Katarina Moon arrived at Levesque University. She stood at the front yard of the campus, looking up at the grandeur of the building, then down, left, and right, unsure where to go. The place was bustling with activity, yet she felt like an outsider.
Her eyes finally landed on a sign indicating the Department of Business Administration to her right. Tugging her suitcase along, she made her way toward the building, her steps hesitant yet purposeful. She didn't know anyone here, aside from the name of her step-sister, Sharon Morningstar.
The bell rang, signaling the end of a class. Katarina stood by the building's entrance, hoping to see Sharon among the stream of students filing out.
At the top of the stairs, three stunning students emerged, immediately commanding attention.
Ginger-haired Seira Morningstar, blonde-haired Meira Morningstar, and chestnut-brown-haired Navia di Rosula—three of the most popular students in the university, known not just for their looks but for their exceptional skills—descended gracefully, followed closely by a group of silent fangirls.
"Goodness, who's that cutie over there?" Seira asked, her sharp eyes spotting Katarina in an instant.
"Where?" Meira, with her blonde Barbie-like hair and bangs, glanced around before her gaze landed on the petite figure with the suitcase.
"Jesus, that's my future wife!" one of the fangirls whispered fervently.
"Girl, buy a mirror first," another teased.
"I hate you. She's my crush now—don't stop me!"
Navia, the calmest of the trio, tilted her head toward Katarina. "Shall we approach her? She looks lost. She's carrying a suitcase."
"Bet she is," Meira agreed with a smirk.
Seira, impatient as always, didn't wait for further discussion. She strode forward with her usual confidence and called out, "Excuse me, beautiful. Are you lost? Were you looking for the dorms? This isn't the right building, but we can help you get there if you want."
Katarina turned, her feline-like eyes wide and her dimpled smile lighting up her face. "Um, actually, I'm looking for someone who studies in this building."
"Oh, my bad. I thought you were looking for the dorms because of the suitcase."
Meira chimed in, curiosity evident in her voice. "Who are you looking for? We know everyone in this department. We can help you find them."
"I'm looking for my step-sister," Katarina replied without hesitation, her tone casual despite revealing her background to strangers. "She was supposed to fetch me at the airport, but she didn't come. I thought she might have classes, so I came here instead."
"Who's your step-sister?" Navia asked, folding her arms.
Before Katarina could answer, the sharp honk of a car drew everyone's attention. A sleek matte black Audi R8 sped toward the front yard, coming to a smooth stop near the stairs.
"Oh, the greatest Sharon Morningstar," Seira quipped, rolling her eyes. "She's late on the first day, as usual. Always making an entrance. Where has she been?"
"Sharon Morningstar?" Katarina mumbled, turning toward the car with curiosity.
The car door opened, and a pair of black Dr. Martens boots stepped out, followed by the striking figure of Sharon Morningstar herself.
With a face that looked like it had been sculpted by angels, Sharon's piercing gaze scanned the crowd. Her straight blonde hair fell perfectly into place, and the three distinct moles on her face—one on the bridge of her nose, one above her lips, and one beneath—only added to her allure. She looked every bit the untouchable queen that her reputation suggested.
Katarina's heart skipped a beat. This was the person she had been searching for—the same face from the picture her mother had shown her.
Sharon's eyes locked onto Katarina, and her expression hardened. She had gone to the airport in a frenzy after finding no sign of the younger girl, and her phone, left at home, had prevented her from contacting anyone. Panic and worry had consumed her, but now that she'd found Katarina, frustration took over.
With determined steps, Sharon closed the distance between them. Her piercing eyes bore into Katarina's innocent ones, and she looked ready to scold the girl for leaving the airport.
But before Sharon could utter a word, Katarina leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek, her French upbringing dictating the greeting.
Gasps erupted from the students watching the scene unfold.
Sharon froze. Of all the things she despised, being kissed on the cheek ranked at the top of her list. It was a well-known principle of hers—no one dared to cross that boundary. Anyone who attempted to kiss her cheek faced consequences that ensured they'd never forget their mistake.
Yet, here was Katarina, oblivious to Sharon's rules, flashing her a dimpled smile and wide, innocent eyes.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Sharon," Katarina said, her voice as bright and sweet as her expression.
The crowd held their breath, waiting for Sharon's reaction. Would the infamous Sharon Morningstar lose her temper?
But to their shock, Sharon said nothing. Her face remained unreadable as she stared at Katarina, her mind whirling with thoughts she couldn't quite put into words.
