<b>Chapter </b><b>75 </b>
<b>80 </b>
Linda’s face paled as I scrolled through my contacts, finger hovering over Felix Huxley’s name.
“Wait!” She held up her hands in surrender. “Fine. Yes, Felix gave us some money.”
I lowered my phone but kept it in hand–a silent threat. “How much exactly?”
“A hundred thousand dors,” she admitted reluctantly. “For your academic achievements. The mayor presented it himself.”
Max’s eyes widened. “A hundred thousand?”
Linda nced between Max and me, clearly weighing her options. The money was meant to fund my education, but with Princeton offering a full schrship, she’d obviously decided to repurpose it.
“Fine,” she muttered, pushing back from the table. “I’ll get it.”
She disappeared upstairs, her footsteps heavy with reluctance. Frank and Max exchanged ufortable nces.
“Max deserves that money more than you do,” Linda announced when she returned, clutching a bank card. “He’s still in high school. You already have everything handed to you.”
I remained expressionless. “The card.”
Linda hesitated, her fingers tightening around the stic. “I… I already used some of it. For the house renovations<b>.</b>”
“How much?”
“Just a little. Eight thousand seven hundred dors.” She avoided my eyes. “For the repairs, new appliances, and… a few pieces of jewelry,”
I extended my hand. “Give me the card.”
Linda finally surrendered it, her lips pressed into a thin line. I pocketed the card without looking at <ol><li>it. </li></ol>
“If you want to keep all your limbs functioning into old age,” I said quietly, “I suggest you stop treating my things as yours.”
<b>10:20 </b><b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>
…
Linda nched. Frank choked on his water. Max stared at me<b>, </b>half–horrified, half–impressed.
I stood up. “I’m going to my room. Don’t disturb me.”
<b>80 </b>
Once I was safely behind my closed door, I heard Linda’s voice in the living room: “She’s always been difficult. Not like Emily. Now <i>that’s </i>a daughter who appreciates her mother. Just wait until she gives me her schrship money and that New York apartment.”
By the next morning, I’d made my decision. Linda’s false enthusiasm and constant hovering made
the house unbearable. I’d leave for Princeton a day early.
“You’re leaving already?” Max asked, watching me zip up the small suitcase Ethan had given me.
“I can’t stand another minute of Mom’s sudden ‘motherly love,” I replied, making air quotes.
“Besides, I should get settled before orientation.”
The suitcase contained only a few outfits Ethan had bought me and myptop. I also had several
bottles of expensive whiskey from Night that I hadn’t finished.
“Call me when you get there?” Max asked, his voice smaller than usual.
I paused, looking at my brother’s worried face. “Of course.”
“I’ll miss you,” he admitted.
“You coulde with me,” I offered, not for the first time. “Finish your senior year in Princeton.”
Max shook his head stubbornly. “I need to do this my way. Get into Princeton on my own merit.”
“<b>I </b>could arrange-”
“I know you could,” he interrupted with a small smile. “That’s what scares me. But I want to earn it myself.”
I nodded, respecting his decision even if I thought it unnecessary. I pulled out the bank card Linda had given me yesterday.
“Here,” I said, handing it to him. “For your expenses this year.”
10:20 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b>Sep 20
:
Max tried to refuse, but I closed his fingers around the card. “It’s yours. Use it for whatever you
need.”
<b>80 </b>
“But you earned it.”
“And now I’m giving it to you.” I squeezed his hand. “Just don’t tell Linda.”
Max hesitated, then nodded. “Will you be okay in Princeton? By yourself?”
The question almost made meugh. If he knew what I’d been doing in Venezu, he wouldn’t worry
about me living alone in Princeton.
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “Remember the guy who came with me at the airportst night?”
“The scary rich guy with the intense eyes?”
“That’s the one. He has people keeping an eye on things.”
Max didn’t look entirely reassured, but he nodded. “Just… be careful, okay? You’re different now. Not just how you look, but…” He trailed off, struggling to articte the change he sensed in me.
“I will,” I promised, though I knew I was thest person who needed protection.
At the airport, I pulled out my phone and dialed Ethan Haxton’s number. He answered on the third
ring.
“Miss Morgan,” his smooth voice came through. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“I’m at the Cloud City airport, about to board for Princeton,” I said. “Are you back in the city yet?”
“I arrived this morning,” he replied. “Do you need me to arrange transportation once yound?”
I nced around the terminal. “Actually, I was wondering about those protection details you had arranged before. Are they still around my house in Cloud City?”
There was a brief pause as Ethan processed what I was really asking. “Yes, they’re still in position,” he answered smoothly, though I knew they weren’t. I didn’t need them actually, but it was useful to establish this pretense for family protection.
10:20 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>20 </b>
“Good. Then I’ll rest easy knowing my Cloud City family is looked after.”
After we hung up, I smirked slightly. Ethan would undoubtedly send a team to watch over Max and Frank now. Perfect.
<b>80 </b>
My phone rang almost immediately. Felix Huxley this time.
“Jade! I was hoping to coordinate with you,” Felix’s jovial voice boomed through the speaker. “Sterling is heading to Princeton this week. I thought perhaps we could all travel together, make it a proper send–off!”
“I’m actually at the airport now,” I replied. “Boarding soon for Princeton tonight.”
“Ah, I’m a dayte then,” he sounded genuinely disappointed. “Have a safe flight, my dear. We’ll catch up in Princeton.”
As I ended the call, I scanned the terminal once more. I’d sensed eyes on me since arriving in Cloud City. Shadow Organization was watching, as expected after the La Corona event. It was partly why I’d decided to leave early.
I’d left Transcendent Military Alliance’s protection, and here I had no team. Asking Ethan for
security was a necessary precaution. I just hoped they wouldn’t target Max or Frank to get to me.
The boarding announcement came over the loudspeaker. Time to go.
Chapter Comments
2
Write Comments
< SHARE