CALI
I stayed curled up in my room, silently hoping no one would call me—and for once, luck was on my side. Mr. Grumpy didn't call.
Still, the silence felt… wrong.
It made me feel smaller, less important than whatever name he liked to label me with. Not that I had the right to complain. Who was I to defy him?
I wasn't surprised. Bryan had always treated me like I was disposable. He had given me a choice—yet somehow, I still managed to choose the path that reflected everything weak about me. That was when it struck me why so many poor people resent the rich. Not all of them are tyrants—my parents weren't—but betrayal seems to follow wealth like a shadow. Maybe the rich are always guarding themselves, afraid of the same fate.
The war between classes is complicated. It takes understanding to survive it… and even more to escape it.
I wiped away the lone tear sliding down my cheek just as my door creaked open.
My heart skipped.
Who could that be?
"Oh, I'm sorry, child. I didn't know you were still awake," Nina said softly, a gentle smile lingering on her face. "Your lights were off, so I barged in."
I sighed. "It's fine. I don't mind."
She sat beside me, taking my hand into hers. Her touch was warm—too comforting.
"Did you and Bryan have a fight?" she asked, stroking my palm.
I jerked back instinctively.
"No. Why would you ask?" I forced a chuckle. "We're not even on good terms."
She lightly slapped my palm and stood up, her expression changing so suddenly it stunned me.
"What did I do?" I asked, rubbing my hand as she stared at me, her eyes sharp.
"Your boyfriend has arrived," she said coolly. "He's downstairs with his friends—and you didn't bother to come greet them."
My breath hitched.
Boyfriend?
So this whole performance was for him?
I swallowed hard, hiding the bitterness clawing up my throat. "I didn't know… are they gone already?" I asked, praying for a yes. I was barely holding myself together with Bryan—now his friends too?
"No." She smiled again, dangerously calm. "Get dressed and come greet them."
My chest tightened. I nodded, even though I felt like crying. This was madness—but I had no choice.
I dressed quickly, slipping into a red gown, brushing my hair to one side, and wearing simple flats.
Just greet them and leave, I told myself.
I whispered a short prayer before descending the stairs.
The moment I lifted my head, my world froze.
"Cali."
Steve's voice.
My body stiffened instantly.
No.
No, no, no.
What was he doing here?
Please don't tell me Steve is one of Bryan's friends.
Bryan's face twisted into something unreadable—almost amused—but I couldn't find anything funny about this. My pulse roared in my ears.
"Steve," I whispered, so faintly I wasn't sure the sound escaped my lips.
How did he get here?
And why did it feel like everything I was trying to bury had just found me again?