Chapter 56
Chapter 56:
Skye looked at the money. Then she looked at Seraphina.
Skye laughed.
It wasn’t a loud laugh. It was a soft, chilling sound that didn’t match the situation at all. It was the laugh of someone who knew the punchline to a joke no one else had heard yet.
Seraphina’s hand wavered slightly. “What’s funny p>
Skye took a step closer. She invaded Seraphina’s personal space, forcing the other girl to hold her ground or look weak. Skye leaned down, her lips brushing Seraphina’s ear.
“Library West Wing,” Skye whispered, her voice like silk wrapped around a razor blade. “Terminal Four. 5 AM. You logged in using Jessica’s ID, but you forgot about the glass partition behind you. The reflection is crystal clear in the security footage p>
Seraphina went rigid. The color drained from her face like a magic trick. Her hand holding the money dropped to her side.
Skye pulled back, smiling pleasantly.
“Keep your money, Sera,” Skye said aloud. “You’re going to need it for your legal defense fund p>
Skye turned and walked away, her sneakers squeaking slightly on the clean part of the floor. She signaled for Ethan to follow her with a subtle tilt of her head.
They walked out of the cafeteria and into the bright sunlight of the quad.
“What did you say to her?” Ethan asked, jogging to keep up with her fast pace. “She looked like she saw a ghost p>
“I just reminded her to study,” Skye lied effortlessly.
“Why do you let them do that?” Ethan demanded, grabbing her arm to stop her. “Why didn’t you let me report them p>
Skye looked at his hand on her arm, then up at his face. His concern was genuine. It made her chest ache with a pang of guilt. He was a pawn in her game, and he didn’t even know it.
“I’m keeping a low profile, Ethan,” Skye said. “If I make a scene, if I get the administration involved, they call my family. And right now, I’m hiding from them p>
у𝗼u𝗿 d𝗶𝗴𝗶tа𝗹 𝘭𝘪𝗯r𝖺𝘳𝘆 𝗼𝗻 b𝖾.𝗰𝘰𝘮
Ethan’s eyes widened. “Your family? Are they… dangerous p>
“Controlling,” Skye said. It wasn’t a lie. “If they find out I’m causing trouble, they’ll pull me out of school. I can’t risk that p>
Ethan nodded slowly. He constructed a narrative in his head: Skye, the runaway heiress, hiding from an abusive, controlling family, trying to make it on her own. It made him want to protect her even more.
“Okay,” Ethan said. “I won’t report it. But I’m walking you to your car p>
“Fine p>
Skye’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at it.
From: Alistair
My security team flagged a disturbance at the cafeteria. Do I need to buy the university and fire the student body?
Skye suppressed a smile.
To: Alistair
No. I like playing with my food.