Chapter 6

“There’s… one left.”

“What?”

A quiet voice cut through the chatter.

Another senior stepped forward, holding a single Luk Chup carefully in her palm.

She wasn’t loud like her friend.

She wasn’t surrounded by attention.

Yet somehow…

Charlotte noticed her immediately.

The senior’s voice reminded her of the last warm ray of sunlight before evening settled in. Gentle. Soft. Unhurried.

Long dark hair framed her face as a nervous smile slowly appeared.

Her dimples surfaced before the smile ever reached her lips, as though happiness always found her eyes first.

Charlotte couldn’t explain it.

She had met countless beautiful people growing up.

Models.

Celebrities.

Politicians.

Business heirs.

But none of them had ever made her pause quite like this girl.

“That was Sunny’s.”

“Oh…”

“So that’s what’s happening.”

Before Charlotte could fully understand the exchange, another senior stepped forward.

Tall.

Athletic.

Broad shoulders beneath his university jacket.

He carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone used to leading others.

In one hand was a neatly wrapped bag overflowing with freshly bought Luk Chup.

He smiled.

“Hi.”

“I’m Aaron.”

He offered his hand.

Charlotte accepted it politely.

“Charlotte Austin.”

She wanted to say something else.

Maybe thank the girl who had offered her the last candy.

Maybe introduce herself properly.

Maybe ask her name.

But Heidi had already accepted the sweet on their behalf.

The conversation slipped away as quickly as it had begun.

Soon they were walking toward their next lecture.

Charlotte glanced back over her shoulder.

The senior was already laughing with her friends again.

For reasons she couldn’t explain…

Charlotte hoped this wouldn’t be the last time she saw her.

“So…”

Aaron casually fell into step beside them.

“Are you guys coming to the Freshers’ Party on Saturday night?”

He barely paused for breath.

“It’s going to be insane this year.”

“Water theme.”

“Live DJ.”

“Foam cannons.”

“The seniors always go all out.”

He continued talking enthusiastically with Heidi and Marima.

Charlotte listened…

But only halfway.

Her attention remained on the tiny fruit-shaped candy resting in her hand.

It was almost too pretty to eat.

Growing up, sweets had always been controlled.

One chocolate meant another vitamin.

One dessert meant extra training the next morning.

Every calorie was accounted for.

Every meal measured.

Every decision approved.

Sometimes Charlotte wondered whether her body belonged to her…

Or to the schedule someone else had written.

She carefully took a bite.

The soft mung bean filling melted across her tongue.

Sweet.

Fresh.

Simple.

For some reason…

It tasted like freedom.

“So…”

Aaron interrupted her thoughts.

“Are you coming?”

Marima answered before Charlotte could.

“Charlotte usually doesn’t—”

“I am.”

The words escaped before she had time to think.

Silence.

“You are?”

Marima blinked.

Even Heidi looked surprised.

Charlotte had never attended a university party.

She had curfews.

Bodyguards.

Schedules.

Private tutors.

Dinner meetings.

Sleep by nine.

Her life had always been planned weeks ahead.

Yet somehow…

“I’ll be there.”

She repeated, sounding more certain this time.

It wasn’t because of Aaron.

He seemed nice enough.

Handsome.

Athletic.

Confident.

But it wasn’t him.

Charlotte was simply exhausted.

Tired of always following someone else’s script.

For once…

She wanted her own story.

Aaron pumped his fist excitedly.

“Yes!”

“Awesome.”

Heidi laughed.

“Then it’s a date.”

Aaron nearly choked.

“A… group date!”

Everyone laughed.

As they exchanged contact information, Aaron unknowingly left behind nearly three-quarters of the candy he’d bought.

The girls watched him disappear.

Heidi sighed dramatically.

“I call dibs.”

Marima burst into laughter.

“No objections from me.”

Charlotte smiled absentmindedly.

“You can have him.”

Her mind wasn’t on Aaron.

It wasn’t even on the party anymore.

It was on one impossible question.

How was she supposed to leave the Austin estate at eight o’clock…

When she was expected to be asleep by nine?

She buried her face in her hands.

Marima gave her a knowing smile.

“Thinking?”

Charlotte groaned.

“You have no idea.”

