Kayla stared in disbelief at Wyatt, her mind spinning. Evie, her sister, marrying him? Wyatt—the same guy that had kissed her, in front of their entire university. The memory of the kiss flashed in her mind, making her cringe at how chaotic it had been. How could her sister, her Evie, be marrying someone so tangled up in her past?
Kayla sat stiffly at the dinner table, the tension thick enough to slice with a knife. The dining room was lavish, adorned with chandeliers that cast a golden hue over the polished oak table. Laid before her were dishes that looked like they belonged in a five-star restaurant—delicate foie gras served on crisp toast, freshly seared duck breast with an orange glaze, roasted baby carrots with truffle oil, and a decadent seafood risotto. Each dish was presented as if it were a work of art, but to Kayla, they all felt cold and impersonal. There was no warmth, no sense of home here.
She glanced across the table at Wyatt, who was sitting beside his father, looking every bit the polished groom-to-be.
Evie didn't look too good, sitting beside Kayla. She didn't want this and Kayla didn't want it either.
Kayla swallowed hard, trying to steady herself as their parents exchanged pleasantries with Wyatt's father, Lawrence Hudson Parker, the picture of wealth and control.
"So, Kayla," her mother broke the silence, her tone light but with an edge of curiosity, "you and Wyatt… do you two know each other?"
Kayla's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel Wyatt's gaze on her, and for a moment, she hesitated, unsure of what to say. "No," she said quickly, her voice steady.
"Yes," Wyatt countered at the same time.
Their families exchanged glances, the awkwardness palpable. Kayla felt her stomach twist as she was forced to explain, "I mean… we've crossed paths at university. It's a big place, but… yeah, we've bumped into each other."
"Bumped into each other?" Lawrence raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair as if this tidbit of information interested him more than the dinner. Wyatt remained silent, simply nodding.
The conversation shifted as they all moved to the dining room, sitting down to a feast. But Kayla couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling that her entire world had just turned upside down.
As they ate, the conversation veered towards the impending marriage. "Isn't Wyatt a bit younger than Evie?" Kayla asked, unable to hide her skepticism.
Before Evie could answer, Lawrence interjected. "Evelyn has more experience in the business world, and she will help Wyatt grow. She is perfect for guiding him as he takes on more responsibilities."
Kayla stole a glance at Wyatt, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat. She knew him well enough to recognize that something wasn't right. Wyatt had always been passionate about soccer, not business. He had dreams of going professional, of playing on a world stage. None of this made sense—for either of them.
Evie leaned in, trying to bridge the gap with a smile. "Wyatt, do you like to read?" she asked, seemingly trying to ease the tension.
"I never thought I would," Wyatt replied, his gaze flickering toward Kayla for a second too long. "But someone changed my mind."
Kayla stabbed at her food, doing her best to concentrate on the plate in front of her.
Evie, blissfully unaware, laughed. "Oh? What's your current read?"
"Harry Potter," Wyatt answered smoothly.
Kayla choked on her wine. Evie, ever the doting sister, patted her back, but their mother shot Kayla a sharp glance. "Kayla, please, such behavior isn't fitting for the dinner table."
Kayla wiped her mouth, glaring down at her plate. Of course, Harry Potter. The book she had given him to read, long before all this madness.
Evie, still smiling, said innocently, "Isn't that Kayla's favorite book?"
Wyatt nodded, his eyes softening. "She's the one who made me like reading."
The room went silent, and Kayla could feel the atmosphere shift. Her parents exchanged subtle looks, and soon they were picking apart her every move. The way she held her fork, the way she sat, the way she drank her wine—everything became a target for their passive-aggressive remarks.
It was too much.
Her hands clenched around her silverware as she forced herself to stay quiet. But the frustration kept building until she couldn't take it anymore. Abruptly, Kayla stood up from the table, her chair scraping the floor as everyone looked at her in surprise.
"Excuse me," she muttered, before storming out of the dining room.
She made it to the patio, gulping in the cool night air, when she heard footsteps behind her. "Kayla, wait!" Evie's voice was desperate. "Please don't ruin this night."
Kayla whirled around, her frustration boiling over. "Me? Ruin it? My presence here is running it! They don't want me here!"
Evie's eyes were wide with shock. "What are you talking about? Please stay. For me?" She pleaded but this made Kayla lose it.
Kayla's voice broke as she finally let it all out. "Everything I've ever done has been for you! Only you! I love you, Evie, but do you know how it feels to be told that my only worth is being your nanny? I wasn't born because I was wanted—I was born because you needed my blood. And then what? Discarded! Treated like nothing!" Her voice cracked, tears filling her eyes. "I am suffocating. I can't breathe in this family anymore, so no, Evie, I'm done!"
Without waiting for her sister's response, Kayla turned on her heel and walked out into the night, pulling her phone out to call a taxi. But just as she reached the gate, she heard someone running behind her.
"Kayla, wait!" Wyatt's voice.
She stopped, refusing to turn around. "Go back inside, Wy."
