a's

way, Daniel's question han

s-my boyfriend of two years, the man whose family had practi

ord caught i

ing the tears not to fo

al, but his eyes held something I couldn't q

Daniel. "Shouldn't you be helping him? Covering f

sses with a slight move

ue," he replied simply. "Besides, Nich

bout his older brother to me. Stay away from Daniel, he'd warned once

her the Prescott family dynamics tha

icholas lived with a name that opened doors but dimmed at home. Daniel was more father

scape all this together, have our own place. We wo

hit. I hadn't even received an engagement

. It was something I'd noticed about him in our limi

n't need a ride home. If you could just direct me back

-having his older brother witness it and then drive me home

y face for a mom

se. I un

his brother, Daniel seemed to instinctively recog

sturing toward the corridor that

"Please don't tell Nicholas you

derst

he hotel's side entrance, the October chill cut

me in darkness, streetlamps casting isol

clusive neighborhood seemed eerily quiet-no steady stream

tablishments like this arrived in private cars

with rideshare apps open, w

my hasty refusal of Daniel's offer. Pride

alk to find a busier area, a sleek black car

r window low

tely-Mr. Harrison, the Prescott family's long-time chauff

lized he neglected to mention the scarcity of transportation serv

breaking out in goosebumps. Any hesitation I had about accepting help

ul," I said, quickly sliding

auffeur glanced at me in the rearview mirror

picturing Victoria's i

anyone important? Why are you h

rs while still processing what I

me to Boston University instead?

f night. No questions, no explanations-

the chauffeur replied, sm

entrance, I thanked him with as m

ulled away and disappeared around the corner. Only

y silent, with most students either

s her bed, headphones still on, breathing deeply in slu

water washed over me, gradually easing the tension from my sh

to my oldest, most comfortable

my lamp, my phone illuminated

knotted i

call? Or he