was a blur of fake smile

ement, a tech mogul

is side, the

erfect, my smi

I was cr

there, o

o Ethan, her hand

ss, a color that d

she?" Chloe said to a group of o

it sensitive. A

ght

a warning. "Ava's fin

d my discom

onversation, Chloe rein

iliar wave o

se colle

ks came

d over books in the lib

d exam, Ethan comforting h

r laughter, only to hav

ade excuses fo

just clos

r my family, it's a d

ses tasted like

nd them near

animatedly to some

e back. To reconnect wi

d to Ethan. A m

eath

room suddenly felt

ed to

y, my heels clicking

t corner, tryi

nd me min

tonight?" he hissed.

ou hear what she said?

urt, sharp and deep,

hard. "Chloe is our friend. You should be

nd? Or yo

out before I

u're just jealous. You're trying to ruin

st f

t me like a p

inside m

ger, of feeling second

l sur

of sudden, blinding c

in the relative q

ck. Shock, then ra

an," I said. My voice

ed then, as

and innocent, d

whispered, her hand