LOGIN~SAFFRON~Everything keeps blurring—faces, lights, the floor itself. I’m wobbling, trying to plant my feet when Jason appears right in front of me after putting what looks like my phone in his pocket. I swear the corner of his mouth twitches, like he’s mocking me, but it’s gone so fast I might have imagined it.“You need me to carry you?” he says, the corner of his mouth twitching again, fighting a smirk.No,” I shove at his chest—it barely moves, and hear him chuckle under his breath. “I can’t believe you asked him to take me home,” I whine to my fairy godmother, snatching my heels back from her like they’re my last dignity. “I dooo not like him,” I tell her, dragging out the words while she stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “At all. But since I love you soooo much…” I clutch her shoulders dramatically, “I’ll go with him.” I hiccup. She wrinkles her nose and waves a hand in front of her face. “Rude,” I mutter, sucking my teeth.“You’ll be safe with Jason,” she says, pressing a qu
~SAFFRON~Back inside after calling Kate to make sure she’s doing fine, the speeches are finally over. Guests mingle around the auction tables with champagne flutes in hand, bidding paddles waving like victory flags in a stadium. Elixir leads me to a quieter corner near one of the glass cases, his hand lightly on my elbow, that half-hearted smile still somehow charming. We’re laughing about his ridiculous underdog hockey stories—like the time he scored a goal with a broken stick. When I catch Jason across the room, his eyes are locked on us. He looks away fast before I can read his face. Elixir doesn’t notice, too busy snagging a drink from a passing tray.“Elixir, I’m nineteen,” I chuckle when he hands me the drink.“Come on, Saffron, it’s a drink to seal our new friendship. I’m twenty-one, legal and all, but I promise I won’t let you take more than a sip.” No pressure in his voice, just that easy coaxing tone.I hesitate, scanning for Mom and Fred. They’re nowhere. Jason too. Gone.
~SAFFRON~The applause comes and swells around us—polite cheers, clinking glasses, the usual gala noise—but it does nothing to touch the ice radiating from the Millers’ table. Elixir’s glare could melt steel. His sister rubs his shoulder, trying to calm him, but her eyes stay soft on Jason. Mr. Miller lifts his glass like nothing happened. Mrs. Miller and Mom trade uneasy glances. Jason strides back to our table, and I catch the flicker of satisfaction in his eyes when he drops into his seat. Fred’s smile is strained, his attention already back on the emcee.My phone vibrates hard in my purse. It’s an unknown number. At first, I think about ignoring it, but then Kate’s messages flash on my screen ‘My sister just got into an accident.’ Another text follows ‘It’s nothing serious, she’s fine. How’s the gala going by the way??’What if she’s the one calling and it is actually serious? I can’t rule out the possibility. The call ends abruptly, leaving me staring at the screen—then it rings
~SAFFRON~The auburn-haired girl is Elixir’s twin. They don’t look alike, but I should’ve known. Her staring at the house party suddenly clicks—she knows that I’m Jason’s step sister and saw me with her brother, Elixir Miller. Oh God. No wonder the name Miller made Jason’s face twist like a nightmare when Fred dropped it at dinner.Elixir is already looking straight at me, his scarred eye catching the flash of a camera, wearing a tux that makes him look like he owns the entire night. His twin follows his gaze, and the second she sees me, her smile falters. Their parents are still waving at the cameras. And damn, Elixir’s mom could be his twin—same sharp jaw, same stormy eyes.Fred and my mom look so happy when they spot them. But Jason goes rigid beside me, the switch flipping from cold to pure ice. Elixir’s lips curve into a slow smile. He lifts one hand in a casual wave to the cameras flashing as they approach the red carpet, but his eyes never leave mine.“Cavendish,” Fred says exc
~SAFFRON~Heavens, I look really good. Standing in front of the mirror in my room, I can hardly recognize myself in this ocean-blue silky gown my mom picked for me. The material feels smooth and cool as it hugs my curves in the best possible way—like a watercolor painting come to life, the fabric rippling with shades that shift under the light. The halter neckline reveals a hint of cleavage I didn’t know I had the confidence for, while the fitted bodice skims my waist before flaring gently at the hips into a soft, flowing skirt that swishes with every step. But the back… oh, the back is what steals my breath. It’s low and open, with criss-cross straps that tie together like a secret. A makeup artist did my makeup, and for my hair, a hairstylist helped style it into loose, beachy waves that tumble over my shoulders. It’s pinned subtly at the nape to keep it from falling flat. Silver jewelry, purse, and heels complete the look.My mom and Fred are already downstairs waiting. I take a de
SAFFRON~I wake up to sunlight filtering through my curtains, my body feeling weak and my mind already spinning. The clock on my nightstand says 7:45 a.m., but it feels like I haven’t slept at all. Last night keeps replaying—the almost-kiss, his lean-in, the way I didn't pull away. Part of me wants to believe I imagined it. Why would Jason want to kiss me? Why would I let him? The idea of us wanting it terrifies me. But I'm sure it happened. If not for that wall phone, he would've, and I wouldn't have stopped him.I stare at the ceiling and roll over, pulling the covers higher, but the guilt won’t let go. Jason had looked so… broken for a second. Like all that anger was hiding something deeper—can't even stay angry at him now even if I try. And now that our parents are coming home today, the house won’t feel empty anymore. But that almost makes it worse. Like I'll have to pretend nothing happened, smile through family dinner while every glance at him across the table reminds me of tha