And in that moment, Sharon realized that this petite, dimpled girl might just be the one person who could turn her carefully controlled world upside down.
Sharon seethed with anger at the thought of the cheek kiss and said sternly, "Get in the car."
Katarina immediately obeyed upon seeing the rage in Sharon's eyes and hearing the sharp tone in her voice. Sharon tossed the suitcase into the trunk before getting into the car herself, quickly starting the engine and driving off as soon as they were both settled.
Navia commented, "Oh, God. We have a winner."
"An unexpected winner," Seira said, her eyes fixed on the car as it sped away.
"Very unexpected," Meira added, her voice laced with surprise.
Katarina had just broken another of Sharon's principles.
The students were buzzing with excitement about who would sit in the coveted seat beside Sharon in the car. They couldn't stop talking about the unexpected scene they'd witnessed. Some had snapped pictures, sharing them in their group chats to try to identify the new girl. The local students didn't recognize Katarina's identity, but some of the French students did. They recognized her for her exceptional academic talents, but not her family background.
After two hours of silent driving, they finally arrived at the main house. Sharon parked the car and quickly stated, "Stay here. Forget about classes today. You'll start tomorrow. I'm leaving."
Katarina remained silent, unsure of what to say. She could only watch as Sharon drove off, her heart sinking. "Is she mad?" Katarina mumbled to herself. "What did I do?" There was a hint of regret in her voice, and she felt sadness creeping in. She hadn't expected Sharon's coldness, especially after the warm greeting in the university. "What should I do now?" she questioned herself, her mind racing with uncertainty.
Just then, the door opened, and an older woman in her fifties entered, carrying a bag of groceries.
"Hello," Katarina greeted sheepishly, bowing toward the woman. She offered to help carry some of the grocery bags to the kitchen.
"Thank you, dear," the woman said with a grateful smile. "Are you Katarina? Silvia's daughter?"
"Yes, I am," Katarina answered, smiling nervously.
"It's nice to meet you, dear. You can call me Mrs. Kim. I'm the only caretaker of this house. And that man in the guardhouse," she said, gesturing to a man in his thirties, "his name is Hawk."
Katarina's sharp mind caught the meaning behind the name. "Does his name mean he can foresee if danger is near?"
"Yes, exactly. Nivada gave him that name, and he's excellent at his job." Mrs. Kim nodded. "Anyway, are you hungry? I can prepare anything you like."
"Um, actually, I'd like to rest first," Katarina replied, her exhaustion catching up with her.
"Oh, right. You must be tired. Come, I'll show you to your room." Mrs. Kim led her upstairs. "This is your room. You can rest here comfortably, and I'll take care of your belongings."
"Thank you, Mrs. Kim," Katarina said, grateful for the warmth she was being shown. She sat down on the bed, her body craving rest. She was about to close her eyes when she suddenly thought of Sharon. Sitting up, she asked, "Um, Mrs. Kim? I think Sharon hates me."
"Oh, dear." Mrs. Kim sat on the edge of the bed, offering a comforting smile. "No, she doesn't."
"Yes, she does," Katarina said with a sigh, feeling defeated. "We spent two hours on the road, and she hasn't said a word. I greeted her at the university and was so happy to finally meet her, but she ignored me."
"So that's why she's not here," Mrs. Kim said thoughtfully. "Wait a minute. What were you doing at the university? I thought Sharon was supposed to fetch you from the airport?"
"She didn't come at the right time," Katarina explained. "I thought she was in class, so I went to the university to find her."
"Oh, dear. She's really upset," Mrs. Kim said with a sigh. "She hates it when people don't listen. She was here in the morning, taking care of a teammate who had been in an accident. She woke up late but left for the airport as soon as she got up."
Katarina's face fell as she realized her mistake. "I ruined it... I ruined my chance to get closer to her."
"Oh, poor dear," Mrs. Kim said sympathetically. "Don't worry too much. I've been with Sharon since she was little, before your parents met. Sharon's a good person, though she doesn't always show it. She cares about Silvia because she loves Nivada, and that means she cares about you, too. You'll get closer in time. I can assure you of that."
"I hope so, Mrs. Kim. Thank you for telling me."
"You can ask me anything, dear. I'm always here to help. Anyway, what would you like for dinner?"
"Um, I don't know much about local food, but I'd love to try it."
"Okay, leave it to me. I'm sure you'll like it. Now, go ahead and rest," Mrs. Kim said with a kind smile.
Katarina hummed softly and closed her eyes, letting the peaceful atmosphere of the room help her drift off to sleep.