HIS ROOMMATE

LET HER GO!!

CHAPTER 19

KAI'S POV

Prom night is in a few days and Nancy kept going on and on about it. Dresses, limos, after-parties. She sent me 12 TikToks of dress reveals before I even had my coffee this morning.

Honestly, after what happened to me with Edward, I really don't want to go to such events. The music, the crowds, the way everyone pretends it's perfect. The last time I went to something like that, I ended up in the hospital. Edward made sure of that.

Ash asked me to go with him. He did it casually, like he was asking if I wanted fries. I had to turn him down.

He didn't push. Didn't make it weird. That's why I like Ash. He listens when I say no.

But now I'm sitting in my apartment, Mom's ring on my desk, and Nancy's texts blowing up my phone, asking me to go shopping with her for the prom.

Adrian texted too, asking who was my date for the prom. I saw Valerie's i********: story — her in a red dress, caption: *Prom night > drama. Don't @ me.* She didn't tag me. She wouldn't.

Everyone has an opinion except the one person I actually thought I could trust. Edward.

The truth is, part of me wants to go. To prove Edward doesn't get to ruin everything for me. To dance in a dress and not look over my shoulder once.

But the bigger part of me remembers his hands on my arms. His voice in my ear. And I can't make myself say yes.

I freshen up and head to school, trying to shake off the anxiety that's been lingering since yesterday. On my way, a black car stops right in front of me. I frown in confusion. Who the heck is this?

Just when I was about to walk away, the window winds down revealing the last person I want to see. Williams!! My heart drops at the sight of him. How the hell did he find me?

He gives me a sly smile before stepping out of the car. I step back from him, my instincts screaming at me to get away.

"W... What do you want, Williams?" I try to sound firm but I end up stuttering.

He chuckles and takes another step closer, but I match it with a step back. "Come on, little sis, that's not how to greet your brother."

I roll my eyes at what he says. "You are not my brother."

He chuckles again and steps closer, but I step back immediately. "My father married your mother, so that makes us siblings."

Williams is a perverted prick, and I know he's enjoying this. I try to calm myself down, remembering all the times I've dealt with guys like him.

"Stay away from me, Williams," I say, trying to sound calm. "I have nothing to do with you and your father anymore. Stay away."

I yell and try to walk away, but he grabs my hand and pulls me back against his chest. I gasp in shock, my heart racing.

"Let.... Let me go, you asshole!!" I yelled, trying to struggle free. But instead, he pulled me closer and his other hand moved to the first button of my shirt... I gasped in horror.

"You look so inviting in this cloth..." he whispered, his breath hot against my skin.

I tried pushing him off, but he was too strong. I kicked and squirmed, but he just laughed, his grip tightening around my wrist. Unfortunately, the alley I took was empty, just my luck!!!

"Stop... Please!!" I cried, feeling tears pring to my eyes. How can he be so shameless?

He leaned closer to my ear and whispered, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "Your boyfriend. I mean the one I saw you with last time... Does he f**k you hard enough?"

I felt a surge of anger and fear. I wouldn't let him do this. I wouldn't let him break me.

Just as I was about to scream, I heard a voice behind Williams.

"Let her go. Now."

The voice was deep, commanding, and it sent a shiver down Williams' spine. He froze, his grip on me loosening.

I took advantage of the distraction and pushed him away, stumbling backward.

Ash stood at the entrance of the alley, his eyes blazing with anger. "I said, let her go."

Williams sneered, but he took a step back, his eyes darting between Ash and me.

"You'll regret this," he spat, before turning, he enter the car and drove off.

Ash was by my side in an instant, his arms wrapping around me. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

I shook my head, feeling tears stream down my face. "I... I'm fine."

Ash held me close, his voice soft. "You don't have to be fine. You don't have to be strong. Not right now."

I let myself lean into him, letting his warmth and strength comfort me.

Ash helped me into the car, his eyes still flashing with anger. "come let me take you back home," he said, and drove me home in silence.

Once we got to my apartment, he walked me inside and sat me down on the couch. "I'll get you water. Be right back," he said, heading to the kitchen.

But instead of getting water, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Hey, it's Ash. Yeah, she's not okay. Some guy tried to harass her... Yeah, I'll stay with her till you get here."

I frowned, wondering who he was talking to. And then it clicked - Adrian.

My heart sank. I didn't want Adrian to see me like this, all shaken up and vulnerable again.

Ash came back into the room, a glass of water in his hand. "Adrian's on his way," he said, sitting down beside me.

I shook my head, trying to push Ash away. "No, Ash, you don't have to—"

But he cut me off, sitting down next to me. "Kai, it's okay not to be okay... You don't have to worry, we'll surely teach him a lesson," he said with a small smile before handing me a glass of wine. I wanted to protest, but he stopped me.

I can't let them come to my rescue all the time. What if they weren't there, then what? I seriously need to learn how to be independent and protect myself.

The door opened after thirty minutes, and Adrian walked in, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. "What happened?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

Ash filled him in, his words clipped and angry. Adrian's face darkened, his eyes flashing with fury.

He came over to me, sitting down on my other side. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe now," he said, his voice soft.

I felt a lump form in my throat as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. I let myself lean into him, letting his strength and comfort wash over me.

"Tell me what happened," he said softly...

I couldn't help but just hug him tight and cry. He was the closest thing to family I had...

"Williams.... He..." I choked, his grip on me tightening.

Adrian's voice was like a calm storm. "It's okay. I'm here. You're safe."

I felt him take a deep breath, his chest rising and falling beneath me. "We'll deal with him, Kai. I promise."

The words were a balm to my raw nerves. I let myself cry, letting the fear and anger out.

ADRIAN'S POV

I was fury personified. That bastard!! I'm really going to kill him, how dare he?

After Kai fell asleep, Ash and I stepped out for a talk.

"Who was the guy?" Ash asked immediately we stepped out of the house.

"Her stepbrother... He is a prick. A total asshole," I answered.

"We really need to do something about him. I mean, what if he comes back for Kai again?" Ash's concern was valid, and I totally agreed with him. But I will never let him or anyone else hurt her again.

"I know what to do... Thank you for saving Kai, Ash," I said with a small smile. He rolled his eyes mockingly.

"You really don't have to thank me, Kai's like a sister to me too," he answered.

We stood there in a comfortable silence for a while before Ash looked up at me with a small smile playing on his face.

"Why the smile?" I asked, but he shrugged.

"It's nothing, can I ask you a question and expect you to give me a truthful answer?" he asked.

"What is it?" I asked, curiosity piqued.

He stared at me for a while before nodding. "Do you like Kai?" His question came out like a strong accusation.

I was taken aback. "What!!"

"I mean, if you like..." Ash continued.

I cut him off immediately. "I know what you meant, Ash... Are you crazy? Why would you ask me that, knowing fully well that I have a girlfriend and I love her a lot?"

TBC