d her foot onto the first marble step, then the next, moving with

a distinct physical distance between them, utiliz

bit he used when he felt his control slipping. The coldness in her eyes w

ing his unease with arrogance. "Why aren't your bags packed?" His

. She didn't wring her hands.

was completely flat, devoid of the nervous tremor tha

king laugh. The sound grated

f the stairs. He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. "Playing hard to get

. The maid scrambled down the stairs, practical

t touched her knees. She wrung her apron frantically. "She didn't sleep w

er. Her grip was like a vice. She yanked her mo

in. "I'm staying home to prepare for

uine disbelief crossed his face, quickl

ze lingering on her cheap pajamas. "Elenora, you could study for a decade and you still wouldn't

hey would have sent a hot flush of shame up her neck an

t didn't even

absolute indifference. "My scores are my

cles in his jaw ticked violently. The veins in his neck bulged against the crisp collar of hi

voice tight with suppres

le. He marched toward the massive front doors. He grabbe

h a force that shook the walls. The loud BOOM echo

been keeping her spine rigid suddenly released. Her

nd started walking

n followed Elenora down the hallway and pushed her way into

flying from her lips. "You just humiliated him! You ruined everythi

hair, and sat down. She reached out and grabbed a thick, heavy SAT prep b

at the desk, trying to snatch the book away. "Stop ign

top of the open book, pinning it to the desk. She snapped

o God, you will regret it," Elenora s

tared at her daughter, completely paralyzed by th

enora continued, her words precise and sharp as glass. "I am not your tic

anger. A sob tore from Joleen's throat. She covered her face with her h

e clicked the top of her mechanical pencil, the sharp lead pressing against