Absolutely! Now, let's bring in Bright's response to Sea's avoidance and show her reaction when Kolly, Bright's ex, appears on the scene. Kolly's presence
Sea had kept herself locked away for the next few days, avoiding Bright as much as she could. Every time she heard his footsteps approaching her door, she tightened her grip on whatever she was holding and forced herself not to care. *He can't break me. He can't make me feel anything.*
She told herself that over and over, even though deep down, she wasn't sure it was true.
But that afternoon, something shifted in the air. The usual calm that hung over the mansion seemed disrupted, like a storm was brewing. Sea couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it felt... different. There was an energy in the house that hadn't been there before.
She sat on the edge of her bed, her eyes flicking to the door. Was he coming again? Was Bright going to show up, like always? She wanted to keep avoiding him, keep pushing him out of her life. But something tugged at her, an odd feeling she couldn't shake.
It wasn't Bright who appeared at her door, though. It was one of the men from Bright's crew, his expression serious.
"Miss Sea," he said, his voice soft. "There's someone here to see you."
Sea narrowed her eyes. "Someone here? Who?"
He hesitated, and when he spoke again, there was a slight shift in his tone. "Kolly. She's... looking for Mr. Bright."
*Kolly?*
The name struck Sea like a slap to the face. She didn't need to ask more; she already knew. Kolly was *the* girl—Bright's ex, the one he had been with before her. From what Sea had overheard in passing, she was beautiful, confident, and dangerous. A perfect match for Bright, in every way.
*So that's who he used to be with...* Sea's stomach churned, but she quickly pushed the thought away. She didn't care. She didn't want to care.
Still, she couldn't shake the anxiety that began to swirl in her chest. *Why is she here?*
"I'll come down," Sea said, her voice surprisingly calm, though the turmoil inside her was beginning to bubble up.
When she stepped into the main hall, Sea immediately saw her. Kolly was standing by one of the tall windows, looking out at the garden. She was everything Sea feared she would be—tall, effortlessly glamorous, and with a confidence that radiated from her like a wave. Her dark hair fell in perfect waves around her shoulders, and her lips curled into a small smile when she noticed Sea approaching.
"Well, well," Kolly's voice was smooth and cool, a clear contrast to the storm of emotions swirling inside Sea. "You must be the new... *project*." There was a biting edge to the words, but it wasn't just malice—there was a strange sense of superiority in Kolly's tone.
Sea's throat tightened, but she refused to show any weakness. "I'm Sea," she said evenly, her eyes narrowing as she took in the other woman. "And you're Kolly, I take it?"
Kolly's eyes twinkled, and she tilted her head slightly, as if examining Sea. "I suppose we already know who I am, don't we?" Her smile widened. "I can't say I'm surprised Bright would want someone like you. It's cute that you're trying so hard, though."
The jab stung, but Sea didn't flinch. Instead, she crossed her arms, trying to hold onto the semblance of control. "What's cute is you showing up here after all this time. Don't you have someone else to manipulate?"
Kolly's eyes flickered with something—amusement, maybe—but she didn't let the comment throw her off. Instead, she took a step forward, her heels clicking against the marble floor. "Manipulate? Sweetheart, I don't think you understand how this game is played." She eyed Sea up and down. "You're trying to play it like you're the one in control. But trust me, it's Bright who calls the shots. Always."
Sea's heart slammed against her ribs, the weight of Kolly's words landing heavily in her chest. She felt a sudden burst of something—something she couldn't quite identify, but it made her want to *fight*. The idea that Bright was hers, that he was controlling everything in her life, that he was using her for his own amusement... it made her sick.
"Yeah?" Sea shot back, her voice low and almost dangerous. "Well, I'm not like you. I don't roll over just because someone tells me to."
Kolly's lips curled into a smile, but it wasn't one of warmth. It was almost pitying. "Oh, sweetie. That's exactly why you'll lose. You'll never be able to play his game. Not like me."
Sea's stomach twisted in knots, but she refused to let Kolly see how much she was getting under her skin. She could feel her anger rising, and it terrified her—terrified her in the same way Bright's calm gaze had, the way his presence had crept into her thoughts. *She was his, wasn't she? She knew him in ways Sea didn't. And Bright was probably still hung up on her.*
That thought burned like acid in Sea's veins.
The sound of footsteps interrupted the tension hanging thick between them. Bright appeared in the doorway, his presence commanding, as always. His eyes flickered between Sea and Kolly, but he didn't seem phased by the silent war between them.
"Well, well," he said, his voice almost too casual. "Kolly. I didn't expect to see you here today." He glanced at Sea, then back at Kolly. "What brings you by?"
Kolly smiled, but it wasn't warm. She looked at Sea for a moment, her gaze almost triumphant. "Just came to see how the new girl is doing, Bright. I thought maybe we could catch up, see how things are."
Sea's heart clenched. The way Kolly looked at Bright—it was too familiar. They shared something, something *deep* that Sea would never have with him. A history she didn't have, and perhaps would never have.
"I'll leave you two to talk," Sea said, her voice laced with forced nonchalance, before she turned and walked away. She didn't look back.
As she ascended the stairs to her room, her breath came in ragged bursts. Her mind was a storm of jealousy, anger, and hurt. *Why does it matter?* she asked herself. *It shouldn't matter. It's just another girl from his past. I'm not here to fall in love with him. I'm just... trying to survive.*
But even as she told herself that, something in her chest was tightening, a feeling she couldn't ignore. The harder she fought it, the more it seemed to push back.
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