Not Salvation Chapter 1

In my freshman year, the most respected woman in the city’s high society suddenly offered to sponsor me.

Just as I was about to reach for her delicate, fair hand, a series of comments popped up in my vision, like a live social media feed.

[This pathetic side character thinks he’s found his savior, but the female lead is just pissed at her nephew and decided to sponsor a male student to spite him. He’s handsome and an orphan, so he’s the perfect pawn.]

[He’s going to be kicked out soon anyway. The male lead’s older brother is already on his way to a pet store to buy their aunt her favorite kind of cat to cheer her up!]

[A big reason the female lead likes the male lead is because of his cat-like features. Who would’ve thought that under that calm, self-possessed exterior, she’s a total cat fanatic!]

…

“If you’re willing, sign the contract.”

The woman’s cool, detached voice pulled me back from the scrolling comments. I looked down at the contract, at the three hundred thousand dollars per year she was offering. I fought to suppress the cat ears that were threatening to pop out from my hair in my excitement.

My eyes shining, I nodded eagerly. “Yes! I’m willing!”

* * *

My ears were misbehaving, twitching just beneath my scalp, desperate to spring free. It was an itchy, annoying sensation, but I forced myself to hold still. I couldn’t scare off this kind woman who was willing to help me.

Once I had them under control, I quickly picked up the pen and signed my name.

“Is there anything else I need to do?”

The comments had mentioned that Ms. Sterling was only sponsoring me to make her nephew jealous. What was my role in all this?

Her expression was cold and distant. Her gaze swept disdainfully over the peeling, green-tinged walls of my tiny apartment and the faded t-shirt I was wearing. Finally, her eyes, cool and emotionless, landed on my thin face.

“First, get a new set of clothes. Tomorrow, you’ll move into the Sterling villa.”

I nodded obediently and followed her assistant out to go shopping, planning to study the comments and learn how to be a proper “villainous side character.” But they all said I was just a disposable pawn in the main couple’s drama. They said I’d be dropped before I even set foot in the Sterling house, as soon as the main couple made up.

But if she withdrew her sponsorship… I’d go hungry. I wouldn’t even be able to afford dried fish.

To protect this hard-won opportunity, I gathered my courage, ditched the assistant, and yanked open the door of the departing Porsche, sliding into the back seat just before it pulled away.

I met the cold, hard eyes of Elizabeth Sterling, framed by her gold-rimmed glasses. I nervously twisted the hem of my shirt. “I heard there’s going to be a thunderstorm tonight,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “I… I’m really scared of thunder. Auntie, can I… can I go home with you tonight?”