LOGINJAXSON'S POVI skated over to the bench and ripped my helmet off. I ran a gloved hand through my sweaty hair and grabbed my water bottle.Carl skated past me. "Good game, King."I nodded, then made my way into the locker room. The guys were laughing, throwing towels at each other, and blasting rap music from a portable speaker.I sat down on the bench in front of my locker to unlace my skates."Aggressive on the ice today, Jax," Miller said, sitting down on the bench right next to me. "Taking your anger out on Carl?""He was in my way," I muttered, tossing my skates into the bottom of my locker. "Just focused on Friday's game.""Right, the game," Miller chuckled, leaning back against the metal lockers. He glanced around to make sure the coach wasn't nearby, moved toward the others, then raised his voice. "So, let's talk about the real game. How's the dare going, Jax?""Mind your business, Miller," I said coldly, slamming my locker shut."It's been weeks, bro," Miller pressed on. "We a
JAXSON'S POV I groaned loudly, walked over, and snatched the phone from Maria. "Good evening, Mom," I said reluctantly."What's so good about the evening, Jax? You haven't been taking our calls; I've called, your father's called. What's going on?""It's school, Mom. Rehearsals have been tough.""So school and rehearsals made you keep things from us? Lily told me she was sick for days and that you took her to the hospital, yet nobody bothered to inform us! And now Maria tells me you've been coming in late, fighting with the nanny late at night, and making Lily uncomfortable. Maria also said Clara has been disobeying orders, and you couldn't check that?!""Everything's fine, Mom, Lily's fine," I said, rubbing my temple. "She went to school today. Stop overreacting.""Do not tell me to stop overreacting, Jaxson!" my mother yelled. "You are being completely irresponsible! I put you in charge of watching over things, and you're turning the house into a circus!""Maria is blowing everythin
CLARA'S POV"Mr. Chase," I said, my heart hammering against my ribs as I stepped up the wooden stairs. "What are you doing here?"He didn't smile. "Clara, how are you? You know why I'm here. Is the balance ready?"Maya stepped up right beside me. "She literally just got home from school, Mr. Chase. Can you give her a second to breathe?""I'm not talking to you, kid," Mr. Chase grunted, pointing a finger at her. "Clara, your mom was in the hospital, I get it. But I'm running a business here. I need to know when I'm getting the rest of the rent.""End of the month, sir," I said, frightened. "Like I promised on the phone a few weeks back. I still have two weeks of pay. I promise, I have a job now. I'll send you the money."He let out a loud, annoyed sigh and shoved the paper into his coat pocket. "Fine. End of the month, not a day later, Clara, or I'm posting the notice on the door."He turned around and stomped down the steps, walking toward his car."God, what a jerk," Maya muttered."
CLARA'S POV"I don't really like talking about it," I said, staring at the floor."You don't have to," Becca said instantly, squeezing my shoulder. "I just want you to know I'm here. If you ever need to vent, or cry, or just talk.""Thank you, Becca. Really, thanks.""Of course," she smiled. She stood up. "You should text Maya before she actually freaks out, okay? And then get some sleep.""I will," I promised.…The Monday morning rush was intense; Lily started regular classes today, so everything was back to normal. But I woke up extra early for two reasons. I got Lily dressed in her school uniform, combed her hair, packed her backpack, and got her to her driver way earlier than usual, but that was only the first reason.I didn't want to face Jaxson, not this morning. We hadn't seen each other since the painting incident. I dropped his homework on the dining table, doing everything I could to avoid contact with him, and I made sure to get ready quickly with the intention of leaving
CLARA'S POV"A walk?" I blinked, totally caught off guard. "Lily, what are you thinking? It's past six. It's literally pitch black outside.""I don't care! I want to go out to the gardens. We are going right now." She ordered."No, we aren't," I said. "If you want to wander around the estate in the dark, you have to go ask Maria first. It's against the rules.""I am not asking Maria!" She stomped her foot. "You are my nanny; you're supposed to take me.""It's late, Lily. Maybe tomorrow we'd ask Maria early enough, so we don't do something wrong, and I don't get punished." Lily glared at me like I was her worst enemy. "You are just a giant scaredy-cat, Clara! You are terrified of everybody in this house!""I am not scared; I'm just trying to follow the rules.""Liar!" Lily yelled, pointing at me. "My old nanny never cared about Maria's rules! She wasn't scared of Maria, and she definitely wasn't scared of Jaxson like you are!""I am not scared of Jaxson!" I shot back."Yes you areeeee
CLARA'S POVI was frozen, staring blankly at the screen. Someone had caught the whole thing on video, and it was already everywhere, comments piling up faster than I could read them. The video already had over ten thousand views. Hundreds of students from Sterling Heights had already liked it, shared it, and commented on it. One comment called me a pathetic charity case. Another person asked why James would ever let someone from the underworld into his house. The cruel words blurred together on the small screen, my hurt so hard I went blank for almost a minitue. It was trending everywhere, and I didn't know how to react.My phone buzzed again. Maya's name popped up. “Clara, pick up! Call me!”I couldn't do it; I just couldn't. I was tired of it, of everyone feeling sorry for me, like a true charity case. My fingers felt totally numb; I swiped the notification away, put my phone on DND, tossed it onto the nightstand, and pulled the blanket over my head.I cried so hard my pillow soak
He stared at me. I stared right back. Our eyes fixed on each other. The world did not end, though it felt like it should have. His mouth opened. "What the hell?" he screamed. "Adene? Is this a joke? Are you stalking me now?" "Jaxson." Maria appeared behind him, but her eyes moved straigh
I stared at the screen until the light burned my eyes. Removed from the W******p group. Then from the squad. What for? What was my offense? My phone rang out. Maya was calling. I picked up. "Clara? Are you seeing this?" Maya’s voice was frantic. "I just saw the notification. I tried to message
The word hit me like a physical blow to the chest.Filled?This couldn't be true. I needed this job. It wasn't just a job; it was the medicine in my mother's veins. It was the roof over our heads."Maria, wait," Mrs. Gabe pleaded. "I spoke to Helena this afternoon. She said—""And I am speaking t
I couldn’t speak.“She’s fading, Clara,” he continued. "Every hour we wait is an hour we don’t get back. If we delay much longer, she might not make it.”The doctor walked away to check on another patient."I’ll get the money, sir. I’ll try," I whispered as he went.My phone buzzed in my hand. I lo







