eeling that, despite the grand surroundings and the high expectations, something darker lingered beneath the polished surface of the prestig

different course, leaving Dahlia feeling exposed and anxious. She pushed through th

posing man in his late fifties, with graying hair slicked back and cold, calculating eyes. His reputation preceded h

d commanding. "We'll be covering the medieval papacy today, focusi

spine. As the class wore on, she noticed how Father Charles's eyes lingered on her every time he looked in her dire

her attention back to him. "Could you stay after clas

her pen. She nodded slowly, though every instinct scre

bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, her classmates shuffled

l the last student left. The door

his desk, walking toward her slowly, each step deliberate. "I wanted to talk to yo

replied, her voice b

ht," he continued, his eyes scanning her face in a way that made her stomach turn. "But you'll need gu

ching back in her seat. "

irm. "I can see that. But hard work isn't always enough." His voice dropped lower, alm

o get out of that room, but her body felt frozen. She swal

he said, standing up and giving her a tight, unsettling smile. "If you e

g as she stood. "Thank you, Father," she

g her face, and only then did she realize how fast her heart was racing. She knew she had to tell

weight of yet another secret pressing down on her