Chapter 40: No Longer Under Their Control

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: No Longer Under Their Control

~Reynold’s POV~

Frederick could be strict and controlling, but knowing he was there made me feel safe. For once, I didn’t feel completely alone.

I placed my phone on the bed, pulled the duvet over my body, and soon drifted off to sleep.

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, and the soft knock of my housekeeper woke me. "Good morning, sir. Your breakfast is ready," she called through the door.

I groaned, burying my face in the pillow for a moment before calling back, "Alright. I’ll be downstairs soon."

"Alright, sir."

I rolled from side to side for a few moments, slowly trying to shake off the last traces of sleep. Eventually, I pushed myself upright and rubbed my eyes. As my vision cleared, the very first thought that crossed my mind was Frederick.

I reached for my phone and quickly sent him a good-morning message.

As I typed, a slow smile crept across my face. Today marked the beginning of something I had been waiting for, a chance to finally enjoy the freedom I had been denied for so long. My family had spent years making me feel like I was worth nothing, and now I finally had the means to live exactly the way I wanted.

I decided I would drive myself to campus that morning. I wanted them to see me arrive in a car they could never have imagined me owning, something luxurious enough to leave everyone wondering where it had come from.

And if it shocked them, even better.

I couldn’t help the small, satisfied smile that touched my lips. For once, I was going to enjoy watching them realize that I was no longer the person they thought they could control.

Let the game begin, I thought with a smirk.

I got out of bed, took a quick, refreshing shower, and returned to the bedroom to get ready. I dressed sharply, choosing an outfit that made me look damn good—attractive, cute, and impossibly sweet. I turned in front of the full-length mirror, checking myself out with a satisfied grin before spraying on the expensive cologne Frederick had gotten me.

I slung my notebooks and iPad into my bag and headed downstairs.

Breakfast was already served at the dining table, and I ate quickly, eager to get moving.

Just as I finished my last bite, my phone buzzed in my hand. Frederick had replied to my message, and at the exact same moment, his incoming call appeared on my screen.

I answered immediately.

"Good morning, little pet," his deep, rich voice greeted me.

"Good morning, Mr. Corvin," I replied brightly. "I was just about to call you to let you know I’m heading to class now."

"Alright," he murmured approvingly. "Have a good day."

"Talk to you later," I said before we ended the call.

I grabbed my key fob from the counter. My housekeeper gave me a polite nod.

"Goodbye, sir. Have a nice day."

"Thanks." I nodded before heading toward the parking garage.

I unlocked the luxury car, tossed my phone and bag onto the passenger seat, and started the engine. It purred to life with a deep, powerful rumble.

I turned on some music and settled comfortably behind the wheel as I drove toward campus. For once, I wasn’t heading to university with my usual heaviness hanging over me. I was actually happy. I felt different somehow, more confident in my own skin.

When I pulled into the campus parking lot, the reaction was immediate. Heads turned as the sleek, high-end car glided into a parking space.

Just a few spaces away, Julian was pulling his own car into a spot. He stepped out with his keys in hand, then stopped dead when he saw me getting out of the driver’s seat.

"Reynold?!" Julian yelled, his jaw practically dropping to the ground.

I walked over to greet him, and his wide, shocked eyes immediately shifted toward my car. He ran a hand over the polished hood.

"Whose car is this?"

"Mine," I replied casually, flashing him a grin.

Julian stared at me like I had grown a second head.

"Am I missing something? You’re looking completely different today. Tell me, did your father finally buy you a car?"

I laughed softly and shook my head. "No, Julian. My man got me the car."

Julian let out a startled laugh.

"What?! You have a man now? Come on, tell me. If your man can afford a car like this, he must be super, super rich."

"Trust me," I said, leaning against the car door with a smile. "He’s fucking wealthy."

"Oh my God, Reynold... who is he?!" Julian demanded, practically vibrating with curiosity.

"Let’s get to class before we’re late. We can talk about him later," I replied smoothly, dodging the question.

"Alright, congratulations, man! This definitely deserves a special celebration. How about we go out tonight?" Julian suggested excitedly.

"Thanks, Julian. Let’s get to class first," I replied.

As we walked across the courtyard, Julian couldn’t stop glancing back at the car. He looked like he still couldn’t believe it was mine.

When we reached the building, we headed straight to class and took our usual seats. The professor soon arrived, and the room settled into silence as he began teaching.

