Because the one second I let my guard down— Stella Hart disappeared.
TWELVE
STELLA
The walk to the front office feels like I’m moving through a dream where the hallways are too bright and the air is too thin.
Kids’ artwork lines the walls—handprint turkeys, crooked hearts, glitter-covered “I LOVE SCHOOL!” posters—and it all looks normal enough to make me feel insane.
Because my stomach is telling me something isn’t normal.
Because last month, therewasfunding.
And yesterday, Principal Hanover looked me in the eye and told me there wasn’t.
I knock once, then step into his office before he can call me in.
Hanover looks up from behind his desk, surprise flashing across his face—quick, then gone. He replaces it with a smile that’s too smooth.
“Ms. Hart,” he says pleasantly. “Is everything alright?”
“No,” I say.
The word lands heavy.
Hanover blinks. “I—excuse me?”
I shut the door behind me. Not hard. Just… final.
“I’m not here to be polite,” I say, my voice steady even though my hands are shaking. “I’m here because I have questions. And I’m done being brushed off.”
Hanover’s smile tightens. “Stella, I understand you’re passionate about your program, but?—”
“It’s not just my program,” I cut in. “It’s the kids program. It’s Evan. It’s families who need help. And you told me there was no money.”
His expression flickers. “Budget constraints change?—”
“Stop,” I say, sharper. “I saw the funding. I read the staff notes. You announced it. You asked for volunteers.”
Hanover leans back in his chair like he’s settling into a lecture. “Are you accusing me of lying?”
I take a slow breath.
This is the moment where I usually soften. Where I make myself small so men with titles don’t feel threatened.
Not today.
“Yes,” I say. “I am.”
His eyes harden, just for a second. Then his smile returns—colder now. “Stella. You’re upset. You’ve had a lot going on. Perhaps you should take a personal day.”
My skin prickles. I step closer to his desk, keeping my tone calm on purpose. “Where did the money go?”
His jaw tightens. “It was reallocated.”
“To what?”
“Facilities and safety upgrades,” he says briskly.
