na,

e body tensed at the sound. I turned reluctantly, clutching my b

mine, and for a second I saw the old Daria

my voice steady. "I told you how I felt in the library, and you

e noise of students passing by filling the awkward silence. Then his atte

ou for a moment?" he said,

nd painful. I turned to see Bella standing a

with confusion. "What about? Darian, no

as happening, Darian reached for her hand, his fingers brushin

urned the volume down on the whole courtyard. I stared at hi

her hand away, her chee

operly. So that was why he had looked at her that way earlier. So that

tand there for one more second watching

, her voice panicked.

. I hated how easily the words came out, even when they were a

m gently to stop me. "Please, let me ex

hy the boy I've loved for three years is looking at you

hands trembling. "I've love

that the noise in the courtyard had made me hear

"The same as you. I never told you because I knew how much you loved him. I sa

same three years I'd spent admiring Darian from a distance, collecting little moments and turning them into reasons to keep

w, because if I spoke any louder I would start crying. "We tell each

the one who finally confessed to him. You were so brave, Eliana. I thought keeping

he hurt rise up despite myself. "You watched me cry over him, you listened to me

"I was scared of losing you. You are my best friend.

angry simply because Bella liked Darian. Feelings weren't something either of us could control, I knew that. But she had been my best friend, my

wiping my eyes quickly. "I just... I

e reached f

w. I can't be angry at you and also be your best

d see me completely break down. I needed space to understand what

in his pockets, when Valentina approached him with that co

alk," she said, her v

her, his tone flat and exhausted. "We've done enoug

n't keep treating me like this. Our families have invested so much in us

expect me to," he said, finally turning to face her, his eyes cold. "I was willing to try, Valentina, b

ckered across her face. "Three years, Lucien. You're t

m my project," he said, his voice hard. "That wasn't a mistake, that

"Can we please move past that? I was trying to help my

stepping back

ve, and panic fl

dge, and you'll compete for Mr. West Ridge. We'll show everyone we're still th

yourself. I never agreed to compete with you, Valentina. And I certainly won't pr

humiliation hardening into anger, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. If Lucien

d alone in the corridor, her

memory of her father's slap kept returning, hot and stinging, along with his words. She

ispering as they noticed he

," a familiar voice

nlookers, his tall frame blocking their view,

veryone. Give h

ly dispersed, mutter

d embarrassed to be caught crying. "Wha

ing closer, giving her room to breathe. "You looke

id, her voice thick, trying t

is pockets. "You never ask anyone for anyth

th the back of her hand. "Then don't expect me to

, gentle smile on his face. "I won't. I don't need

nswer, by the lack of cockiness she expected from him,

her for a long time, from afar, quietly, but he was beginning to understand that get