Falling against the Rules Chapter 4

Sasha’s POV

We soon arrived at the hospital and the DNA test was quick and expensive and completely surreal. It took one cheek swab and a few hours of waiting in a private room while technicians rushed the results through because James Gates wanted answers today. What was I expecting? Rich man. He should be used to getting anything he wants by now.

When the doctor came back with the results, I already knew what he was going to say from the look on his face. And I was already heaving a sigh of relief

"Congratulations, Mr. Gates. You have a daughter."

James kept staring at the result for forever. Then he looked at me and this time he was looking at me like I was a discovery

"Eighteen years," he said finally. "She never told me,” he shook his head

"I think she tried," I said, thinking of all those unsent letters. "She just... never sent them…” I didn’t know what to say next

He went quiet for another long moment. Then he pulled out his phone and made a series of calls that completely changed my life. By the time we left the hospital, I was enrolled at Whitmore University with a full scholarship, had a credit card in my name, and was scheduled for a shopping trip the next morning.

"You'll start classes Monday," he said as his driver took us to an upscale department store. "I've arranged for you to have a guide - another freshman named Austin Winchester. I heard he is one of the best students. He'll help you adjust."

Winchester. The name sounded familiar. Of course I have heard about that family in the news. Even my guide was related to powerful people. I wonder how my new life will be. Would I always be remote this way? He didn’t even ask if I wanted to start school yet.

But gone was the numerous uncertainty in my mind when we walked into the overwhelming store. The shopping trip was overwhelming. James handed me off to a personal shopper who treated me like I was some project she had to do to impress. Within four hours, I was somebody else when I looked into the mirror

"Better," James said when he saw me in a pink gown that apparently brought out my complexion. "You look like you belong now."

Belong where? I wanted to ask. I was humiliated by what he said, but I had to convince myself that I should be too grateful to question anything about his mannerism

***

It was Monday morning. I had been praying for it to come so that I could get a new view of the city and escape the coldness of the house, but when it came, I was not ready.

I was dropped off at the university and never in my wildest dreams imagined myself to be in this kind of place. Everything exquisite and even with my new self, I felt like an impostor. I wondered if the the friends I would make her would be anything like a Amanda and Sarah, my friends from high school back in Ohio

"You must be Sasha!" a voice suddenly startled me

I turned to find a boy about my age jogging toward me with a huge smile. He was cute in a way that said, ‘I am a regular American rich kid.’ I immediately noticed his brunette hair, followed by his friendly ashy eyes, and how his lanky body glided smoothly as he moved

"I'm Austin Winchester," he said, extending his hand. "I was assigned as your guide and I have been waiting for you. Ready for the grand tour?"

"Winchester?" I asked, shaking his hand. "Are you related to…" I was going to ask to clear my suspicions

"Nope, just one of those common last names," he said with a laugh. "Come with me please,”

He started showing me around, making me laugh and talk, pointing out buildings and explaining traditions and making me feel almost normal. He was relatable. At one point, I didn’t feel like that lost girl from the countryside

We were walking through the main quad when I a figure walking towards us from the opposite direction, and the moment my eyes settled on him, nothing seemed to matter

He was easily six feet two inches, broad-shouldered with dark hair that fell across his forehead and the kind of face that I only read in novels. He moved like he owned the world, confident and powerful and completely magnetic. I had one read of such striking features, never have I ever seen one in flesh.

My breath hitched

"Sasha?" Austin spoke, but the blood rushing in my ears made me deaf

The handsome, no, the beautiful boy was getting closer and closer to me. I was getting nervous. I knew I needed him to notice me, but all like we do was keep staring. He was the most gorgeous person I'd ever seen

Which is the stupid reason I stumbled over my own leg and went falling straight into him when he was close enough

Instinctively, I grabbed that something to stop me from falling, and I ended up grabbing his chest. My fingers betrayed me when they drugged his shit along with my fall. I suddenly heard the fabric rip and felt the solid abs behind the material. At this point, we were pressed together and I could smell his cologne

For a small second, it felt surreal , like something I wanted. Well until he shoved me away so hard I almost fell again.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" his voice was deep and attractive, yet filled with disgust as he looked down at his torn shirt.

I was immediately filled with shock when I realised the gravity of what was happening. I was in public and I was mopping over a stranger like a fool. "I'm sorry," I stammered, embarrassment coating me in a coat of many colour "I … I,” my stuttered, but I didn’t even get the chance to finish

"Close your mouth when you're admiring someone as hot as me," he cut me off, his brown eyes cold and cruel. "Your composure is disgusting. I can bet my life that you are a village girl”

Cruel. His words sounded in my head like judgement, piercing my heart and leaving it bleeding

Students were already stopping to watch. They were all talking, laughing at me. I feel like the poor girl in the midst of rich people

"I said I was sorry," I managed to speak.

“What exactly am I supposed to do with that?” He eyed me and I quivered

“She said sorry,” Austin spoke, but his voice was small. More like he was trying to avoid Jaden, but he had to speak up for me because he just had to

But Jaden didn’t even pay attention to him, instead he said to me, "Girls like you never get boys like me. I will advise you to snap out of your delusion.”

Then he walked away

I fought back tears. I wouldn’t be know as the girl who cried on her first day because of a boy

Austin immediately pulled me away from the crowd, holding me protectively. "Jaden's an asshole to everyone, don’t mind him."

Jaden. Even his name was perfect. What was wrong with me! I should hate him already!

"Who is he?" I asked when I could finally speak again. Really? That was the first question that came to my mind? I didn’t even have any iota of shame in me. I should be reposed by the Jaden boy, but no, I was still interested. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that I would be interested in an oppressor

"Jaden Gates," Austin said with obvious distaste. "Hockey captain, rich boy, general pain in everyone's ass. Stay away from him, Sasha. He's nothing but trouble."

Gates. What did I just hear

"Did you say Gates?" I asked, praying that my suspicions were not true

"Yeah, his dad is James Gates, the business tycoon. You should have heard of him, he is popular. That's why Jaden thinks that he is untouchable”

James Gates. My father.

The boy I'd just embarrassed myself over, the boy I was already half in love with despite knowing him for barely thirty seconds...

Was my stepbrother.

"I need to use the restroom," I said quickly, and I run away before Austin could even say any other thing