--
Part 47
The campus was unusually quiet that evening. The last bell had rung an hour ago, and most students had already left. Only a few scattered footsteps echoed across the empty parking lot.
Kylie Sinclair stood near the main gate, heels clicking softly against the pavement as she scrolled through her phone. Her driver had messaged: "Miss Sinclair, running late. Ten minutes."
She sighed, annoyed, but remained poised. Being Kylie Sinclair meant she never showed weakness, never let the world think she was anything less than untouchable.
But then, a shadow loomed.
A boy from the senior batch — notorious for his arrogance — stepped too close.
"Hey, Kylie," he drawled, eyes raking over her. "Need company while you wait?"
Kylie ignored him, shifting slightly away. But he smirked and moved closer, his hand brushing the edge of her arm.
"Don't act cold, sweetheart. You know you like the attention."
Kylie stiffened. Her confidence faltered for the first time.
---
Nick Steps In
At that very moment, Nick and Anna were walking past the parking lot, heading toward the exit. Nick's sharp eyes caught the scene instantly — Kylie pinned between the wall and that boy's hovering figure.
Something snapped inside him.
"HEY!" Nick's voice thundered across the empty ground.
The boy froze, turning just in time to receive Nick's shove. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Nick's tone was low but deadly, the kind that made people step back.
The boy sneered, trying to push back. "Relax, Carter. Just talking—"
But Nick's fist connected with his collar, slamming him against the wall. "You call this talking?" His eyes blazed with fury.
---
Anna with Kylie
While Nick was ready to tear the boy apart, Anna rushed to Kylie's side. The rich, confident girl looked shaken, her usual smirk gone.
"Hey, sit down," Anna said softly, guiding her to a nearby bench. Kylie's hands trembled as she accepted the water bottle Anna offered.
"Here… drink."
Kylie took a sip, her voice low. "I didn't think… something like this would…"
Anna squeezed her hand. "Money or beauty doesn't protect us from creeps. But you're safe now. And next time—don't just stay quiet. Speak. Scream. Don't give them power."
Her words carried steel, and for the first time, Kylie Sinclair looked at Anna not as a rival but as a woman who understood.
---
Anna Faces the Boy
The boy, still struggling in Nick's grip, scoffed. "Why are you both making this such a big deal?"
Anna's patience broke. She stepped forward, eyes blazing.
"You think touching a girl without her consent is nothing? Try that again and you'll learn what it means to lose every ounce of respect you have left in this school."
The boy blinked, shocked. Anna's tone carried more weight than the punch Nick had threatened.
---
Ethan Arrives
"Anna!"
Ethan's voice echoed as he rushed into the parking lot, panic written on his face. He spotted Nick holding the boy, Anna standing in front of Kylie, and Kylie herself pale but composed.
"What the hell happened here?" Ethan demanded, striding to Anna's side. His protective arm went around her instantly.
"Nothing you need to handle," Nick muttered, shoving the boy one last time before releasing him. The boy stumbled away, humiliated.
---
The Car Ride
Silence followed, heavy and sharp.
Nick dusted his hands, then turned to the girls. His jaw was still clenched, but his voice was steady.
"Enough of this. You both are not staying here any longer."
From the far corner of the parking lot, his sleek black luxury car gleamed under the fading light. He opened the backseat door himself, a rare gesture.
"Anna. Kylie. Get in. I'll drop you safely."
Kylie, still shaken, nodded wordlessly and slid in first. Anna hesitated, glancing at Ethan. But Ethan, after a pause, gave a small nod — torn between his own possessiveness and Anna's safety.
So she entered too, sitting between Kylie and the leather seat.
Nick closed the door gently, then walked around to the driver's side. The engine purred to life, smooth and commanding. As the car glided out of the gates, the tense silence lingered — only broken by the unspoken realization that Nick Carter wasn't just dangerous when he fought… he was dangerous because he cared.
---