LOGINIvory POV I was still struggling to untangle myself from Daniel’s lap…..my heart performing a frantic tap dance against my ribs when the bell above the door shrieked."Daniel!"The voice was like a serrated blade wrapped in silk. I froze, my hands still pressed against Daniel’s chest. For the first time in my life, I was actually relieved to see the reigning queen of my nightmares. Stella.She looked like she’d stepped off a runway and straight into a vat of aggression. Her blonde hair was a fresh, blinding platinum that caught the flickering fluorescent light, and her lips were painted a shade of red so bright it looked like a warning sign. She sashayed toward the booth, her hips swinging with practiced grace, completely oblivious at first to the fact that I was currently anchored to her "casual lover’s" thighs.She leaned over the table, ignoring the atmosphere, and whispered with a flirtatious pout, "Guess what’s new?"She batted her lashes, practically vibrating with the need fo
Ivory POV “Gav!” I hissed again, my voice a desperate, low frequency vibration. No answer. The kitchen door had swung shut, leaving me alone in the line of fire.The bell above the door was still vibrating, a tiny, tinny sound that felt like a death knell in the sudden silence of the diner.“Good evening, Mr. Connor! A pleasure, truly. What an unexpected honor to have you drop by on such a fine evening!”Mr. Clover’s voice was so thick with sycophancy I could practically hear the squelch of it. He was practically vibrating, his spine curved in a bow that was one degree away from a full on prostration.He was practically licking the expensive leather of Daniel’s shoes with his tone alone. I stayed frozen behind the espresso machine, the steam wand hissing as if it were sharing my panic.I didn't look up. I couldn't. I kept my face partially obscured by the chrome housing of the coffee machine, my fingers working robotically to wipe a counter that was already spotless. I caught snatche
IVORY'S POVSoaked. Pathetic. Miserable.Those were the three words that summed up my life as I stood up from the bench, my clothes clinging to me like a second skin and rain dripping from my hair like a leaking faucet. The world felt like it was mocking me—gray skies, gray heart, gray everything. Even the taxi driver had the audacity to raise a brow when I slid into his car like a drowned rat.“Rough day?” he asked.I didn’t answer. Just stared out the window, watching my reflection frown back at me like it was disappointed too.By the time I got home, I was half-frozen and entirely over it. Thankfully, the house was quiet. No Mom. No questions. No lectures wrapped in concern. Just the sound of my own wet footsteps echoing through the hallway.I peeled off my damp clothes, dumped them in the laundry, then dragged myself to my room. Backpack dropped. Sanity hanging by a thread.The suits were still in the bag, staring at me like silent reminders of how easily I’d let myself believe he
IVORY'S POV We had been walking for thirty minutes now. Through cracked pavements and across the dry school field, then down a shaded path I didn’t even know existed. I hadn’t said much—just followed in silence like some blindfolded kitten. But now my feet were aching, my bag strap had started to dig into my shoulder again, and my chest was blooming with that old, familiar sensation. Regret. What on earth was I thinking? This was Daniel. Daniel freaking Connor. The same boy who tripped me in the hallways, turned my name into a joke, and made sure every insult hit where it hurt the most. The ring leader of the very wolves I’d been trying to avoid all year. And here I was, blindly following him into God-knows-where like we were friends. Like he wasn’t the person I should’ve been running from. A tight knot coiled in my stomach. Every step suddenly felt heavier. “Where are we going?” I asked again, this time louder, firmer, pushing the shaky edge out of my voice. Daniel didn’t sto
IVORY'S POV I just wished they’d all let me be. With trembling hands, I dusted myself off, the remnants of the apple fritter crushed beneath my shoes, my broken glasses tucked into my pocket like a badge of survival. My fingers grazed the fresh bruise swelling near my cheekbone, and I hissed quietly, the sting a harsh reminder of Stella’s wrath. The sharp scent of her expensive perfume still clung to me like a ghost I couldn’t shake. I picked up my warmer and scattered notes, shoving them back into my bag before leaving the shade of the frangipani trees. I didn't glance around, didn’t care to see if anyone watched. Let them watch. Let them whisper. I was past caring. My feet dragged a little as I made my way toward the infirmary. I didn’t know if it was from the bruises or the weight of everything else, but either way, each step felt like it carved more cracks into my spirit. By the time I reached the infirmary door, the hallways were nearly silent, echoing with only the distant sq
Damon’s POV Thirty minutes later, I arrived home, only to find Dad on the porch, puffing at his old pipe like he was trying to smoke away the past. "Why did you come back so late?" he asked without turning, his eyes lost in the distance. "Like you care," I muttered under my breath, heading straight for my room. "Fool," he hissed, loud enough for me to hear. I ignored him. That was our usual routine—cold stares, sharp words, and silence thick enough to choke on. ~~~ Ivory’s POV Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden hue on the daffodils Mom had placed on the dresser yesterday. I groaned and tightened my grip around the pillow, stretching lazily. Then it hit me. “Oh no—the suits!” I shot up from the bed and dashed into the bathroom. A few minutes later, I stepped out wrapped in a towel and pulled on an ankle-length gown. I brushed my hair quickly, grabbed a ribbon, and tied it into two braided pigtails. “Perfect,” I whispered, tossing my glasses on and grabbi







