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Strength: The capacity of an object or person to withstand great force or pressure.

B ut for how long can one stand strong?

“Fallon! Get your lazy ass up!”

I groaned and swatted at the air, my anger already stirring in my gut. I didn’t even want to go to college.

“I’m up!” I hollered back, turning over and yanking the blanket over my head.

“Ferdinand will be here any minute to take you to the university! I suggest you don’t make him wait.”

Rolling my eyes and waiting a solid four minutes later to piss off my sister further, I finally wiggled myself out from underneath my covers and walked to my vanity.

My hair was a frizzy disaster, and I didn’t leave myself enough time to shower, so throwing it in a knot on my head was my best option.

Staring at my glaring reflection, I sighed. The yellowing bruises were nearly gone, at least, but I added foundation to my make-up sponge and covered the remnants of my discolored skin anyway.

Good enough.

Francis came to my door, rapping on the wood as if it offended her. I rolled my eyes and yanked my stockings up my legs.

“Fuck off, would you? I just need my mascara,” I said, directing my attention to the door.

She did not, in fact, fuck off. Instead, my annoying big sister barged into my room and tapped her wrist. “C’mon, sleeping beauty. Your prince charming is outside.”

I peered over, looking out my window. Sure enough, the black, way too expensive car was parked outside, and I could hear the horn blaring now.

Oh, for fuck’s sake!

After taking one last look at my half-assed updo, my mediocre makeup skills, and my university prep school uniform, I stood up and saluted my sister with my middle finger positioned at my temple. “Don’t you have better things to do than bother college students all day?”

She returned my smile and condescendingly patted my head as I slid on my shoes.

“Nope. Sure, don’t. My job that pays for your ungrateful ass doesn’t start until 10:00 AM.”

“Yay for me.”

Groaning, I swerved around her outstretched hand and collected the shit from my dresser. I shoved all the books and folders that needed to be indoctrinated for the day into my backpack.

Ignoring her jabs and ranting, I walked to the kitchen, snatched her burned toast from the table, and walked out the door.

Ferdinand stepped out from behind the pillars and reached for my arm. I gritted my teeth as he pulled me to the passenger side.

“Why did you make me wait, Pet?” His words were calm, but his grip was rough. “Women are useless without an education, darling. You don’t want to be useless to me, do you, Baby?”

I swallowed the response and instead sat down in my seat. My fiancé didn’t like that. Any disobedience was seen as a challenge to him.

He reached over and grabbed my chin, jerking me toward him. My eyes met his cool, collected glare. “Baby, what exactly are you wearing?”

I pulled my plaid skirt down further over my knees, the yellow and blue pattern matched the university, which would be my freedom from this conversation. “The required uniform.”

His disapproving gaze roved down my body, sending a chill up my spine and making goosebumps rise on my skin. “I don’t exactly have a choice…” I continued.

“You don’t have a choice? No decision in walking around looking like a whore for all those horny college boys to gawk at? No choice in protecting what’s mine?” His tone was now melding into a higher register, reserved for when he thought I was an idiot.

“Sorry, Baby. I will put on a jacket?” I said quickly, reaching the back of the seat to grab his black blazer.

Humming with approval, as I wrapped the material around my V-cut shirt, he reached over and stroked my leg. I tried to ignore the uneasy crawling on my skin and clipped the buttons closed, effectively hiding my curves and most of the skirt.

“Better, darling. You always protect my assets, understand me?”

Assets. That’s all I was. A possession. There was zero love on either side of this fucking arrangement. My hand was given without my consent or knowledge, all because of what makes this greedy world run…money.

I was forced to be the show pony and the prized cattle, branded by the bastard beside me so he would ensure my family continued to live their cushion-covered lives.

My father lost his fortune, and he and my mother were unable to continue their fake billionaire lifestyle.

But during one of their many flashy, disgusting parties, they were able to auction me off to the highest bidder, and ding, ding, ding…

Ferdinand Grosvenor, The Second, happened to be that monopoly man.

“What studies are you attending today, Pet?”

Gritting my teeth at the disgusting pet name, I racked my brain for what I was even doing today. “Uh, English 104, Photography Development…a music course, and some kind of psych class, I think.”

