Keifer's POV
One week.
That's how long it took for her to come back.
I didn't need to see her to know. The second she stepped through the school gates, something shifted. Not louder. Not quieter. Sharper. Whispers slicing through the air, her name moving from mouth to mouth like a secret everyone already knew.
I stayed seated. Arms crossed. Eyes forward.
If I turned too fast, it would mean something.
The door opened.
Silence followed.
I finally looked.
She walked in like nothing here could touch her. Back straight. Face unreadable. No hesitation, no searching. She didn't scan the room.
She didn't look for me.
Something twisted in my chest. I ignored it.
She passed my desk without a glance and took a seat near the front. Slowly, voices returned—careful ones this time. People asking how she was, pretending concern, pretending they hadn't been part of the reason she vanished.
She shut them down effortlessly.
Short answers. Flat tone. No warmth.
Good.
When attendance was called, I answered without looking at her. Controlled. Empty.
The class dragged on. I could feel eyes burning into my back. Section E didn't bother hiding it anymore.
They blamed me.
Good.
Lunch came.
She left alone.
I stayed where I was, telling myself it didn't matter.
Then I saw her outside.
Laughing.
Not fully—just enough.
Some guy sat beside her, handing her food like he had the right. She rolled her eyes, took a bite, said something that made him grin. She looked… alive.
My fingers curled slowly against my arms.
I didn't move.
Reacting would mean caring.
And caring would ruin everything.
The whispers started again.
"She's really laughing.""With him?"
I stood up quietly and walked away before the noise could get worse.
"He really has the nerve to show up.""After what he did to her?"
Good.
Let them hate me.
Halfway down the stairs, my phone vibrated.
I stopped.
Honey.
I answered without a greeting. "What."
"We're flying to London next week," she said calmly. "For the inheritance."
My jaw tightened.
"Things are moving faster than expected," she continued. "You'll be gone at least a week."
London meant lawyers. Family. Expectations I couldn't afford to fail.
And leaving.
"Don't do anything reckless before then," she warned.
Reckless.
I almost laughed.
"I won't," I said, because I didn't have a choice.
The call ended.
I slipped my phone back into my pocket and kept walking, face unreadable, steps steady.
One week.
London.
Inheritance.
And her—walking these halls without knowing where I was going or why.
Good.
That's how it had to stay.
Because if I cracked—even once—everything would fall apart.
Guyss I hope you like my stories and btw!🤞 I'm not gonna upload until i reach a target because i see i get many views but almost no comments Please comment if you guys want next chapter (not a threat)
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