"No." He stood there, loosening his tie, his hair falling messily over his forehead. "I don't want to marry your sister."
Kayla's breath hitched, her heart pounding. "Why? My sister is an amazing woman you prat!"
"Because she's not you." He took a step forward, but she stepped back.
"I like you, Kayla! I think about you all the time and I just want to be near you, always. I want to hug you, have walked with you, and get into so much trouble with you because you make me happy, you make me free." the night wind tossed both their hairs and for a minute only their breathing could be heard.
The confession didn't do much for Kayla. It didn't make her heart race nor did it make her skin tingle in delight. She finally understood that she was only attracted to Wyatt. A crush at most.
"Wyatt… we can't." She said softly her heart breaking because she had to do this. But she didn't feel the same way.
"Why? Is it because of your sister? I can break up the engagement! I have been recruited to play in one of the biggest leagues in the country! We can be together!" He became frantic, panic creeping into his eyes when she just looked at him with pity.
"I'm sorry, Wy. You have been so kind and nice and super thoughtful but you and I can never be together and I'm sorry it had to be this way." Tears streamed down her face but she ran away, with him calling her name. The way he called her made her heart clench. The utter distraught and hurt she saw on his face, broke her into a thousand pieces because he didn't deserve this but she let him on.
Without another word, she turned and ran, leaving Wyatt's heartbroken voice calling her name behind her.
By the time she reached home, she collapsed onto the couch beside Louisa. She didn't need to say a word—Louisa knew. She stroked Kayla's hair, whispering, "It's going to be okay." But in her heart, Kayla wondered if it ever would be.
Kayla sank deeper into Louisa's comforting presence, her friend's fingers gently threading through her hair, offering the only solace she felt in what had been an emotional whirlwind of a night.
"Dinner didn't go well?" Louisa's voice was soft, full of empathy.
"Hmm," Kayla responded with a noncommittal hum, the weight of the evening still hanging heavily on her.
"Wanna talk about it?"
"No," Kayla sighed, not ready to relive the mess of emotions Wyatt's unexpected confession had stirred up, let alone the growing tension between her and her family.
Louisa nodded, her understanding silent but strong. "How's Evie?"
"Fine." Kayla didn't want to mention the engagement. Thinking about Evie marrying Wyatt was too much, a mixture of betrayal and guilt that churned her stomach. She wanted to keep it from Louisa, at least for now.
"How are you?"
Kayla forced a weak smile. "I'll survive."
A comforting silence stretched between them, as Louisa continued to stroke her hair, offering the kind of quiet support that words couldn't quite reach.
The next morning, Kayla woke up with an odd sense of clarity. She'd expected a night of tossing and turning, but instead, she'd managed to sleep well, despite everything that had happened. She noticed her room was clean and orderly, and as she padded into the kitchen, she found the fridge fully stocked with healthy groceries.
Louisa must've gone shopping, Kayla thought, a slight warmth blooming in her chest. As she ate her salad with green juice, trying to shake off the sadness that still clung to her from the night before, her phone rang.
It was Jack.
"Kay! You're never going to believe what happened!" His voice was excited, bubbling with something he clearly couldn't wait to tell her.
"Know what?" Kayla asked, already suspicious of his enthusiasm.
"All the people that attacked you and Louisa? They've posted public apologies. And get this, they've been given two-day suspensions!"
Kayla froze, her fork clattering onto the table. "What?!"
"I'm not kidding! It's all over the school's website and blog. Apparently, it's a violation of some school rules, and the new school owner really cracked down on it."
"New school owner? Hold on!" Kayla's head spun. She didn't remember any rule like that, and she had definitely never heard of a new owner. While she never cared much for the school's regulations, Louisa had practically memorized them, and this wasn't adding up.
Kayla quickly checked the school's website, finding exactly what Jack had said. Even Reigna, the ringleader of the girls who had tormented her, had posted an apology. Kayla dug deeper, and to her astonishment, found a new clause in the school manual about bullying.
Who could've done this? And why?
Then it hit her.
Could it be him?
Kayla hesitated for a moment, her finger hovering over the call button, before finally dialing. The phone rang once and was immediately picked up.
"Did you do it?" Kayla demanded.
"A simple hello would suffice, Hastings," came the easy, cocky response. Oliver's voice sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. She hadn't spoken to him since that night at his house, and his voice, laced with its usual smugness, brought back memories she wasn't ready to face.
"Did you buy the school and make Reigna apologize?" Kayla didn't bother with pleasantries, cutting straight to the point.
"Why would I do that?" Oliver's voice was teasing. "What do I stand to gain, Hastings? You tell me."
"Don't be an ass, just answer me. Yes or no!"
There was a brief pause before he finally said, "No." And with that, he hung up.
Kayla stared at the screen, frustration boiling inside her. She didn't believe him for a second. She hacked into the school's database, determined to find the truth. After a few minutes, she discovered that there was indeed a new school owner.
Oliver Wilde.
That liar. He had done this. But why? Why was he helping her? Was this another one of his calculated moves, or was there something more behind it?