Tsking, he ran his hand over my chin. “You are a senior, darling. Don’t you feel that you should be doing more with your life? You can’t just run after every silly story you see with that dinosaur of a camera you wear. I expect my wife to do more for herself. Be better.”

I shifted in my seat, my fingers itching to hold my ‘dinosaur’ of a camera. It was the only thing that gave me any type of joy in my miserable, polished life.

I bit my tongue because the words about to bubble out of me would get me in trouble. And tell me, dear fiancé, pray tell…what is so esteemed to meet the standards of a trust fund baby who rides around with his Daddy’s money?

“Of course, dear.”

How could I already be this exhausted?

“Oh em gee! Fallon Summers, is that you?” The ear-piercing banshee shriek drew every eye to my location, and I unsuccessfully tried to hide. I shoved my body behind the metal, getting my clothes snagged on the rusted frame and leaving ugly black marks on my jacket.

“Oh…Hi, Kimmy. Long time no see.” I’d hoped I had put enough honey into my voice.

Kimmy Long was one of the socialites at the boat parties, and her father owned the boat shows that were going to happen in a few weeks. My father was particularly interested in doing business with Mister Long, so I was supposed to be the absolute best friend to this chaotic woman in front of me.

“Long time? No, no, no! Try more like a century! The last time I saw you was at your engagement party! How is Nandy?”

I snickered at the nickname, imagining my fiancé’s face when she called him that.

“Oh, he’s great. Grosvenor’s Inn is picking up a lot of traction. He said they are franchising as well.”

Kimmie’s eyes bugged, and she clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh wow! Congratulations are in order for you guys! You are so lucky to have such a successful partner and soon-to-be-husband! We have to celebrate soon.”

I plastered on my fakest smile and agreed. “Yes, the luckiest in the whole world. That’s me, lucky.”

Glancing down at my watch, I saw the time…I was running late to my fucking class.

Great. Time for ‘Psychology: Into the mind.’

Stepping into the classroom, I tried to sneak toward the back while a voice droned on about introductions.

‘Blah…Blah…Blah…’

“Ah…class. Here is another example of one of the rules not tolerated in my classroom.” I halted. “Being punctual is required. If you are late to class, you can consider that your seal of failure.”

Rolling my eyes, I found an empty seat in the back.

I dropped my bag on the floor with a loud thud, wincing at the sound, and slowly moved my gaze up to the front of the class.

There was a female standing there. She was short and had dark, curly brown hair.

Rummaging around in my bag, I pulled out the book for class and… I didn’t have a fucking pen.

“Late and unprepared? Naughty girl.”

My breath caught in my throat as I glanced at the pen extended toward me. That voice. The husky melodic tone.

Locking his eyes with mine beside me was the man from the cemetery—the dangerous stranger. His words swirled around in my ears, my body heating in the places he had touched me before when he pushed me against that gravestone.

Lucky for you, I enjoyed the show.

Glaring at his crystalline green eyes, I held back my sigh. “Uhh…what the hell are you doing here? Trying to learn how not to stalk twenty-year-olds in cemeteries?”

He smiled in response, a knowing glimmer in his eyes. I studied his desk. He wanted to call me out for being unprepared, yet he didn’t even have a bookbag.

The pretty teacher at the front turned her body to face us all, looking mostly at the man sitting beside me.

Did they know each other?

“And lastly, class. The most important thing about psychology is observation. Your real professor has been among you this whole time as I have read over your rules and expectations, observing all your reactions and mannerisms.”

Gasps and hushed whispers started around me, but that prick just kept smiling.

“Class, I would like you to meet your instructor for this course. Professor Masters.”

Everyone swiveled their heads around, searching for the snake in the class, but I laughed out loud when their eyes landed on me. That was…until the man beside me stood up, his giant form looming over my desk, creating a shadow.

He was my professor?

Slapping my mouth shut, I glanced around the room. Damn, you could catch flies with all the open mouths in the room. He walked to the front of the class and put on a lanyard with his smiling, smug face plastered on the front.

I glared at him. It figured that I would be forced to take a class with this weirdo.

An odd sense of foreboding washed over me as if I was in the graveyard. Catching his gaze, I smiled sweetly.

You want a show, Professor? Just wait.