nals were tea

kitchen a few days

e raw. "Why say those t

. "I don't want you m

I was delusion

d me, his expre

eting simple care,

voice rose. "You sai

s your guardian, nothing more. How could y

a look of pitying d

... immoral. Unethical. To fee

nd suffocating

s disgusting. My f

whispered, look

for sorry." His

if I were a strange

ollege, go anywhere. But you can't

ommand. An

re, reeling, h

anged. A warm smile s

e soft, affectionate. "Yeah, I'

rast was

alked past me, n

eave, a hollow

a small bag, trying to figure out

m an unkno

as O

a hard time. Just wanted to reach out.

Ethan, smiling, his arm around

lear: He' s mine.

d into a cold, hard

er, as she implied. M

get away.

ing up student exchange programs, anyth