After one week.

"You don't have to worry about anything." As Lyla dragged her luggage, Kira spoke on the other end of the phone.

“But…” Lyla replied in a tired tone. It wasn't just her voice that was tired; her face was as well. The dark circles under her eyes were noticeable, as were the cracked lips beneath the mask.

"No more excuses," Kira’s voice wasn’t low. “Didn't you want to study? You can do it without any worry. And, after the news of your hospitalization became public, the company announced that you were taking a break.”

Lyla wasn't concerned about those things, and she didn't want to hear those words. But she didn't sound impatient as she asked, "Did you look into that?"

After a brief pause, Kira said quietly, "the other party is..."

“Kira…” Lyla's voice trembled slightly. "I am the victim here," she said.

‘And you have brought it upon yourself.’ Kira wanted to say it out loud. She did, however, maintain her composure in the end.

"Dave has confirmed that the other party will never release the news," Kira stated, taking a big breath. "The other party is willing to pay the compensation."

There was a brief moment of silence. Nonetheless, Kira was the first to speak. "Lyla, you need to understand. The other party isn't someone we could offend. You..."

Lyla hung up the phone without a second thought. To keep the tears from falling, all she could do was stare at the crown of a distant tree.

It took her a long time to get her emotions under control. Looking around, she realized she was already in front of the housing that the university had reserved for her.

As one of the country's top educational institutions, they occasionally accept wealthy heirs or celebrities.

Because these students couldn't stay in the area designated for regular students, the university lent them a few of their residences in the faculty area. All one needed to do was to give a good amount of donation.

This two-story structure was one such option. Lyla wasn't alone in this place, as one might expect. Another celebrity was going to live in the house with her. At least, that's what they had told her.

So she sucked in all her emotions, wiped away her tears, and walked into the house. The door opened to reveal a large drawing-room. The 42-inch screen on the wall was the first thing that caught her eye.

There was a large sofa and a few couches in the center of the room. There was an open kitchen on the left side of the room. 

Aside from the two closed doors, there was a stairway to the second floor.

She didn't have to wait long, though. Another person walked out as soon as the door on her right opened.

"Hello, my name is..." Even before their eyes met, Lyla greeted instinctively. Yet when their gazes met, she was unable to finish the greetings.

“YOU…” seeing Lyla, the other person couldn’t help but frown a little. "What brings you here?"

“Huh!” Lyla didn't know what to say. After all, Lyla had no idea what the other person was talking about. And, more than the question, Lyla was taken aback by what she was wearing.

She wasn't any, to be exact. Aside from the purple sports panty on her waist and the short towel around her neck, she didn't have a single strand on her body.

And, more than the diamond piercing on her naval, it was the golden nipple ring on the dime-sized areola that drew attention. Lyla hadn't seen anything like it before. Naturally, she couldn't take her gaze away from it.

Annie, the other woman, had no idea why this girl was here. She'd seen her a week before but couldn't figure out why she (L) was in the same building that the university had assigned to her.

Annie couldn't help but smirk when she noticed the girl unknowingly bending her (L) neck to cheek her other nipple.

Annie shook her shoulder slightly, revealing her other pierced nipple beneath the short towel. Annie's movement was very subtle. 

But when the other dark nipple, which had been hiding until now, peered at Lyla, she knew something wasn't right. Looking up, Lyla realized Annie was smiling at her.

"Do you like what you've seen so far?"

Lyla’s cheek blushed like a tomato as soon as Annie asked. But how could she take a beating and not fight back?

"How come you're naked inside my house?"

“Your house?” Annie was initially perplexed by her (L) words, but she quickly realized the crux of the problem. "You are the other student who is going to share?" she inquired.

"Put something on. Goddammit.” Lyla screamed and turned her head the other way.

“What's the deal with you being so shy? It's not like you've never seen it before.” Annie casually grabbed a sports bra and put it on.

Even if her breasts weren't too big, Lyla could see her (A) pierced nipples poking at the fabrics when she looked back.

"If you're really interested, I can open it for you." Annie couldn't help but poke fun at her.

“You can't walk around naked in the house. I am going to live here from now.” Lyla tried to conceal her flushed face as she dragged her luggage towards the stairs. Her luggage felt a bit heavier than expected.

"What are you up to?" When she saw Annie grabbing her luggage, she (L) couldn't help but frown. She attempted to pull it, but it was futile.

"Don't you know who I am?" Annie wasn't sure if Lyla had forgotten about her.

“Why? Am I supposed to recognize you?" Lyla didn't even look at Annie as she struggled to free her luggage from Annie's clutches. Nonetheless, she mumbled, "Do you know who I am?"

Lyla returned her gaze to Annie as if she was demanding an answer. What she got instead was a casual smile on her fatless lips.

"I may be more famous than you, but you don't know who I am." Lyla continued to struggle to free her luggage. “What makes you think I'd recognize you? I don't know anyone as obnoxious as you.”

'After all, she had been drugged.' Annie's explanation was the only one she could think of at the time.

According to Dave, they were desperately trying to figure out the bedwarmer’s identity. They might have already found her if her (A) aunt had not intervened at the appropriate time (A).

But Lyla didn't recognize her. It could only mean one thing: 'She had no recollection of that night.'

‘Good’ Annie smiled as she looked down at the little girl. Looking at her, she was able to resist the urge to tease her.

"What are you grinning about?" Nonetheless, the girl glared at her like an enraged puppy. "How long do you intend to keep it?"

"I'm sorry about that." Annie smiled and extended her hand as she let go of the luggage. "My name is Annie Bell. I'm a second-year business student."

For a moment, Lyla fixed her gaze on the extended hand. Yet instead of accepting it, Lyla drew her luggage away from Annie's reach.

It was only then she introduced herself. “Lyla Bloom. Freshman fashion designer." However, as soon as she introduced herself, she turned and walked away.

“Lyla Bloom?” Annie mumbled, “Are you the child actor?”

“So you know me?” Looking at the rare smile on her (L) lips, Annie couldn’t help but stare at it. 

Lyla, on the other hand, went on to say, "That means I'm more famous than you. I still don't know who you are."

“Don’t worry about it.” Annie smiled, asking, “Do you have any plan for dinner? Otherwise, we can go out.”

Lyla looked at Annie, perplexed, trying to figure out what she was thinking. As a result, Annie added, "Don't worry; I know a few private spots."

“Okay!?” Lyla wasn't sure if she wanted to go out with this pervert, but she knew she didn't want to spend her time alone.

'Who is Annie Bell? How come she looks so familiar?' Lyla gave Annie one last look, trying to remember but failing. So she began dragging the luggage up the stairs.

"Let me," Annie snatched the luggage from Lyla's grasp and climbed the stair as if it were nothing.

All Lyla could do was stare at Annie's well-toned back muscles, dumbfounded.

I am back. I had fractured my leg, made a mess out of it. Then I had to go through a surgery. And currently I am going through rehab. So there was no chapter for last couple of months. 

But good thing is I am strating to walk again, and chapters of the other novels will be also be published over the weekends. Thnak you for your supports.