d with the Murrays tomorrow. No one is allowed to mistreat my precious daughter." My mom

You've been so good to me," I said, wrapping m

. My emotional turmoil was self-inflicte

scoundrel, while I was a

her only daughter, she knows me well. How could she

matters; my tears only came whene

that roast chicke

tears. Grasping my mom's hand for support, I got out o

The roast chicken tasted incredible, and I found myself devouring most of it. Having eaten sparingly over the p

said, "Why did you eat so much?

e I'd eaten with such gusto was at my graduation ceremony. Since then,

en when you're hungry. Aim to stop when y

om, would you stay with me tonight? Perhaps

itation, my

elaxation washed over me. After enjoying a heart

amage, but the flesh wound was significant. Stitches held the g

on a mix of surprise and slight embarrassment. "Honestl

omforting. I gestured to Lanny. "Lanny,

of nutritional supplements an

il appeared touched and somewhat sheepish. "Miss, it's r

s. Even a minor injury deserves attention,"

till don't even know yo

cher. You can call

agreement. "A

ve uncomplicated, straightforward thoughts. Phil was no exception. He was a junior majori

irlfriend. His aspiration was to secure stable employment afte

f, just a little, before

entured, "Rylie, wh

ng you so optimistic takes me back to my college days

id you attend?" Phi

uarely. "Oldston

were the seniors of Olivia and

that. "Wow, we're alumni of the

lied, "Yes, quite the

this prestigious institution, regardless of their financial standing, was bound to be exceptionally intellige

with Mathias, many of Phil's

ciable person, and I could hold my own in conversation. Just as we were enjoying our exchange,

tone that Mathias had used in my

entical, down to

irt, her dark hair cascading down with the ends naturally curled. This adde

hful vitality emanating from her twenty-year

affection for Mathias for two years. That unrequited affection

me, I realized later that my vitality and my purest emotions had

e object of Mathias's ardent affection, while I

ollowed quickly by a look of guilt. "Ah, had I known you were

asket of fruit. "You're so foolish; how co

fering Olivia the onl

have to concede Mathias to her eventually. What

s eyes widened when he recogni

the man you so deeply ado

I accidentally ran into Phil and just

r of us, but instead smiled, "What a coincidence. Phil, she's a regular at our resta

ent might have been unintentional for anyone else, it cer

ratching his head in a display of embarrassment. "She even gave m

" Olivia responded, quickly pulling out her phone. "Rylie, could you pl

anor and indifference towards materi

nt of materialism, whose eyes

tered her, she managed to make my expensi