Saving the Villain

Asher would be staying in the country and in that same mansion for days for business purposes. The place was big enough for everyone, so he didn't need to bother his little brother and friends. With that being said, everyone settled in while Asher went to where he was supposed to be instead of arguing with Luke.

As mentioned, the place was big enough that all of them could have their own rooms. However, many of them agreed to stay inside the same room since it wouldn't be fun if they had their own room. Each room consisted of five individuals, girls and boys separated.

The only one who had a room all on his own was Maxen, and no one objected. They would be too scared to create the slightest noise if he was their roommate.

Meanwhile, in the room Cosette together with Sarah, Amie, and Fay. After the girls settled in and fixed their luggage, they rested on their respective beds. The room was huge enough to lodge five single beds, which the servants efficiently arranged at Luke's behest. But since there were just four of them, there was an extra bed where they put their other important valuables so they could see them properly.

"This is amazing..." Fay broke the silence while lying flat on her back. "I didn't expect that this trip will be like this."

"I know, right?" Sarah chuckled as she rolled on the bed until she was lying on her tummy. She cupped her face, glancing at the girls who were lying on their beds to rest their limbs.

"It's not like it will matter if we stay in an old inn since we will have fun the same. But well, who are we to complain? It's like an upgrade. I've never been in a place like this," she added.

"I'm so glad you came for me or I will be very envious," Amie chimed almost breathlessly, eyes on the high ceiling. "Luke's brother is divine. Does he have a girlfriend? I think I just discovered my attraction to older men."

"Asher is not that old, though. He's just a year or two older than us," Cosette blurted out, and the three girls instantly turned their attention to her. She was sitting up on the bed, raising her brows at their undivided attention.

"What?"

"Cozie, do you know Luke's brother as well?" asked Amie without beating around the bush, pushing herself to sit up.

Cosette's eyes glossed over their faces, intrigue filling their eyes. She chuckled awkwardly and shrugged.

"Not really...." she massaged her nape, forcing a smile as she didn't want to sound pretentious by telling them she actually knew Asher more than she should — thanks to the novel. But if she based it on her own experience, they barely knew each other.

When Cosette raised her eyes on them once again, a shallow breath slipped past her lips. They were waiting for her to give details.

"Well, I met him once... or twice, I think?" she smiled awkwardly. "But I didn't get to be friends with him, unlike Luke. You know Luke, he is easy to get along with."

"Mhmm... I think his older brother is aloof, and that is his charm." Fay nodded in agreement. "Their genes are no joke. I wonder what their father and mother look like?"

"Cozie, are you rich?" asked Amie with interest. "I mean, I think you're born pampered and living a comfortable life. But are you like an heiress kind of rich?"

"Hehe..." Cosette chuckled. "I have a comfortable life because my father works hard to build my future."

"So you're also this rich...?"

"Well... uhm..."

"Amie, does it matter?" Before Cosette could answer, Sarah intervened and cast Amie a look. "Even if Cozie and Luke were this rich, they were still our friends. It's not like something changed, even if they were well-born to boot."

"I agree with Sarah." Fay forced herself to sit up and grinned. "Cozie is still are friend even if that is true. It's not like she treated us differently. She's still Cosette."

Amie pressed her lips into a thin line and nodded. "You're right."

Cosette smiled subtly as she looked back at the girls, who were smiling back at her. She had good friends.

"Anyway, we should prepare! Luke told us we can relax for today, but that would be boring!" Fay clapped enthusiastically. "Let's check out the place. I think I saw a pool on our way here."

"Let's swim!" Amie cheered happily. She was more energetic than ever, probably because this was the only time her parents allowed her on a trip.

"It's good that we brought swimwear, thinking we would go to a beach or something." Sarah happily chimed in. It was summer vacation, so a beach trip or swimming was a must.

