At Luxford Academy, the elite boarding school for the ultra-rich, Adriana and Nicholas have been bitter rivals since childhood. Forced to live in the same dorm, their once-friendly pranks have escalated into daily clashes-sharp insults, constant bic...
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My phone buzzes on the desk, and I see "Madre🤰🩷" lighting up the screen. I sigh, knowing this isn't going to be a casual catch-up call. When I answer, I'm immediately greeted by my mother's elegant, perfectly put-together face, framed by her golden hoop earrings and flawless hair.
"Adri, mi amor!" she chirps, as if we haven't spoken in months instead of days. She angles the camera too high, and I'm mostly seeing her ceiling and the top of her head.my love
"Mamá, the camera," I say, exasperated, adjusting myself on my bed.
"Oh, there you are!" she says, lowering the phone. As always, she looks like she just walked out of a fashion magazine. "I have wonderful news!"
I brace myself. "Please tell me it's not another retreat to Mallorca," I mutter, rolling my eyes.
"Don't be silly," she laughs. "It's about the family gathering during your break! It's happening next weekend. Your father and I are so excited!"
I feel my stomach twist. "Next weekend?" I groan, already dreading the idea. "Mamá, do I really have to go? You know how it is with Grandpa... and then there's Teresa."
Her smile falters for a moment, replaced by that familiar stern look. "Adri, it's family. Your abuelo will be there, yes, but that's no excuse. And Teresa is your cousin."
"Teresa is also a nightmare," I counter. "And Grandpa... well, he makes it pretty obvious he'd rather I wasn't there."
Mamá's expression hardens, though there's a flicker of something softer in her eyes. "Adri, you know he's old-fashioned. He's just set in his ways."
I raise an eyebrow. "Set in his ways? You mean he's never accepted the fact that I'm adopted, even after all these years. And Teresa takes every opportunity to remind me I'm 'different.' It's exhausting, Mamá."
"Cariño, por favor," she sighs. "You know how much this means to your father and me. We want the whole family together. Your abuelo... well, he's stubborn, but he's still your grandfather."darling please
Before I can argue further, the camera shakes violently and my dad's face pops into the frame, grinning like he's just won the lottery. "Adri! Hola! Guess what? We're having a big family fiesta next weekend! Isn't that great?"
I manage a weak smile. "Yeah, great, Papá," I say flatly. "I can't wait for Grandpa to give me those lovely looks all day and Teresa to find new ways to pretend I don't exist."
He just laughs, unfazed. "Ah, don't worry about them! Just stick with me, kiddo. We'll turn it into a party. Maybe we can do another TikTok dance together, eh? Remember last time?"
"Mamá, do you see what I mean?" I ask, half-joking, half-serious. "It's like living with an iPad kid and a telenovela star."
"Adri!" Mamá scolds, but there's a tiny smile there. "Listen, I know it's not perfect, but you're strong. You always have been. And who knows? Maybe things will be different this time."