I opened my notebook and started taking notes, but every now and then, I glanced around the classroom. I quickly noticed people looking at me, people who used to walk right past me without a second glance were now smiling, waving, and calling out my name.

I tried to ignore them and focused on my notes.

I nodded slightly and continued writing, pretending I hadn’t noticed the attention.

By the time the professor finished the lesson and dismissed the class, the atmosphere changed completely.

The moment he walked out, people I had never spoken to before started gathering around me.

"Reynold, hi!"

"Hello!"

"You look so handsome today!"

Compliments came from every direction, boys and girls alike smiling eagerly as they tried to get my attention.

I glanced around at all the sudden attention, a faint, amused smile tugging at my lips. So this is how people treat you when they think you’re worth something.

Julian grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the crowd, leading me toward the campus café. We still had an afternoon class ahead of us, and apparently, he wasn’t about to let me waste the entire break answering questions about my new car.

Julian was a friend I would always deeply appreciate. Back when nobody wanted anything to do with me because my stepmother and brothers had poisoned the entire school against me with their lies and fabricated stories, he was the only person who refused to walk away.

Even when some of his other friends stopped talking to him simply because he associated with me, Julian never cared. He stayed by my side when everyone else turned their backs on me.

I knew I shouldn’t keep something this important from him. I trusted Julian completely, and I knew I was safe with him. But I still couldn’t bring myself to tell him that the man I was involved with was Frederick.

Aside from the fact that Frederick wanted our relationship kept private, Julian practically worshiped him from afar. I couldn’t imagine the look on his face if he ever found out that the man he admired so much was the same man I was secretly involved with.

So, for now, I decided to keep the truth to myself until the right moment.

When we walked into the campus café to grab something to eat, I immediately noticed the stares. Heads turned one after another, and conversations seemed to quiet as people looked in my direction.

I blinked and leaned closer to Julian.

"Why is everyone looking at me like that?"

Julian gave me an incredulous look.

"Do you even know how much your car is worth?"

"I don’t," I admitted honestly.

"Reynold, that car is worth millions," he whispered, shaking his head. "Of course everyone is going to stare at you."

"Really? To be honest, I don’t really know much about cars. I just drive them. I genuinely had no idea it was that expensive."

"Seriously, tell me who got you that car," Julian pressed, his eyes widening with curiosity.

We both took our seats, and I was about to think of another vague answer when my eyes drifted toward the entrance of the café.

Thomas.

He had just walked in with Damian, and the moment his eyes landed on me, his expression hardened. He said something to Damian before the two of them started walking straight toward our table.

I watched them approach, wondering what the hell they wanted.

Before I could answer Julian or even suggest that we order something, Thomas reached our table. He pulled out the chair beside him, rested one hand on its back, and casually hooked one leg over the edge of another chair, standing there like he owned the place.

A smug smile curled across his face.

"I heard you bought a car," he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

I looked up at him.

For the first time in my life, instead of shrinking under Thomas’s glare, I met his eyes head-on.

A slow, unbothered smile spread across my face. "Yes, I did." I leaned back slightly. "Did your own car get lost, Thomas?"

Thomas’s face flushed red with rage. He slammed both hands onto our table.

"You’re broke! You’re a beggar! Tell me—how the hell could someone like you afford a car like that? Did you sell your body to get it? Just like your mother seduced my father and gave birth to a bastard like you?!"

The entire café fell silent.

Students around us gasped, some covering their mouths as they stared at us.

Instead of getting angry, I smiled even wider. I leaned forward, rested my chin on my hands, and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Yes, Thomas," I said, my voice cutting through the stunned silence. "I sold my body to get the car."

The gasps grew louder. Even Julian sat frozen beside me, his eyes widening in complete shock. I could tell he hadn’t expected me to answer Thomas like that.

Before Thomas could even process my answer, I tilted my head and added calmly, "But guess who I learned that from?"

Thomas blinked, clearly thrown off. "From... from who?"

I smirked. "Your mother."

Thomas completely lost his temper.

"How dare you talk about my mother like that?!" he shouted, his face contorting into pure fury. He raised his arm, his hand balled into a fist, lunging forward to strike me across the face.

I didn’t even flinch.

But before his fist could come anywhere near my skin, a heavy, unyielding hand shot out from the side, catching Thomas’s wrist mid-air with...