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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I was finishing up in front of the mirror, adjusting my jacket as my mind spun with a hundred different thoughts. Today felt surreal—knowing I was about to face Dom with whatever it was he wanted to reveal in person. I'd barely slept, the weight of his words pressing on my mind through the night. But now, it was time to meet him and figure out if everything I'd heard last night was real.
Behind me, Nick was lounging on my bed, chatting with Daphne, who was babbling on about her favorite colors, clearly trying to explain to him why blue and pink together made "unicorn colors."
I turned back to glance at them, feeling a wave of calm wash over me in spite of everything. Nick looked so at ease, stretching out in his lazy way, his hand supporting his head, listening to Daphne like her every word was the most important thing in the world.
Noticing I was almost ready, he got up, walked over, and slid his arms around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. "So, where exactly are you going?" he murmured, his voice a soft rumble close to my ear. I could see his face in the mirror, his brow furrowed just slightly with curiosity and that hint of protectiveness he always had.
"I'll be back soon," I said, turning in his arms to face him. "And I'll be bringing a guest. Just... wait here, alright?"
Nick's eyes searched mine for a second, clearly sensing that something was up, but he didn't press me. Instead, he just nodded, leaning in to give me a long, warm kiss. I melted into it, letting the moment steady me for what I was about to face. When we pulled apart, I heard a tiny voice from across the room.
"Ewwww! Gross!" Daphne squealed, scrunching up her face as she watched us with that mixture of disgust and fascination only a kid could pull off.
I laughed, walking over to her and giving her a light kiss on her forehead. "Bye, Daphne," I said softly, brushing a stray curl out of her face. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Okay," she mumbled, giving me a quick hug before burying her face in her teddy bear.
With one last glance back at Nick, who watched me with a mix of curiosity and silent encouragement, I headed out, heart pounding. Today, I'd find out if my life was about to change forever.
~/~/~
The café was quiet as I walked in, spotting Dom by the corner table, leaning back with a tired but focused expression on his face. His usual confidence was still there, but something else lingered in his eyes—something serious. Zeus, his Doberman, sat obediently by his side, his eyes following me as I approached.
"Hey," I said softly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
Dom nodded, motioning for me to sit. "Thanks for meeting me."
I settled into the chair, folding my hands together to keep from fidgeting. "What's going on, Dom? You sounded... intense on the phone."
He didn't say anything at first, just reached into his bag and pulled out a thin, worn folder. I noticed it immediately—the faint lettering on the cover, the slight yellowing at the edges, like it had been kept hidden away for a long time. "While I was in Spain," he began, his voice low, "I came across some files... things that I wasn't supposed to see. And one of them had my name on it. And... another one had yours."