With that being said, the girls happily changed into their swimwear to start their fun instead of lazing around the bedroom. The boyish Fay wore a two-piece underneath her loose t-shirt and board shorts. Sarah changed into a black one-piece boyleg swimsuit and a blazer while Amie was in a pair of rash guard.

When Cosette came out of the bathroom, the three of them looked at her in silence. Cosette's brows rose, tilting her head to the side at the odd look they were giving her. Who wouldn't? They always see her in her uniform, which was a little loose that hid what was underneath. It wasn't like her face wasn't enough to attract anyone. But with that one-piece velvet swimwear with a low-cut back, parading her smooth back, and this much skin exposure revealing her fair complexion gave her a fresh look. Not to mention, her bosom wasn't huge, but it was enough to highlight her perfect curves.

She didn't look like a sixteen-year-old girl, but rather, someone in her early twenties. Surely, she wasn't only beautiful, but she was a full package!

"Do I look… weird?" she asked after their prolonged gaze. She looked down to look at herself, debating once again if her swimwear was too provocative. But this was the most conservative she had in her closet; the trip was abrupt, and she didn't have time to shop.

"Hello?" Cosette waved to snap the three back to reality. "Are you alright?"

"Cozie, I didn't know you've been hiding a treasure underneath your uniform," Fay mumbled in awe, bobbing her face to examine her. "Wow... I think I'm bent."

"If I have that sort of body and face, I'll eat men for breakfast," Amie whispered, eyes twinkling at Cosette.

"You look very sexy, Cozie." Sarah chuckled, but then her heart suddenly pounded against her chest. 'Why do I feel nervous for her?'

Cosette blushed and massaged her nape, feeling a little self-cautious. "You guys..." she shook her head and marched towards her bed to pick up the blazer she prepared to cover herself.

However, the second they saw her slipping her hand into the sleeves, Amie and Fay glided to her to stop her.

"What are you doing?!" Fay gasped, making Cosette flinch.

"Cozie, don't cover up the treasure!" Amie exclaimed. "It's too good to cover it up!"

"Huh...?"

Fay clicked her tongue and snatched the blazer from her. As soon as she tossed the blazer back to the bed, she stood in front of Cosette with her hand on her hips.

"Stay like that," Fay announced while Amie nodded profusely.

"We can't skip a day of drama between Max and Luke. I've been invested in this drama since the day Luke transferred to our school!"

"..." Cosette opened and closed her mouth like a fish, darting her eyes at Fay and Amie. When she recovered her voice, she asked. "You want me to walk around with one piece without cover?"

The two immediately nodded. "Why not? You are blessed with a glorious body and a beautiful face! And just like Amie said, if we had that face and body, we will eat men for breakfast!"

"Have some confidence, Cozie! You really look good and my eyes don't want to part with you!"

"Ha ha..." Cosette laughed awkwardly, feeling a little threatened than boosted up by their praises. It wasn't like she wasn't confident. In the real Cosette's memory, she would often confidently walk in a two-piece at home every time she would go for a swim. But that was their house! But then again, the real Cosette was like that too on a beach — even though the only beach Cosette visited were private islands or a luxury beach club where everyone was just as confident as her.

"Don't hide and have some confidence!" Fay cheered, and Amie backed her up enthusiastically.

A shallow breath slipped past Cosette's lips.

"Alright…" she chuckled and shook her head. 'I'll just borrow sister Cozie's confidence. Also, Sister Cozie likes her swimsuit and likes to sort of parade them, since that's what they're meant for.'

"Wait!" Fay and Amie's cheering stopped when Sarah finally spoke. The three watched her rummage through her bags and then she raised a see-through white cover-up.

"This is perfect so Cozie won't feel too shy!" Sarah announced with a grin, and Fay and Amie's eyes glinted, setting their eyes on Cosette.

Cosette smiled back awkwardly as these three were more invested in dressing her up. But well, a cover-up was what she needed, although that see-through would only make her appear like a tease; showing, but not entirely.