phe

hardly able to

he said, his voice

ed, trying to conceal the disappoint

e. "Even if I don't make it back in time for your gradua

ard as I coul

nything get in the way of it. I want you to ace it, Ophelia. Don't let your dad keep messing wi

his concern. "Thank you, O

"You're my girl. Of c

de was silent, and neither of us needed to say anything out loud in

e into a tight hug, and I clung to him, bre

===

udying, shutting everything else out, just as Owen had said. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, there

ef. The sheer intensity of it all still whirred in my head. To celebrate the occasion

rd the hum of the television working; a name t

f the Wraxall heir during the

as: Owen standing amidst flashing cameras and microphones, fit to perfection in a

med to tilt.

he Wrax

else. I stumbled out of the coffee shop, my drink still unconsumed, and I yanked my phone out, dia

adn't he told me? I thought we messed up about everything. All those

ed. Has he ever hinted? Left subtle clues? Yet all that came back was his easy smiles, his seeming so grounded,

ssie, noticed my pale face and swollen eye

.. he is the Wraxall heir. I saw him on the news at noon. He was atten

Wait...the Wraxalls? As in, the multi-billion-do

"Yeah. I mean, I just... don't understand. H

p her mind around it. "Wow, that's... a lo

was trembling as I spoke; the pain had churned into an

d off, choking

==

nd I hadn't heard

tried shaking the nerves and depr

their matchmaking attempt. I smiled wryly to myself as I fell in li

there, clutching a wilting bouquet of red roses, smili

r me. I hurried over, trying to keep my emotions inside. He rea

called my name

e shaking. "Why wasn't I enough for you to

ment. "I wanted to tell you, Ophelia. I really did. But I didn't want i

telling me only made it worse. I thought I knew you, Owen. All

oser, his hand brushing

way, scowl

, holding me close. "I

plause sound awakened us to the real world. The graduation ceremony was ju

n campus. The air was cool in the evening, and the star

streetlamp nearby. "I know I've messed up," he said softl

d up at me, his eyes wide with vulnerability. "Ophelia," he said in almost a