Sinful Obsession: My Billionaire Stepbrother

Meeting Chloe

~Isabe~

I realized then that these girls were exactly like William: rich, arrogant, and convinced the world belonged to them just because of their parents' bank accounts.

But I was done being pushed around.

"I'm here to study law," I said, keeping my voice steady as I looked the leader dead in the eye. "Not to join your fan club. If you're so obsessed with William, go find his car. I'm sure he’d love to ignore you as much as he ignores everyone else.”

The girl’s face turned a nasty shade of red. She looked like she was about to explode, but before she could snap back, the lights in the hall dimmed.

The Dean stepped onto the stage, his silhouette sharp against the bright podium.

"Take your seats, everyone," the Dean’s voice boomed through the speakers, echoing off the high ceiling.

The four girls gave me one last hateful look before sliding into the row behind me. Even as the room went quiet for the speech, I could hear them whispering—sharp, stinging words meant for me to hear.

"She’s totally lying. There’s no way a girl like that lives there."

"Did you see her shoes? Gross. They look like they're from a thrift store."

I stared straight ahead, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst through my chest. I felt like I was being hunted. It clicked then:

William hadn't just given me a ride to be nice. He had tossed me into the attention of everyone around and walked away with a smirk on his face.

He knew exactly what would happen. He knew that by showing up in that car, he was making me a target for every jealous girl on campus. This was his version of being humane—making sure my very first day of university was a total nightmare before it even started.

I stared at the stage, but the Dean’s voice was just background noise.

My brain was on a total loop, replaying the way William had looked at me before he drove off. That sweet look was the most dangerous thing about him because it actually made me forget, for a split second, that he wanted me gone.

Sitting there, surrounded by girls who clearly saw me as an enemy, I realized something scary.

Surviving the drama at the Sterling mansion was going to be the easy part. The real fight was going to be surviving the people at school who wanted my life. And the absolute worst part? A tiny, traitorous part of me was still thinking about the way his hand on my shoulder felt so nice.

I was in so much trouble...

*

When the orientation finally ended, I felt like a balloon that had been deflated.

My head was spinning with lecture hall numbers and the weight of the massive course catalog they’d shoved into my hands.

More than anything, I was starving.

I followed the crowd toward the cafeteria—a massive room with high ceilings and the chaotic energy of a thousand students trying to find a seat.

I grabbed a tray of basic pasta and scanned the room. The mean girl squad from earlier was huddled at a big circular table right in the center, acting like they owned the place.

I steered clear, heading for a small, quiet table tucked in the corner.

"Is this seat taken? Or are you using it to store all your legal genius?"

I looked up.

A girl with messy blonde curls and a bright, friendly smile was standing there, balancing a tray with a mountain of fries and a neon-green soda.

She didn't have that perfectly polished look most of the girls here had. She was just naturally pretty, with a face made for smiling.

"It’s all yours," I said, feeling a huge wave of relief. "I'm Isabel, by the way."

"I'm Chloe," she said, plopping down and immediately stealing one of her own fries.

"Ugh, day two is exhausting, right? Day one was even worse. I feel like I’ve walked five miles and I still have no clue where the library is."

I laughed, a real, honest laugh that felt amazing after the morning I’d had. "I actually missed day one, so now I’m just trying to make sure I don't walk into the wrong classroom tomorrow."

As we ate, we pulled out our schedules to compare them.

"No way!" Chloe gasped, pointing at the paper.

"We have Criminal Law together! We are officially study buddies. We can sit in the back and judge everyone’s dress choices."

I looked at my schedule, and for the first time, I felt a surge of genuine excitement.

Seeing Chloe’s name next to mine on those lecture blocks made this giant, intimidating campus feel a little more accommodating.

"You have no idea how much I needed a friend today," I admitted.

"Well, you’ve got one now," Chloe said, bumping her shoulder against mine. She nodded toward the girls at the center table.

"Don't worry about them. They think a fancy handbag is a personality trait. We’re actually here to learn something."

I smiled, looking out the window. Let them have their drama. I had my classes, I had a solid plan, and now, I had an ally. I was going to be one of the best students this school had ever seen, and I’d do it with a smile on my face while I worked my way to the top.

"To the top of the class?" Chloe asked, raising her soda cup like a toast.

"To the top," I agreed, clinking my water bottle against her cup.

The game was just beginning, and for the first time all day, I felt like I was actually winning...