My Stepbrother Wants Me-Chapter 160: Targeted Meat

Catherine’s POV

I stood in front of my full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of my shirt. Today was the first day of the new semester, a day that would give me freedom from this hell of a house. I checked my bag one last time, ensuring my notebooks and pens were in place, before heading out of my room.

As I stepped into the hallway, Julian’s door flew open. He looked polished, as usual, in his usual black outfit and expensive pair of shoes. Before I could cross to the stairs, he caught my eye and offered a brief nod.

"Good morning, Catherine," he said.

I didn’t reply. I kept my gaze fixed on the stairs ahead and continued walking. I could hear his footsteps following me down the corridor.

"I’m heading to school in ten minutes," he added, his voice bouncing off the high ceilings. "I can give you a ride."

I stopped for a fraction of a second, gave a single, stiff nod of agreement without turning around, and then resumed my pace. I had no intention of actually getting into a car with him, but I wasn’t in the mood for a hallway debate. I headed straight for the dining room for breakfast.

The table was set with the usual assortment of silver platters and fine china. To my immense relief, Lucy was not here. The absence of her voice and her predatory gaze made the room feel significantly larger and easier to breathe in. I sat down and quickly ate a piece of toast and some fruit, keeping my eyes on my plate. Richard was busy with his tablet, probably dying to find a highlight of himself while Gabriel and Julian sat across from me.

I noticed how Julian occasionally glanced at me, but I refused to acknowledge him.

When I finished, I stood up and wiped my mouth with a silk napkin. Gabriel was done too and was now standing, checking his watch, his car keys dangling in his hands.

"Ready to go?" Gabriel asked, offering a small, tired smile.

"Yes," I said firmly.

I walked past Julian, who had just entered the foyer behind me, not looking back to see the expression on his face, though I could feel his confusion.

In my mind, I couldn’t help but scoff. Did that jerk really think I would actually go with him? He was delusional if he thought I wanted to be trapped in a confined space with him for twenty minutes. In his dreams.

I climbed into Gabriel’s car, and we pulled away from the estate. The drive was quiet, which was exactly what I needed. Gabriel dropped me off at the main gate of the university, and I made my way toward the lecture hall for my first major course of the semester.

The room was already bustling with students. I spotted Tessa sitting in our usual spot toward the middle of the hall and quickly moved to sit down next to her. We shared a quick, tight hug.

"How are you holding up? Hope you’ve been taking care of yourself?" I whispered, my eyes searching hers for any sign of the breakdown.

"I’m okay," she whispered back. "Just glad to be here and not there."

We didn’t have much time to talk before the door at the front of the hall opened. A faculty member, the lady in charge of student admissions and introductions, walked to the podium. She cleared her throat, and the room gradually fell silent.

"Good morning, everyone," she began, her voice amplified by the microphone. "Before you begin today’s session, I have a very special announcement. We have a new transfer student joining your class this semester. This is a very important addition to our program, and I expect you all to show her the utmost respect."

I leaned back, clicking my pen. I wasn’t particularly interested in who the new student was until the lady spoke again.

"Please welcome Miss Lucy Clement."

Huh? Did she just say Lucy? My heart didn’t just skip a beat; it felt like it hit a wall. My hand froze mid-click, and my eyes locked onto the door. I felt the air leave my lungs. My jaw tightened so hard it ached, and I could feel the blood draining from my face. I didn’t have to tell anyone I was shocked; the way I gripped the edge of my desk until my knuckles turned white said enough.

Just then, the Lucy, the very one I knew, the witch with the devil’s horn, walked in. She was dressed in an expensive suit that screamed for attention, her heels clicking with an intentional arrogance. She moved to the front of the room, standing beside the faculty member with a look of supreme confidence.

Tessa leaned toward me, her voice a sharp, confused hiss in my ear. "Catherine? Is that not her? Is that not the girl everyone says is Julian’s girlfriend? What is she doing here?"

I couldn’t answer. I was too stunned to even form a coherent thought. I watched Lucy as she looked out over the sea of students.

"Thank you for the warm welcome," Lucy said. Her voice was smooth, practiced, and dripping with an unearned sense of superiority. "As many of you know, the Vaughn family believes strongly in the value of top-tier education. I decided to transfer here to be closer to my boyfriend’s family’s interests and to ensure that I am present where it matters most. I look forward to seeing who among you can keep up with the standards I am used to."

"God, she can’t even hide the arrogance oozing off her," Tessa whispered, pulling a face of pure disgust. "She sounds like she’s here to buy the building, not study in it."

The faculty member smiled tightly at Lucy’s introduction. "Thank you, Miss Clement. Please, feel free to take any of the empty seats so that the lecture can begin."

Lucy didn’t scan the room for an empty seat. Her eyes had been fixed on a specific spot from the moment she walked in. She began walking up the aisle, her gaze never separating from mine. She stopped at the end of my row and moved toward the empty chair directly to my right.

The students around us were already whispering, their eyes darting between the three of us— Tessa, myself, and the newcomer who was dating the man that they all had a crush on.

Lucy sat down, gracefully smoothing her skirt. She didn’t look at the professor. Instead, she leaned toward me.

"Put a smile on your face, Catherine," she whispered, her voice low enough that only I could hear the venom behind the words. "You don’t want people thinking that you are not happy for your future sister-in-law."

I stared straight ahead at the board, my vision blurring with suppressed rage. I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a look or a reply. I knew what she was here for... to target me.