BRAIDED BROOD

Huxley was enjoying a rare quiet moment when

ump someone over

He gave her a charming, entirely unapologetic gr

I was your

d. "Well, it's true. Every beautiful woman in

. She snatched a glass of water, raising it as if to drench him. At the last sec

true?" she asked,

t ru

s one wish when you

ng in close. "Ju

e sports car, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. With a careless shrug, Hux

ompletely unbothered, and turned to fl

-

y complained to his friends at the club that evenin

complicated family tre

the ice in his glass. "He doesn't care what I think a

ing to do about it?"

tomorrow," a thi

." He walked toward the VIP entrance and pointed at the general automated doo

"What's even going on in there? Though I'll give you this: the

ow. "I don't care. It's m

rling, and the noise thumped through the floor while Huxley a

he doors s

as E

holding a stack of steaming pizza boxes. She shook the water off

out laughing. Huxley ju

sed his hand. "That's weird. Are y

didn't you?" Emily snapped, wipi

to the receipt, highlighting the special req

e the stairs,' or 'nobody's home, leave it by the door.' That's w

sked for the prettiest girl, and they sent an ugly girl l

dollars. Are you paying with a card?"

t now. What are you going t

m still being ni

threatening a customer right now?" He snatche

ser and flicked Emily hard on the forehead. "You'r

ntil his friends grabbed his arm. "Hey, don't get involved.

hing for his wallet, but before anyone could process what

, sending him crashing backward into his booth. She unzipped her rain

rozen, complet

me pay!" the guy stammered, scramb

lapped it into her portable card

For callin

sorry, okay?" he sai

ound at this hour, in this weather, for custom

won't!" the

he gawking crowd and bowed politely. "Sorry for the scene, everyone." W

y pull this off?" Huxl

Huxley's face. "She's an absolute thug, but damn. I l

cle to life and sped off into the rain. He stood on the curb watching her taillights shrink into the distanc

nto the narrow driveway

er, Yara, were huddled together over a laptop,

over a green button that read 'CHECK ADMISSION RESULT'. Yara finally clicke

gh. "I can't believe this!" she groa

ege," Yara whined, slouching back in her

prep courses so you could netwo

out, the least you could do is get into

you taking this out

Emily walked in. "Good evening, Mom.

us scolded, ignoring the greeting entirely. "People see you dressed lik

comfortable," Emi

ed. "Oh, i

softly, keeping her head

"Refresh it one more time

not going to chan

tepped

computer, just this onc

with her mother. "Wait, did y

y no

Yara said, slidi

d into the search bar:

ducation?" Darus

her," Emily said softly.

eyes. "I raised you, and all yo

what I meant

Emily. People like you only end u

A green button appeared: CHECK ADMISSION RESULT. Em

HRIS EMILY - YOU H

loser to jealousy. Darus rounded on Yara with a furious glare. Yara, scrambling to save face, snee

mily replied calmly, closing the laptop brows

down to something quiet. "I made it... I actually made it! This is amazing. Oh my god, this is so amazing." Sh

She pulled out the silver pendant she always wore, the one engraved with her

oing to make your dream come true, I promise. Your daughter's pre