THE BILLIONAIRE'S ANTIDOTE

‎The black Toyota Corolla screeched to a halt in front of Silverwood College. ‎For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the grand iron gates like they might disappear if I blinked. Then I stepped out of the car, and a cool breeze brushed against my face .... soft, welcoming, almost surreal. ‎I was here. ‎Silverwood College. ‎After years of rejection letters… after watching my hopes rise and shatter over and over again… I was finally standing on the campus I had only ever seen in glossy brochures and late-night dreams. ‎Silverwood wasn’t just any college. It was the college. Top rankings. Outstanding results. Prestigious alumni. The kind of place built for children of billionaires and politicians .... not girls like me. ‎Not Kylie Diamondz. ‎The campus was breathtaking. Perfectly trimmed hedges lined the pathways. Bright flowers bloomed proudly beneath tall leafy trees. A marble fountain stood at the center, water glistening under the morning sun. The air smelled fresh, expensive even. ‎Birds fluttered from tree to tree, chirping like they were announcing the start of something new. ‎It was Freshers’ Week, and excitement buzzed everywhere. Laughter. Suitcases rolling. Parents giving last-minute advice. Students hugging like the world was ending. ‎I think I’m going to like it here, I thought. Maybe I’ll even make friends. ‎“You look happy.” ‎I turned to see Liam leaning against the car while helping Carl unload my luggage. My brothers. ‎My entire world. ‎They had been my backbone since the day our mother walked out on us to remarry another man. I’m the only girl between two overprotective brothers, which means I rarely breathe without supervision. ‎Carl is the eldest ... serious, responsible, the self-appointed guardian of our broken little family. If something goes wrong, Carl fixes it. That’s just who he is. ‎Liam, on the other hand, is chaos wrapped in charm. Funny. Smart. Effortlessly cool. The type girls whisper about. He calls himself a musician .... not famous yet, but give him time. He believes in himself enough for all of us. ‎Other girls say I’m greedy for having two “hot brothers” all to myself. ‎They don’t know what we’ve been through. ‎“Is it that obvious?” I asked, inhaling deeply as if I could bottle this moment forever. ‎“Very,” Liam said with a smirk, dusting off his hands. ‎“Why wouldn’t I be?” I said, unable to stop smiling. “It’s always been my dream to study law here. And now… I’m actually here. Who would’ve thought?” ‎“All set.” Carl walked toward us from the principal’s office. His expression was calm, but I knew that look — he’d already evaluated the entire campus and decided whether it was safe enough for me. ‎The principal had been his high school classmate. Same class. Same desk. Same trouble, probably. ‎“Kylie.” His voice turned serious ... the protective-older-brother tone. ‎“You’re here to become what you’ve always wanted to be. I know my girl. You’re not going to disappoint me, right?” ‎I smiled softly. “I won’t, Carl.” ‎“That’s my girl.” He pulled me into a tight hug. Too tight. ‎This would be the first time I’d live away from his protection. ‎After Mom left, Carl became everything .... brother, father, shield. He doted on me because, according to him, I looked exactly like her. ‎Sometimes I hate that. ‎I hate sharing the same eyes as the woman who chose another man over her own children. ‎“I… can’t… breathe…” I gasped. ‎He quickly loosened his grip. “Sorry. Got carried away.” ‎It wasn’t hard to guess what he was thinking about. ‎“It’s about her, isn’t it?” I cupped his face gently, staring into his blue eyes — eyes that held too many emotions for one person. ‎“No. Not her,” he said too quickly. “I promised I’d forget about her.” ‎“Shh.” I shook my head. “You don’t always have to be strong. It’s okay to admit you miss her.” ‎He didn’t speak. ‎“I miss her too,” I whispered. “Even if I hate what she did.” ‎For a second, we just stood there, holding onto each other like the world might pull us apart. ‎“People are staring,” Liam muttered, stepping in to save us from becoming the campus drama show. ‎I let go reluctantly. ‎“I hope he’ll be okay,” I murmured to Liam as Carl walked back toward the car. ‎“I’ll take care of him,” Liam assured me. ‎Then he turned to me with a teasing grin. “I’m going to miss you, kiddo.” ‎I rolled my eyes. “You’ll survive.” ‎“You sure you can live without me?” he asked for the tenth time since morning. ‎“Liam, I’m eighteen. I can handle myself.” ‎He exhaled slowly. “College isn’t always kind.” ‎“I know.” ‎He studied me for a moment, then pulled me into a softer hug. “I trust you. Call me if anything feels wrong. Love you.” ‎“Love you too.” ‎He got into the driver’s seat. The engine roared to life. ‎Carl waved from the passenger side. Liam followed. ‎“Come visit!” I shouted as the car pulled away. ‎I stood there long after the black Corolla disappeared from sight. ‎Suddenly, the campus didn’t feel as loud. Or as warm. ‎A wave of nostalgia hit me hard — movie nights, shared meals, whispered jokes at midnight. My safe place was driving away from me. ‎No, Kylie. Don’t cry. ‎You promised you’d be strong. ‎You promised you’d make them proud. ‎I swallowed the lump in my throat and wiped the tears threatening to fall. ‎Then I lifted my chin and faced the gates once more. ‎“Silverwood College,” I whispered, my heart pounding. ‎“Here I come.” ‎ ‎