CHAPTER 13:VANESSA’S GROWING FEAR
382 Words
That evening, Vanessa sat alone in her dorm room, staring blankly at her phone.
She had replayed the scene from campus countless times.
The expensive luxury cars.
The disciplined bodyguards.
The way professors, students, and even university executives had treated Ethan with unmistakable respect.
None of it made sense.
The Ethan she knew had been quiet, humble, and seemingly ordinary. He had never shown any sign of wealth or influence.
Had she really known him at all?
Just then, her phone buzzed.
It was Jason.
"Come downstairs."
Vanessa quickly grabbed her jacket and hurried outside. Jason's sleek sports car was already waiting by the curb.
She climbed into the passenger seat, immediately sensing the heavy tension inside the vehicle.
Jason's face was dark with anger.
"My father just called me," he said coldly.
Vanessa frowned.
"What happened?"
Jason slammed his fist against the steering wheel, making Vanessa flinch.
"Kingston Corporation is targeting our family business."
Vanessa's eyes widened.
"Kingston Corporation?"
She had heard that name only once before—on campus, whispered by students who were shocked by Ethan's arrival.
The same company connected to Ethan.
A chill ran down her spine.
Suddenly, an unbearable thought entered her mind.
Could Ethan really be connected to all this power?
Jason turned toward her sharply.
"You dated him for three years. Did he ever mention rich relatives? A family business? Anything unusual?"
Vanessa searched her memories desperately.
She remembered Ethan buying her gifts with money he claimed to have saved, working part-time jobs, and always refusing to talk about his family.
Slowly, she shook her head.
"No..."
Jason cursed under his breath.
"This is bad."
He leaned back in his seat, his jaw clenched.
"If Ethan really has ties to Kingston Corporation, then we've underestimated him from the beginning."
Vanessa lowered her gaze, her heart pounding faster with every passing second.
For the first time since she had humiliated Ethan and walked away without looking back, doubt crept into her heart.
What if she had made the biggest mistake of her life?
What if the man she had mocked... was someone far beyond her imagination?
As those questions echoed in her mind, the confidence she had always carried began to crumble.
For the very first time since leaving Ethan...
Fear began replacing Vanessa's arrogance.
- Writer
