Chapter 4

I winced in pain.

"What acceptance letter?"

She said coldly, "Stop pretending."

"Alex's college acceptance letter was delivered to my house. The mailman said someone picked it up for him."

"You've been home these past few days! Who else could it be but you! If you have a problem, take it out on me! Since when do you bully Alex like this!"

I stared at her in disbelief.

Alex stepped out from behind her, his eyes badly red.

"If you're upset that Flora and I have been close, I can apologize to you."

"And I can promise I'll never have anything to do with her again."

His voice broke as he looked at me:

"But I'm begging you, give me back my acceptance letter. It really means so much to me! I worked so hard to get into an Ivy League university!"

My eyes went red with anger. "I didn't take it!"

"I only just got back today!"

But Flora didn't seem to take in a single word.

Her gaze fell on the delivery bag in my arms, and she suddenly reached out and snatched it away.

My face changed, and I lunged to take it back.

"Flora, give it back to me!"

She looked coldly at my frantic, reddened eyes, and said:

"I'll count to three."

"Hand over Alex's acceptance letter, or I'll tear it up!"

I tried desperately to explain:

"I really didn't take it!"

"Three."

"I just got off the plane, and I only just picked up the letter. You can check the security footage, or ask my mom."

"Two."

"Flora! I'm begging you..."

Without a moment's hesitation, Flora tore my acceptance letter in half, the pieces fluttering down at my feet.

I looked down at the fragments and forgot even to cry.

Flora was about to speak when a hesitant voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Flora, is this what you two are looking for?"

Her family's housekeeper stood at the door, holding an intact college acceptance letter.

"I'm the one who brought the letter back. I was tidying up earlier and forgot to say."

Alex's crying froze on the spot.

Flora whipped around to look at me, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something.

I didn't wait for her to speak.

I took a step back and slammed the door shut.

It was silent outside the door for a long time. Not even an apology.

The next day, she slipped a plane ticket to the capital under the door, with a note pressed beside it.

Let's go together.

She'd always been proud, certain that as long as she gave me a way to save face, I'd bow my head and lean right back in, just like every time before.

But this time, I only glanced at it before tossing it in the trash, and I dragged my luggage off to Weston City two days early.

Two days later, Flora showed up at my door with Alex.

She was carrying her suitcase, her tone unusually light.

"Mrs. Hayward, I've come to pick up Ronnie so we can go to the capital together."