Only one person could possibly help her.

Shawn.

___________________________________________

Austin Estate

By the time Charlotte arrived home, the mansion had already settled into its usual rhythm.

House staff moved silently through polished hallways.

Fresh flowers had already replaced yesterday’s arrangements.

Dinner would be served in exactly forty-five minutes.

Everything happened on schedule.

Everything except Charlotte’s heartbeat.

She hurried upstairs until she reached a familiar black door.

A wooden sign hung crookedly across it.

NO GIRLS ALLOWED

Charlotte smiled.

Shawn had made that sign when he was eight.

He’d simply refused to take it down.

She knocked anyway.

“Knock.”

“Knock.”

“Knock.”

“Shawn?”

No answer.

She slowly opened the door.

Rock music exploded into the hallway.

A foam dart whizzed inches past her head.

“Identify yourself!”

Shawn spun dramatically in his gaming chair, aiming a toy assault rifle.

Charlotte immediately threw both hands into the air.

“Don’t shoot!”

“It’s only me!”

He lowered the toy with exaggerated disappointment.

“Oh.”

“It’s you.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes.

“Nerd.”

“I’m wounded.”

He placed a hand over his chest.

“I prefer technological genius.”

His room looked nothing like the rest of the mansion.

Computer monitors covered one wall.

Custom-built PCs hummed quietly beneath neon lighting.

Gaming collectibles, robotics projects, and half-finished inventions occupied nearly every shelf.

If Charlotte’s room belonged in a luxury magazine…

Shawn’s belonged in a science fiction movie.

“So.”

He leaned back.

“What brings Princess Charlotte into my humble kingdom?”

She smiled sweetly.

“Bro…”

“I need a favor.”

“No.”

“You don’t even know what I’m asking.”

“Don’t need to.”

“The answer’s still no.”

She crossed her arms.

“Shawn…”

“I’m desperate.”

He continued typing.

“Nope.”

She walked closer.

“Pleeeeease?”

Nothing.

She added her best puppy eyes.

“Pretty please?”

Still nothing.

“With extra dessert?”

“…”

“Fine.”

He sighed dramatically.

“What is it?”

Charlotte grinned victoriously.

Still got him.

She explained everything.

The party.

The curfew.

Sneaking out.

Returning unnoticed.

Every sentence made Shawn rub his temples a little harder.

Finally he looked up.

“So let me understand this correctly.”

“You want me…”

“…to sneak you past security…”

“…without Paul noticing…”

“…without Dad noticing…”

“…without Mom noticing…”

“…drive you to a university party…”

“…wait around…”

“…bring you home…”

“…and somehow survive when Mother inevitably discovers all of this?”

Charlotte nodded innocently.

“Yes.”

“As if you’re asking me to borrow a pen.”

She smiled wider.

“Exactly.”

Shawn stood.

Opened the bedroom door.

And pointed into the hallway.

“No.”

He slowly pronounced each letter.

“N.”

“O.”

Charlotte refused to move.

“I’ll do your chores.”

“No.”

“I’ll clean your room.”

“No.”

“I’ll help with your coding homework.”

He laughed.

“Now you’re just insulting me.”

She folded her hands dramatically.

“I’ll do anything.”

That made him stop.

“…Anything?”

Charlotte hesitated.

“…Yes?”

A mischievous grin slowly spread across Shawn’s face.

“Amanda Jensen.”

Charlotte frowned.

“Heidi?”

“She’s your friend, right?”

“Yeah…”

“Does she have a boyfriend?”

Charlotte stared.

Then looked at her older brother.

Then back again.

“…You like Heidi?”

His ears immediately turned red.

“I never said that.”

Charlotte couldn’t stop smiling.

“Oh…”

“So that’s why you’ve been asking about Business Faculty events.”

“I said nothing.”

“You totally like her.”

“I said…”

“…nothing.”

Charlotte burst into laughter.

For the first time all day…

She forgot about expectations.

Forgot about schedules.

Forgot about perfection.

She was simply a younger sister teasing her brother.

Shawn sighed.

“Sit down.”

Charlotte immediately sat.

He leaned forward conspiratorially.

“Okay.”

“So here’s how we’re going to pull this off…”