced the conversation towards me. It was a hollow try, but I let her, to see what she had for me. Just ten minutes ago, she commented about us making plans for the day, but she already forgot about it and made plans with Leo to check out a local spa and then cook dinner with Dev and Derek. “Kat,” her voice drew attention, her manicured hand on my arm. “Do you need anything, sweetheart? You’ve been awfully quiet.” I shook my head, managing a small smile. “No, I’m fine. Just a little tired, that's all.” Derek glanced over, his brows furrowing. “Y
The morning light stirred me awake, and I yawned, blinking at the warm haze filling my room. It was a Saturday, meaning no classes. Thus, I was planning to sleep till the afternoon, or at least stay in bed. But, that changed when I heard muffled sounds coming from below—voices, laughter, and some shuffling. I sat up, listened closely, and felt a slight tug of curiosity gnawing at the edges of my sleepy mind.After brushing my teeth and splashing some cold water on my face to wake up, I quietly made my way down the hallway, the gentle hum of conversation growing louder with each step. As I descended the staircase, I slowed, catching a glimpse of the scene unfolding in the entrance hall.There, sitting together on the long couch, were Derek and… my mother.I stopped short, taking in the sight of her. It felt like ages since I’d last seen her. She looked different, almost like a stranger wearing my mother’s face. She seemed… lighter somehow, more carefree. Her features were softened b