was always

rsity, the Legacy

, Chancellor's Schol

ined smiles an

a faked a

tragic accident

ssed in

s festival, vi

er. Clar

her hand in his,

e groun

tered, met

l structure

os, falli

mask of terror,

mbled

as cr

ugh the dust and blood, "Don't

d, eyes sna

t at a f

er's imposing offi

med through th

f old books

ung to him,

th

lt, his father, regarded him

's time to announce your choice

ning echoed. Don't ch

as tha

he dream felt like a

to ch

an began, his

ised an eye

the Legacy Pair

his mind, beautiful, co

a, dying for h

Clara, w

t, cold and sharp,

choose her.

, his voice suddenly fi

Vanderbil

lor, a man rarely surpris

s foreign. "The fencing captain? The girl who pu

. "Yes. Scar

Ethan. The Hayes family, the Astors, the Davies... these are families

ought of

e fire in her eye

e never ba

en the one, surprisingly, to offer a clumsy, gruff sort of help, a st

a had been a s

was a fight, a chal

decision, Fath

't some impulsive act of rebellion, is it? You u

ctly." More than yo

ill inform Mr. Jones. The official announcement will be at the Legacy Pairing

e mix of relief and ap

d the script.

e university quad, the dr

most sterile, interactions w

rect, alwa

rittany Astor, two of the other

pering, heads

aid, loud enough for him to overhear. "The Vander

She's perfect for

owards the main

s clutched to her chest, look

t in her shadow,

lung over her shoulder, was laughing at

er, her eyes me

ething unreadabl

excused herself from Scarlett

y composed f

voice low and urgent, "

dded,

eps away, under the

the announcement is soon. I... I need to ask you something

er. This was too

anaged, his

.. it belongs to someone else. To Julian Vance. I love h

. The name f

ad washed

bering? Did she have

?" Ethan asked, his vo

e sincerity in her eyes. "I would do anything for

e betrayal, Clara's eventua

do anything for him,"

anger ros

h Julian, the man she was wi

er about Scarlett

raction of the a

announced at the Gala," Ethan said, his voi

e, but bumped squ

an V

se on his face. "Oh, Mr. Vanderbilt! My apologies,

ian's side. "Julian

n. "Watch where yo

irritation. Julian's

defense of him w

, Clara," Ethan sai

Julian, jostled a stack of precariously balance

orner catching Ethan on

d, bright

a hand flyin

orld

g haze, he saw Ju

was clearly for Julian, who was now dramatically

ce swam into his

ett J

ough the small crow

castic expres

s that genuine co

ng he saw before th