
Introduction
He wins. He endures. He hides.
Dominic Costello doesn't feel.
He smiles. He teases. He lies.
Years of rivalry and one library night that changes everything.
When Dominic throws a challenge just to make Cassian gold, he uncovers something else. Their bickering turns into something they didn't even realize. Late nights turn into almost-kisses. Almost-kisses turn into something dangerous.
Then Dominic's family destroys him. The smile disappears.
And Cassian realizes how imperfect Dominic's smile actually is.
Chapter 1
CASSIAN'S POV
Life brings you the most unexpected challenges when you least expect them. Don't get me wrong, I'm always ready to fight any challenge life throws at me. But I wasn't specifically ready for a 6'4" drunk-ass giant to be thrown at me.
That wasn't the actual challenge.
The actual challenge was bringing this drunk giant to my room without letting my dad and his huge party notice him. Because God forbid Dad sees him, his funeral would be held right out of my house.
This might all seem a bit confusing now, but to understand everything, we need to go back a few months.
FEW MONTHS AGO
University is a place of eternal bliss for the youngsters but for me it's a constant battle of being at the top. Having grandad, dad and brother graduating from here with top grades has always put an unsaid burden on my shoulders. Even though they never said it, their eyes always reflected it. Somehow those expectations instilled themselves inside me before I even could comprehend it.
Everything was going well until a particular prick decided to ruin my perfectly curated uni life. And the name of the prick is Dominic Costello. The only man who can get on my nerves and I can do nothing about it. Why? My reaction gives a different kind of thrill. Not my words, these are his words. The bastard has the audacity to say that my reaction turns him on. Fucking disgusting.
The said prick is now in front of me. Half naked, sweat glistening his well built body. While I was on the more leaner side with a firm body, his body screamed of muscles and strength. Girls fawn at him and his body. I am not supposed to be here, on the football ground, surrounded by tons of girls. This is not my place. Yet, I was here. Because this prick decided to ruin my peaceful schedule and insert himself in my life like always.
“Hi there, sunshine. Are you here to cheer me on? Aww.” The bastard clutched his chest mockingly. “I'm so touched.”
“Why am I in the same project as you? I don't remember signing up for this.” I slammed the sheet of paper on his naked, sweaty chest.
Disgusting.
I raised my specs up on the bridge of my nose with my forefinger and slightly cranked my neck to look at him. While I stood at an impressive 6 feet height, the bastard went ahead to stand at 6 '4. God seems to give him a leverage in everything compared to me.
“Oh this!!” His face curved into a malicious grin.
“The professor wanted me to assist him with his project and asked for another volunteer. And I, as a good friend, suggested to him your name.” His dimples flashed in front of my eyes. The idiot crouched his head down to look at me.
Good friend my ass.
He knew I was going to intern at my dad's company this year. Everyone knew the Vane Restaurant Chain. It's already my second year of uni and this is the perfect time to steady my portfolio by doing an internship. Assisting a professor in a project this time only meant extra work and less efficiency. Surely I'll gain a name in a published research paper but that's not worth it in comparison to the internship. And the prick knows it by heart.
“Get my name out of this, you fucking idiot. Or I swear to God…” I shut my mouth promptly owing to the whisperings and looks people were giving us. I took a sharp breath and held his sweaty wrist and started dragging him with me. But the bastard being the bastard he is, started whistling mockingly.
"Team meeting later guys. Your captain is gonna get laid today. Wish me luck.” He hollered loudly. Along with him his classmates also hollered while the girls glared at me.
Oh please. Even if I was gay, I wouldn't touch this bastard with a ten foot pole.
“Eager much, sunshine. If you're so horny, we can just go to my house.” Dominic whispered right near my ears which shook my whole body. I left his hand with a jerk before cornering him.
“Get my name off the list, you fucker. Or I swear, I'll make your life a living hell.” I snarled at him but the bastard just grinned at me. He ducked his head down before whispering in a low voice.
“Love it when you turn fiesty, baby.”
That's it. I don't even know when my fist connected with his face. I'm not a violent person. I never am. But something about this fucker brings the worst out of me. The fucker never fights me back. And I'm saying it literally. He never lifts his hand against me. Whenever I try to beat the answer out of him, he just grins at me and says the wildest things like he can't bring himself to beat my gorgeous face.
People's hands started grabbing me. Realization hit me square in the face. I am in top of this fucker. His face bruised due to my punches yet the grin never left his face.
His eyes darkened when he saw people's hands on me. His tattooed hand wrapped around my waist, tearing me away from the said people.
“Don't fucking touch him.” Every word out of his mouth sounded like the final verdict. So before this idiot could do something weird once again, I got up and did my favorite activity.
I ran away.
Far away from his invincible vicinity where he traps me and my soul in a fucking golden cage.
Dominic is an unbearable bastard. And I don't know what the fuck did I do to have him stuck him. I surely remember him hating me in middle school. Something changed after his mom died and I attended his funeral. He said and I quote, “You're mine, Cassian. And I never let my things slip away from me.”
His weird fixation with me started when we were 15 and now that we are 20, his fixation only seemed to intensify. And the most annoying part of it is I don't know the reason behind his fixation.
I typed furiously on my phone.
Me: Get my name off the list, Dominic.
Fucker: Make me, baby.
That's it. The bastard's funeral will take place in my own house. I'll kill him personally and help the world to be freed from his miserable presence.
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Last Updated: 6/27/2026
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