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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I wake up in my penthouse, my body heavy and stiff from the awkward position I fell asleep in. The first thing I notice is the sunlight streaming through the curtains, too bright, too indifferent. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping to fall back into the void of sleep, but the reality of yesterday is already clawing its way back, refusing to let me escape.
My face feels tight and crusty, and when I finally drag myself to the bathroom mirror, I almost don't recognize the person staring back. Mascara streaks down my cheeks, smudged into dark, ugly lines that run through my tear tracks. My eyes are red and swollen, puffy from hours of crying that never really stopped. I look as broken as I feel.
I turn on the faucet, splashing cold water on my face, but it doesn't wash away the ache in my chest. I clutch the edges of the sink, trying to steady myself, but the memories hit me like a punch to the gut. The hospital. The doctor's voice. Addy's dad crumbling in my arms. Addy's smile, so faint and fragile, the last time I saw her.
Addy is gone.
My best friend, my sister by choice, the one person who always got me, who always knew what to say to make everything seem less horrible. She's gone, and I'm alone in this stupid, empty penthouse, trying to pretend that I can keep going without her. The tears come again, hot and relentless, streaming down my face faster than I can wipe them away. I sink to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest, my sobs echoing through the empty space.
I don't know how long I sit there, breaking all over again. It's like I can't breathe, like every part of me is splintering under the weight of losing her.
My phone buzzes beside me, jolting me from the haze of my grief. For a second, I consider ignoring it—what could possibly matter right now? But it keeps buzzing, persistent and loud, breaking through the thick wall of my sorrow. I grab it, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, and glance at the screen.
It's Theo, and then Dio, and Rora, and finally Nick, their names flashing in rapid succession. I hesitate, my thumb hovering over the screen. They're all calling to check in, to ask how Addy's surgery went, to hear that everything's okay. But I can't tell them that. I can't tell them anything.
The phone buzzes again, and I finally swipe to answer, Nick's name glowing on the screen. I hold the phone to my ear, my breath hitching as I try to find the words.
"Adri?" Nick's voice is soft, cautious, like he already knows something's wrong. "How's Addy? Did... did the surgery go okay?"
I can't speak. The words are trapped, lodged deep in my throat. I try to force something out—a word, a sound, anything—but all that comes is a choked sob. The tears start all over again, and I'm gasping, struggling to find the air that feels impossible to catch.
"Baby?" Nick's voice sharpens, laced with panic. "Hey, what's going on? Please, talk to me."
I still can't speak, my breath coming in broken hiccups. There's shuffling on the other end of the line, and I hear Dio's voice in the background, then Matteo's, all of them talking over each other. They're asking questions, panicking, but I'm too lost, too shattered to give them what they're asking for.
