Chapter 20
Tori's POV:
Morgan rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Megan Howard? Only Lucas's most devoted stalker. She's the doctor's sister—you know, Matthew Howard? He's Lucas's best friend, so she thinks that gives her special privileges."
Morgan launched into a detailed account of Megan's years-long pursuit of Lucas.
"She's been in love with Alpha Lucas forever, but he barely notices she exists—romantically, at least. I mean, he's polite because of Matthew, but that's it."
As Morgan continued her explanation, her mother knocked and entered with a tray of cookies.
"Morgan, dear," she said gently, "I think Tori has had quite enough excitement for one night. The poor girl is exhausted."
As if on cue, a yawn escaped me before I could stifle it.
"But Mom," Morgan protested, "I was just—"
"Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow," Mrs. Baker said firmly. "Tori needs rest, and you have chores you've been avoiding all day."
Morgan sighed dramatically but stood up. "Fine. Sleep well, Tori. I'll see you in the morning."
She gave me a small wave before following her mother out, still arguing in hushed tones about the unfairness of chores.
The door closed behind them, and silence settled over the room.
I couldn't help but envy their relationship—the easy affection, the casual bickering that clearly masked deep love.
My own mother had never spoken to me that way, not since I was born.
I lay back on the bed, sinking into comfort that seemed almost unreal after so many years of hard surfaces.
It was worlds away from my accommodation at the Price house—a tiny room in the most remote corner of the mansion, one even the servants considered undesirable.
My "bedroom" there contained nothing but a bed with a worn mattress and a rickety desk that Mia had discarded years ago.
Hannah had made it clear that I should be grateful for even that much.
The comfort of this bed, coupled with the physical and emotional exhaustion of the day, quickly made my eyelids grow heavier with each blink, my thoughts becoming fuzzy around the edges.
Mrs. Baker had been right—I need rest, mentally and physically.
Just before I drifted off completely, I thought I felt a presence in the room—a gentle touch on my cheek where Hannah had slapped me. Someone's fingers tenderly tracing the mark, soothing the lingering sting.
The touch felt cool yet somehow warm at the same time, and strangely familiar.
I wanted to open my eyes, but my body refused to respond.
It's okay now. Rest.
I couldn't tell if the words were spoken aloud or simply echoed in my mind, but they carried a deep resonance that settled into my bones.
That night, I slept better than I had in four years.
---
"Everyone's staring at us," I whispered to Morgan as we walked through Moonridge High's main entrance the next morning.
Morgan shrugged, seemingly unfazed by the attention.
"Let them stare. Maybe they're just jealous of my amazing fashion sense." She gestured to her standard school uniform, which looked identical to everyone else's.
I couldn't help but smile at her attempt to lighten the mood, but the weight of dozens of eyes followed us down the hallway.
"Seriously though," Morgan said in a lower voice, "just ignore them. They have nothing better to do than gossip."
When we reached our classroom, Mrs. Blake was already at her desk, sorting through papers.
She looked up as we entered, her face brightening.
"Ah, Tori! Morgan! Perfect timing," Mrs. Blake exclaimed as we walked in, her face lighting up with excitement.
The rest of the class was already seated, their conversations dying down as they turned to look at us.
"You two haven't heard the news yet, have you?" Mrs. Blake asked, her eyes twinkling with anticipation. Without waiting for our response, she picked up a sheet of paper from her desk.
"I've just received the results from the last diagnostic assessment," she announced proudly. "And I'm thrilled to inform everyone that Tori Sullivan has achieved the highest score not only in our class, but across the entire grade level!"
All eyes focused on me with renewed interest.
Morgan gasped beside me, her mouth forming a perfect O of surprise.
"Way to go, Tori!" she whispered loudly, giving my arm an excited squeeze. "I knew you were a math genius!"
I felt my face grow warm under the collective gaze of my classmates.
Suddenly, the strange looks and whispers we'd encountered in the hallway made sense. News had already spread throughout the school, explaining all those stares on our way to class.
"Thank you, Mrs. Blake," I said quietly, wanting to take my seat and escape the attention.
"Oh, wait, there's more," Mrs. Blake said, waving me back. "I've been informed that the Grayson Corporation has initiated a scholarship program for students showing exceptional promise in lunar mathematics."
The class collectively leaned forward in interest.
"As this year's top performer, Tori will receive a ten thousand moonstone award to support her education."
Gasps and whispers erupted around me.
Ten thousand moonstones was a small fortune—more than I would earn in a year at the café, even with generous tips.
"Seriously?" Morgan squealed beside me, loud enough that Mrs. Blake shot her an amused glance.
"Yes, seriously, Ms. Baker. Perhaps this will motivate you to spend more time studying and less time napping in my class?"
The room filled with laughter, and Morgan grinned sheepishly.
"Absolutely, Mrs. Blake. If I'd known there was money involved, I'd have been front row, taking notes!"
Mrs. Blake shook her head with a smile.
"The Grayson Corporation will be continuing this initiative, so all of you still have opportunities to excel."
She gestured for us to take our seats, and the regular lesson began.
"Ten thousand moonstones," Morgan whispered as we settled in our chairs. "Do you know what you could do with that kind of money?"
I nodded, my mind already calculating how many months of medication this would cover for my grandmother. With Hannah's threats hanging over me, this award felt like more than money—it was freedom, at least for a while.
"No more late nights at the café," Morgan continued softly. "At least not as many."
I didn't respond, simply offering a small smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
Morgan didn't understand that ten thousand moonstones, while substantial, wouldn't last forever. The money would help tremendously, but my grandmother's condition was chronic, and Hannah's support was unreliable at best.
I needed every moonstone I could earn.
After school, I still headed to Moonlight Shadow Café as usual.
My thoughts drifted to my grandmother as I walked.
She had collapsed upon hearing about my imprisonment four years ago. The shock and grief had weakened her heart, leaving her with a chronic condition that required constant medication.
Every time I visited, I saw how the years had aged her beyond her time—all because of me.
Lost in these thoughts, I didn't notice the person in front of me until it was too late. I collided with someone, stumbling back a step.
"I'm so sorry," I said automatically, looking up.
Mrs. Catherine White stared back at me, her eyes cold and her lips pressed into a thin line.
The hallway around us suddenly felt much quieter.