Chapter 4The Lucky Charm

I started packing that night.

With the bodyguard helping, I just had to grab my important documents; he handled the rest.

While I waited, I was scrolling through my phone when the campus gossip blog lit up again.

A nine-photo spread.

The pictures showed Liam, storming into the freshman girls' dorm, carrying Sophie out in his arms, and driving away from campus.

The comments section was on fire.

[LMAO, this is next level. Rushing to the hotel?]

[Kid's intense. Just storms the dorm to grab her? Must be in heat.]

[He's not even trying to hide it.]

[Insider info: that girl got in a fight with her roommate. Her roommate is hurt way worse. Sophie got a scratch on her leg that a band-aid could fix, but her roommate doesn't have a rich boyfriend to protect her and got warned by the RA.]

[Are they sleeping together?]

[Username: ILoveDogs10000: I literally saw them checking into a hotel together last month. I swear on my dog's life, I'm not lying.]

I stared at that last comment.

My heart just... seized.

Just then, the bodyguard finished packing my last suitcase. He looked at me, and I nodded. We left.

Before I got in the car, I sent Liam one last text.

Just two words: We're done.

Then I blocked his number and deleted his contact.

The car was waiting. The driver, whom I didn't recognize, just nodded at me. The bodyguard sat in the passenger seat, and we drove away.

An hour later, the car stopped at a villa on the hillside. People were already waiting at the door. I followed them inside. The foyer was silent. A man who appeared to be the head butler stepped forward.

"Miss Lin, your room is on the second floor, last door on the left. I'll have Mrs. Wang show you up."

I nodded and followed Mrs. Wang upstairs. She was a kind-faced middle-aged woman. After showing me into the room, she smiled.

"Mrs. Sterling said that as Mr. Julian's future wife, you are the mistress of this house. She will not interfere in your private life, and all of us answer only to you. Your bodyguard has been given a room in the staff villa out back. Also, there is a black card on your desk. It has no limit, and you can make withdrawals. Beneath it is a stock transfer agreement. If you sign it, it's effective immediately."

I nodded, and with her watching, I signed the contract. I handed one copy back to her.

Mrs. Wang took the contract and started to leave, but paused at the door. "Mr. Julian's room is right next door. You may go in to see him whenever you wish. If you need anything at all, you can call me."

She left, and I heard her downstairs, telling the kitchen to prepare dinner for me.

I looked around the room. It was enormous. Every single detail, from the colors to the furniture, was perfectly to my taste. I walked further in and found a massive walk-in closet. It was filled with this season's newest clothes. An entire wall was just for handbags. It was unreal.

I was supposed to go home tonight. But my dad said he was busy with work and couldn't "babysit" me, so he'd arranged with the Sterlings for me to come straight here.

His exact words were: "Don't worry, kid. Julian Sterling's been out for five years. There's no one else in that villa to boss you around. You go in there, you're the queen. Oh, and their chef is amazing. The staff is all top-tier. They even developed the land behind the villa. Pools, tennis courts, whatever. Have fun. Invite friends, throw parties, whatever you want."

I'd asked him how he knew all this.

He'd just rubbed his nose. "True love? That, your old man can't give you. Probably turn rotten anyway. But everything else? I'll make sure you have it. I won't let you be vulnerable."

My thoughts cleared. I walked out of my room and into the one next door.

If I was going to marry Julian Sterling, I had to at least see what my future comatose husband looked like.

I stepped inside and saw him immediately, lying in the hospital-style bed.

His eyes were closed, his face pale, but... he was ridiculously handsome. A completely different type from Liam. Julian's features were softer, more refined.

I leaned in closer, wanting a better look... and didn't see the edge of the rug.

I tripped.

I fell forward, completely and totally, landing right on top of Julian Sterling.

I froze in terror, afraid I'd killed him before the wedding. I scrambled to get off him, babbling the whole time.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to, please don't be crushed..."

But my apology died in my throat.

Because as I looked down...

The man who was supposed to be in a coma... had just opened his eyes.