floor-to-ceiling windows of the breakfast

school uniform, the pleated skirt perfectly iro

er directly in the center of the table. A bright re

e, holding a cup of black c

red ink. Her heart rate did not cha

sat down. She bit her lower lip,

t my GPA is still top of the class. I'm a prime Ivy League candidate. I

The bitter liquid burned the back of he

h, her fingers twisting

to introduce him properly. He's actually really misunderstood, Mom. If you jus

red her speech. She was ready to scream about classism, about how they

rred her black coffee. The metal scraped ag

her eyes flat

Friday night. Seven o'cloc

outh fell open slightly. Her brain completely st

h of pure, arrogant ecstasy flooded Evelyn's chest. She had won. She had

ead to hide the massive smi

d, her voice trembling with

She grabbed her backpack and practically sprinted

d shut, Evelyn pulled out her

"The old bat actually caved. You're coming to dinner on Frid

black car roll down the driveway. The temp

en, wiping her hands on her apro

eally hosting that boy? The staff h

he relaxed mother vanished, replaced by

standard family dinner. No wagyu.

nodded

antique porcelain plates. Use the everyday ceramic. I don't wan

understanding. She bowed her he

d her messages and selected her son's contact. Camren

a single, non-

iday night. Manda

nd. The tr