woke to

used to move. Morning light filtered through her curtains, pale and unforgiv

ro

r

li

he wasn't suppo

ogne still lingered on her skin, faint but undeniable. Regina presse

stake*, she

night. Not

red. She moved through her morning routine on autopilot-shower, uniform,

, Sasha was

e remarked lightl

Regina replied, ke

tired. Don't let personal distraction

l distr

dded. "Ye

ust her voice

-

rridors were louder. The lights too bright. Every laugh f

lectures without

someone

he look

ruined ev

omach

barely made it to the restroom before gripping t

ther," she whispere

ooked pale

as nerves. Stre

idea how wr

-

pas

usea r

he diz

stion that sle

ped countin

d sleeping

feeling li

f she swore she would never look at. Her hands trembled as sh

ounded all

cked h

wa

li

room

ispered. "No

ching the test to her chest as if that might chang

gna

she did

she wasn't al

oy what little life she ha

hone

e from h

alizing the announceme

hed then-so

ourself*,

wh

ru

-

old n

Sa

er pa

Ha

he truth inside her like a ticking bomb. She

couldn't

s cancelled

ed quietl

viole

om one evening, his face dark

rozen. "I don'

d. "Without explanation. D

eyes cold. "It mean

voice cracked. "I f

terly. "Rules don't ma

us

felt

-

broke the

ED IN SCANDAL - CONTRA

was no

eryone

ol summoned

ask questions. Th

said stiffly, "your enrollment is he

pen

walked

with messages. Unknown num

o find her suit

here," her mother said cal

her, arms crossed

sperate. "You know this

d her head.

hen Regina

n't an a

s orche

he ha