Chapter 162
Chapter 162: A Coward!
Julian’s POV
The final year of a business degree was supposed to be a formality for someone in my position.
Yeah…. I was only in school for the certificate. I barely participated in anything. I didn’t even do my internship because Richard wanted close.
What did I need it for when Richard had already carved out my future, which would be nothing short of a series of meetings and handshakes.
As I walked across the university quad toward the senior lounge, every step reminded me of the drug-induced haze, the cold shower in Catherine’s bathroom, and the trap Lucy had set for me in Richard’s office.
I was distracted, my mind replaying the moment Catherine had chosen to ride with Gabriel. The look of utter indifference she had given me before sliding into his car made me feel jealous. I used to be a man in control, but Catherine turned me into a whole different being.
As I entered the student lounge, the atmosphere changed instantly. Heads turned, and the usual low hum of conversation spiked into a flurry of whispers.
What happened now? What news was spreading around? I wondered.
Well… I didn’t have to wait long to find out why.
“Julian! Congratulations, man!” Mark, a fellow senior, slapped me on the back. “I heard the news. Having Lucy transfer here for the final semester? That’s a power move. Your old man really knows how to keep the family together.”
I stopped dead in my tracks, my jaw tightening. Huh? Did he just say Lucy is here? The fuck had Richard done again? Was this man trying to make me insane? Why enroll Lucy here? She even hates school, so what the actual heck!
“Dude, is she really here?” I asked, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.
“Yes, bro. In the freshman-sophomore wing, I think. Someone said she was in a socioeconomic theory lecture this morning,” Mark added with a wink. “Must be nice, having your girl on campus. We’re all expecting an invite to that date the papers are talking about.”
I forced a tight, artificial smile and moved past him, my pulse beginning to throb in my ears. Lucy wasn’t just on campus; she was in Catherine’s classes. She was here to create more drama, I could perceive it already.
I headed toward the central cafeteria, needing to find her. I needed to set boundaries before she caused irreparable damage.
The moment I stepped through the double doors, I saw the spectacle. Lucy was seated at a large, central table, surrounded by a court of sycophants who were hanging onto her every word. She looked perfectly at home, her designer suit a stark contrast to the casual attire of the students around her. She was holding court, laughing and gesturing with an elegance that felt entirely performed.
I scanned the room for Catherine and found her almost immediately. She was sitting at a small, isolated table in the far corner, tucked away near the service entrance. Tessa was with her, both of them staring at their food as if it were a chore to eat.
Just as I started to move toward Lucy, I saw one of the premium service staff from the faculty lounge, approaching Catherine’s table. He carried a silver tray with a single, chilled bottle of the most expensive mineral water the university stocked.
“Miss Catherine?” the waiter asked, his voice carrying in the sudden lull of the cafeteria’s noise.
Catherine looked up, her expression guarded. “Yes?”
“A gift from Miss Lucy Clement,” the waiter announced loudly, placing the bottle on the table. “She sent a message saying that since you are used to the best at the estate, she wouldn’t want you forced to drink the tap water provided here.”
A ripple of laughter went through the central table. The insult was clear. Lucy was publicly marking Catherine as a ’charity case’ who didn’t belong unless the Vaughns provided for her. Catherine didn’t move or touch the bottle. She just sat there, her face a mask of cold fury.
I couldn’t stand it. I marched across the room, my footsteps heavy on the tile. Lucy saw me coming, her eyes lighting up with a predatory gleam. She stood up as I approached, her arms opening as if she expected a hug in front of her new audience.
“Julian! Darling, you’re here,” she chirped, her voice loud enough for the surrounding tables to hear.
I didn’t hug her or even smile. I grabbed her upper arm gently enough that it wouldn’t look like an assault to the people watching, but firmly enough that she felt the pressure. “A word. Now,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Oh, don’t be so serious,” Lucy giggled, looking back at her new “fake” friends. “He’s such a perfectionist. Always worrying about the schedule.”
I pulled her away from the table, leading her toward a quiet corridor near the exit. The moment we were out of immediate earshot, I spun her around to face me. “What the hell are you doing, Lucy? Transferring here? Harassing Catherine in front of the whole school? Have you lost your mind?”
Lucy smoothed her sleeve where I had grabbed her, her expression shifting from bubbly to ice-cold in a heartbeat. “I’m securing my position, Julian. Your father loved the idea. He thinks it’s a brilliant way to show the public our commitment. And as for Catherine… she’s the one who needs to learn her place. She made some very bold threats this morning.”
“You drugged me,” I hissed, leaning into her space. “I should be handing you over to the police, not planning a date with you.”
“But you won’t,” Lucy countered, her voice a low, dangerous purr. “Because if you do, I’ll tell Richard exactly where you were last night. I’ll tell him you spent the night in Catherine’s room while under the influence. How do you think that looks? A Vaughn heir fucking his stepsister? Richard would have her out of the country by sunset to ’protect the brand.’ Is that what you want?”
I felt the air leave my lungs. She had me, and she knew it. Every move I made to protect Catherine only gave Lucy more ammunition to destroy her.
“I’m planning the date, Julian,” Lucy continued, patting my chest. “Richard gave me the green light. It’s going to be a grand affair. And you’re going to walk into that cafeteria right now, take my hand, and show everyone that Catherine is nothing but a guest in our world.”
I looked back through the glass doors. Catherine was still at her table, her eyes fixed on the entrance. She saw us standing there. She saw the proximity. I felt a wave of self-loathing wash over me. I had to play the part, to let Lucy win this battle to keep Catherine safe from Richard’s wrath.
“Fine,” I whispered.
Lucy beamed, her fake persona snapping back into place. She slipped her hand into mine, her fingers interlacing with mine. We walked back into the cafeteria together. I kept my face neutral as we walked past Catherine’s table. I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t. I felt the weight of her gaze like a physical burn on my skin as I led Lucy back to her central table.
I spent the rest of the lunch hour sitting beside Lucy, listening to her mindless chatter while the girl I actually cared about sat in the corner, humiliated. I had never felt more like a coward in my entire life.