I’m watching Kai.
He doesn’t move. He doesn’t speak. But his hand lingers on Wren’s arm, holding her back—not cruelly, not forcefully. Just… knowing. Like he already understands what’s happening better than anyone. Like he’s protecting her from it.
And then, his gaze flickers to me.
His expression betrays nothing. But his eyes—theydareme to say something. To look at him with pity. To react like everyone else.
They’re just so dead, so dim and empty. They seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, and for a moment I consider looking away.
Because I know—instinctively—that this boy doesn’t need empathy.
He doesn’t want it.
TWENTY-SIX
Ipractically waddle my way through the school, and each step sends a jolt of pain up my side. My breaths come out shallow, tight, like my ribs are caving in on themselves, and this persists no matter how hard I try.
And I’m not even exaggerating.
Yet, I’m still thinking about Kai.
His words loop in my head, and the look in his eyes burns itself into my memory. That was something deeper than anger, something twisted and raw.
I need to understand the full story. It can’t be just about my father running over Wren, although that is horrifying enough.
It’s something I don’t understand yet—but need to.
By the time I reach the bathroom, my hands are shaking. I shove the door open, and Lilia and Bea’s eyes snap to me immediately. Lilia moves first, stepping toward me—until she really sees me. Until her gaze lands on my face, my side, the way I’m holding myself together like I might come apart at any second. She stops dead.
“Oh my god, what happened?” Bea’s voice is filled with so much venom it scares me.
“Please,” I whisper, my throat tightening. “Just help me cover it.”
I can’t take the questions right now. The concern. The way they’ll look at me if I tell them everything. I just need to hide it. Fast.
Lilia doesn’t waste a second. She digs through her bag, pulling out her concealer, and with gentle fingers, starts dabbing it onto my cheek. Her touch is careful, but it still stings, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep the tears from spilling over.
The truth sits there, just behind my teeth, pressing against my ribs. I don’t have to say anything.
And yet…
I swallow, fingers tightening against the hem of my shirt. “Someone broke into my house,” I explain.
Lilia’s hand freezes mid-air, the concealer brush hovering just above my skin.
Bea stares at me like I’ve just spoken in a language she doesn’t understand.
“What?” Lilia says first, quiet, careful. Surprisingly so.
Bea on the other hand…
“Are you kidding?” she demands, her eyes darkening into something I can only identify as pure rage.
I shake my head, already regretting saying anything at all.
I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“Addie.” Lilia’s voice is softer now, and it makes it worse. The concern in it, the careful way she’s looking at me, like she’s afraid I might break if she touches me the wrong way.
