ftly against the polished marble floors. Every step echoed, th
ss". The maid said, opening
ed inside
mountains, crisp white sheets. There was a sitting area by the windows, a desk made of dar
uti
rf
letely u
hortly," The maid added qui
r suitcase still in her hand. None of
lves waiting to be filled. The silence pressed in on her chest. Back home, her room w
t like a
her shoes, collapsed onto the bed, and before she co
g against the ma
, squinting
ss
ated, the
he said
"Aria, I'm so sorry. I should
ia cut in, rubb
m o
pa
e are
ar
use. Longe
repeated. "Like
ring at the unfamiliar
didn't mean for anything to ha
ng Cassie's voice made everything feel farther awa
portant, about everything she wasn't there for anym
ck came at
voice called. "
ghting. Valentin Duclair sat at the head, composed as ever. Cecilia sat beside him, elegant and rest
arriv
air. He didn't rush, didn't apologize. His forearm rested casually against the table, sle
Like he'd already decided
?" Aria thought to herself as she stared at him. Lucien tu
e meal, Valentin s
er. "You'll be enrolling at Saint Cl
paused in
smile, not like she cared about
final year," Cec
at her, offerin
ss," he said. "I can help
t a quiet, hu
shifted. "Some
air. "Just interesting how e
e tightened. "
y. "I'm tired of prete
remained calm. "Your
nched. "Stop mon
" Valentin said evenly. "Oppor
"Right. Because
le went
s chair back, st
Sharp, assessing, like he wa
s gaze
said flatly, before t
follo
lia stared at her plate. Adrien looked uncomfortable
ound of Lucien's footsteps
t she didn't care th
heavily in
/1/109678/coverbig.jpg?v=02cccd81e29f897a4008c8ed185aecc8&imageMogr2/format/webp)