Chapter 14

Her first year at the Hawthorne Institute was turning out to be a resounding success. Kendall was most teachers’ prize pupil and enjoyed an amazing social life where everyone wanted to be her friend and every boy wanted her number.

She was "caught" doing something she shouldn’t be doing at least once a month, but it was okay because taking the blame for these things was how she strengthened her friendship with Sabrina.

The last time she’d taken the blame for something was when she’d been caught in Sabrina’s room after midnight, when the dorm rules forbade students from being out of their rooms at that time. Sabrina had begged her to come over, wanting to have a sleepover, but then she’d told the hall monitor that Kendall had snuck over to copy her homework.

The issue had caused the other kids to gossip about Kendall for over a week, whispering that her academic success was all thanks to Sabrina because Kendall copied from her.

That was the most difficult thing Kendall had had to deal with. In her bathroom at night, secretly dying her hair as she often did, she couldn’t help the tears that had slid down her cheeks. But she’d quickly brushed it off. Sabrina had been so grateful that Kendall hadn’t told them the truth because it would’ve gotten her in trouble with her father.

Kendall knew what having a scary father was like, so taking the blame was the least she could do as Sabrina’s best friend.

Besides that, everything was good! They were still the most iconic duo in their grade and remained the envy of their peers.

Spring break was coming up, and everyone was planning where they would spend it. All of the kids kept mentioning countries and names that Kendall had never heard of in her life, but she always had a knowing smile ready for them. Because, of course, the glistening waters of Lake Maloi—where lodgings cost two hundred thousand dollars a month—were too beautiful to miss this Spring.

Secretly knowing that she would be holed up in her fancy apartment in the elite gated community where she lived, Kendall applauded a girl’s excellent choice to visit Japan instead of Greece for the spring because, of course, the cherry blossoms in Kyoto were pure magic.

When they had time alone, and Sabrina asked her what she was doing during Spring break, Kendall casually said she’d be staying in her apartment because home was too far away.

Sabrina, as her best friend, already knew that Kendall had her own apartment. She’d been very impressed and had even slipped it into one of their conversations with a classmate as a way to brag about her best friend, which had made Kendall feel warm inside.

The apartment didn’t sound good to Sabrina now, however, and that was when she’d told Kendall her exciting plans.

“My dad and I live all alone with a bunch of maids, and we’re not doing anything this Spring because he had a major deal to close,” she’d said. “Come over for the Spring break!”

Kendall had stared at her in shock. “What? Come over to your house?”

“Duh! We’re totally gonna have a blast! I usually have the girls over but they’re boring cause they just suck up to my dad and try to get their parents business deals! Which he despises.” With a giggle, she latched onto Kendall’s arm. “But with you, we can have real fun.”

“But, Sabrina, your dad—”

“Don’t worry about my dad. I’m sure he’ll love having you over.”

The words did nothing to reassure Kendall. But she couldn’t find an appropriate excuse to avoid going to the Sinclair home, unable to tell Sabrina that she was scared her father would somehow remember seeing her in some alley back in Miami if he got another look at her face. She said nothing.

That was how Kendall ended up at the Sinclair home.

And that was when it began.

Her secret crush on Lucien Sinclair.

Yes, abominable, she was well aware. It wasn’t like she’d planned it! Truly, who in their right mind would develop a crush on a man old enough to be their father? Especially one who had seen a side of her that she’d buried long ago.

It was reckless and slightly disturbing, and that was why, when Kendall realised she wouldn’t be able to kill the crush, she swore to take it to the grave.

She had tried everything she could to stop seeing the man through a flowery tint, she’d repeatedly told herself that he was mean and harsh and heartless! It made no sense to think he was cool!

But, alas. Kendall couldn’t accept any of those lies. Lucien Sinclair was a little cold, yes. But he wasn’t mean, nor was he heartless.

It was the little things that stood out to her.

The first night she’d slept over, he’d come home from work quite late. Their home was as lively at night as it was at midday, and Sabrina had pranced loudly down the stairs, yelling for her dad.

He’d appeared tiredly from the front hall, pulling off his jacket as his daughter rushed to him with complaints and demands and questions.

Silently, Kendall had stood upstairs, looking down at them. Something warmed in her chest as she watched. It was something hesitantly envious and slightly grateful. Envious of the relationship Sabrina shared with her dad, and grateful that she was getting to witness how other fathers were. Not all were cruel and heartless to their children.

He seemed annoyed, but he kept his voice stable and calm as he scolded Sabrina for saying something insulting about their cook.

“Why?” Sabrina said with a pout. “She works for me, I can say that if I want to. And today, she wouldn't do what I demanded, Dad. You should fire her."

Lucien sighed. “Why aren’t you asleep?”

She smiled, patting her glowing cheeks. “Kendall and I were doing face masks.”

Kendall watched Sabrina’s dad freeze, his face darkening with a frown. “Who’s Kendall?”

Sighing, Sabrina looked over her shoulder. “She’s right h—” She looked up. “Hey, why are you still standing up there?! Come say hi to my dad!”

Dark grey eyes rose then as Lucien looked upstairs and finally saw the girl standing awkwardly there.

He stared at her, remembering. There it was again, that slight intrigue she stirred up in him. He’d felt it from the first day he’d seen her at the academy when she’d allowed his daughter to accuse her of so many ridiculous things, without a single word of protest. What an odd child.

Frowning, he looked at Sabrina. She hadn’t told him she would be bringing a visitor.

Kendall tensed, reading the look on his face. The look of a parent who disapproved of her presence, she’d seen it many times before, each time she’d come close to making a friend. This was the part when he told her to go home and not come anywhere near his daughter again. Either that… or he would look at her face, and remember who she really was.

She waited, holding her breath.