had a p

, she ha

s that the event-styling course she wanted to take was more expensive than she had expected. The third was that Mar

tor open on her phone, trying to decide

er calle

na answered, "I know abo

to you too,

pite herself. "Go

t trip. Serena answered everything except the question about money. She hated worrying her mother

towards the bill tomo

urself. Just sen

hed. She could afford the deposit if she stopped spending on unnecessary things for a while. Unfortunately, she had alr

hone

Friday morning. D

ealing with r

e a house with people who thin

as a welcome distraction. She imagined the sea, the music, and Marcus attempting to

generous

g that being rich did not make his

come," Olivia told

. "I promised to attend your

to spend time wit

what my schedu

dult langua

t her. "You'

rew a nap

kfast as they had done for years. Olivia had always been the more impulsive one, while Damian

ple who could challenge him wit

ng where everyone wants something from you," Olivia s

ne no

ing food you didn't pay a chef to prepare.

lau

ple, us

rned to his

ward. "You're com

y people who treated every inconvenience as a personal tragedy held little appeal. However, Olivia

d the ne

I'll

suspiciously. "That w

ke me rec

had an early meeting on Monday, several outstanding decisions to make, and a family dinner on Sunday eveni

efore he could f

s Vic

tten about Satu

ned. "What'

parents. We discu

ad agreed to lunch out of courtesy. He checked his calendar, then remembered t

" he told her. "I'm goi

s a brie

h wh

and some

epeated, sounding amu

, Victoria. Not a

hear the disappointment beneath i

umed they would eventually become something more. They had never made any promises to each other, but neither had properly discussed wha

was too early in the morning for

the beach group chat

sked whether they could bring a karaoke machine. Someone had suggested a co

I being volunte

ve the personality of

ve the maturity of

k you. I wor

t six laug

up. Serena, meanwhile, was packing her swimsuit beside a small not

dealing with beyond the obvious: money, pride, an

would be sharing a car

do with it, they would be shar