THE FIVE OF US

Chapter 25: Unwrapped Expectations

A Twist of Fate

Emily practically floated into Room 412, her cheeks flushed pink from the cool autumn air and her eyes wide with lingering excitement. The moment her key turned in the lock, the room erupted.

"She’s back!" Chloe yelled, tossing a hairbrush onto her bed.

Before Emily could even drop her canvas tote, Scarlett grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her onto the rug, while Ava leaned in from her desk with an expectant smirk. Vivian sat on the edge of the bed, setting down her teacup with a rare, amused smile.

"Spill every single detail," Scarlett demanded, her green eyes shining. "From the second you sat down at The Roasted Bean to the moment he walked you back!"

Emily covered her face with her hands, laughing softly as her face burned crimson. "Okay, okay! First of all... he remembered my exact coffee order. A caramel latte with oat milk."

"A man who pays attention to details?" Ava raised an eyebrow, nodding in approval. "Good start."

"And then we talked for hours," Emily continued, her voice softening as a tender smile touched her lips. "Not just about biochemistry or Professor Vance's brutal quizzes. I... I actually told him about my dad. About how science is the way I feel connected to him."

The playful teasing in the room settled into a warm, supportive quiet. Chloe reached over, giving Emily's knee a gentle squeeze.

"And how did he react?" Chloe asked softly.

"He was so sweet," Emily whispered, her eyes shining. "He didn't make it awkward or pity me. He just listened. He told me my dad would be proud of me, and then... he asked if we could make it a weekly thing."

Scarlett let out a soft, triumphant squeal, clapping her hands together. "A weekly date! Emily, you total smooth talker—"

A sharp, firm knock at the door cut her off.

The girls exchanged confused looks. It was barely five minutes past eight on a Saturday evening. Ava stood up, walking over to open the door. Standing in the hallway was a uniformed campus courier, holding a massive, velvet-wrapped box tied with a satin ribbon, accompanied by a long-stemmed bouquet of rare black orchids.

"Delivery for Room 408," the courier said, checking his clip. "Sign here, please."

"That's my room," Vivian said smoothly, her voice suddenly dropping three degrees in temperature. She stood up, her posture instantly shifting back to her cold, untouchable high-society mask.

Ava took the heavy box and the flowers, handing them to Vivian before closing the door.

"Who sends black orchids?" Chloe murmured, leaning over to inspect the rich, dramatic arrangement. "They look expensive... and kind of intimidating."

Vivian didn't look thrilled. She set the flowers on the table without even smelling them, her jaw set in a tight, tense line. She slipped the small velvet card out from between the stems, her dark eyes scanning the embossed gold lettering:

To my future bride,

I trust Oakridge is treating you well. Do not forget your duties to our families' merger. I will be visiting the campus next month for the gala.

— Harrison Vance

Vivian crumpled the card in her palm, her knuckles turning white.

"Betrothed?" Scarlett whispered, her sharp eyes catching the word on the paper before Vivian squeezed it shut. "You're... engaged?"

Vivian let out a sharp, bitter breath, sitting down on the corner of the bed as the weight of the package seemed to press down on the entire room.

"Arranged since birth," Vivian said, her rich voice tight with suppressed anger. "A joint venture between the Vance Corporation and my father's estate. A paper marriage to secure shipping routes and board seats. I've never loved him, and he certainly doesn't care about me."

Chloe and Emily looked at each other in shock, while Ava’s sharp eyes softened with deep, unspoken understanding.

"He thinks he owns me," Vivian added softly, looking down at the heavy velvet box. "He thinks coming to campus next month means he can parade me around like a piece of high-society property."

Scarlett stepped forward, her former defensive nature entirely replaced by a fierce, protective glare. "Well, he's got another thing coming. He might own board seats, Vivian, but on this floor, you have us."

Vivian looked up at the four girls surrounding her, the cold mask cracking to reveal a quiet, profound relief.