Chapter 4

Rachel eyed Noelle suspiciously, clearly surprised she'd given in so easily.

"What are you up to now?"

Noelle shook her head. "I've come to my senses, that's all."

By the time Rachel got over her surprise, Noelle was nowhere in sight.

Even at 9:00 pm, the subway station was still crowded. But Noelle felt utterly alone.

She'd once believed home was wherever Stephen was. Yet even after nine years, she still felt like an outsider in a city full of wealth and privilege.

When Noelle got home, Stephen was sitting on the couch playing a game. He frowned as cold air blew in through the open door.

"What are you standing there for? Trying to make me sick so you can take care of me?"

Noelle quickly shut the door and stood in the entryway, trying to shake off the chill.

"So that part-time job of yours is tutoring Rachel's sister?"

Noelle instinctively gripped her pants. He must have been chatting with Rachel when he kept checking his phone earlier.

Stephen glanced at her. "What were you thinking? Have you forgotten what Rachel…"

He stopped short.

When he didn't finish, Noelle gave a rueful smile. So he remembered after all.

He knew what Rachel had put her through and how much Noelle hated her. Yet he still laughed and joked with Rachel, doing nothing to stop her from bullying Noelle.

And now he was suddenly concerned about her. Maybe he just wanted to see how she'd react to working for Rachel's family.

Noelle gave a small nod, and Stephen suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

"Noelle, do you have any self-respect? If you need money, why didn't you just ask me? Why humiliate yourself like this? If I'd known you'd stoop this low, I never would've made enemies just to defend you."

Stephen stormed off to his room.

Noelle watched him go with a bitter smile. He could look down on her all he wanted, but pride wasn't going to put food on the table.

Six years earlier, she'd brought lunch from home every day to save money. Her classmates knew her family was struggling, yet they still made fun of her lunches, calling the food disgusting.

Stephen had caught them at it. He'd taken the spoon from Noelle's hand and eaten a spoonful without hesitation.

"You think you're better than Noelle just because your parents have money? None of you deserve a taste of her mom's cooking!"

He had no idea how much that simple gesture had helped Noelle regain her self-respect.

But no matter how much that kindness had meant to her, it couldn't change how different their lives were.

Stephen had never had to worry about money. He hadn't understood what it meant to struggle back then, and he still didn't.

When Noelle's father, Jacob Anderson, fell seriously ill, the medical bills plunged the family into debt. Even with the scholarships she'd earned throughout college, they'd barely managed to pay it all off.

Now Jacob was gone, and the Andersons had nothing left.

Noelle couldn't afford to turn down the job just because Rachel's sister was her student.

Julia had been right. Noelle and Stephen had grown up together, but they were always going to go their separate ways.