Edith glanced back over her shoulder.
She wore simple clothes, her shirt and face streaked with paint–evidence of a long day’s work. Compared to the girl in front of her, Edith looked a little disheveled, but her gaze was fiercely independent, sharp in a way that set her apart.
Even without saying much, Edith’s presence alone put the other girl to shame; a single look from her had more weight than anything that girl could muster.
“No need. Someone’s picking me up,” she replied coolly.
She was exhausted, barely holding herself together. The only thing she wanted was to find a shady spot and quietly wait for Justin. She didn’t have the energy for small talk, let alone pointless drama.
But the other girl wouldn’t let it go. She just couldn’t accept that, at barely twenty, she didn’t look as young or as striking as Edith, who was already a widow.
“Edith, I know someone’s picking you up. I know you used to be married to some rich guy, rode around in fancy cars. But now that you’re alone, I bet that’s not happening anymore. Why don’t you ride with me? My family’s car is worth a fortune–it definitely counts as a luxury ride.”
Edith frowned, wishing she could save what little energy she had for her next mural instead of wasting it here. Her patience for this girl’s smugness was running thin. She didn’t even bother to look at her, turning her gaze away in silent dismissal.
Charlotte, standing nearby, assumed Edith was just too angry to speak and stepped forward to defend her.
“Chloe, can you not? We get it, your family has a driver and an expensive car. Big deal. You act like nobody else does. Give it a rest.”
Charlotte genuinely had no interest in competing with Chloe about such things, but Chloe was insufferable–always desperate to show off whatever she had, as if it made her special.
Truth was, at Northcrest, almost everyone had a car worth a small fortune. If showing off was her only game, she’d have a hard time impressing anyone.
Chloe shot Charlotte a sheepish look. She knew Charlotte’s family was well–off too, and there were rumors she was even distantly related to Professor Lockwood. Sensing she wouldn’t win this argument, Chloe backed down, turning away to watch
1/2
18:17
Chapter 174
as a BMW pulled up nearby.
“Charlotte probably has her own luxury car waiting, so I won’t bother. But Edith? She looks heartbroken, like she’s missing the old days in the backseat of a fancy car. It’s tough not to have that anymore, huh? Edith, I’ll give you one last chance–are you sure you don’t want a ride? Our car’s right here. Look!”
Edith lifted her eyes–not because of Chloe’s taunting, but because she heard a familiar engine purring down the street. Not every car sounded like that. Not every engine had that deep, unmistakable growl.
She fished her phone from her jeans pocket and checked the time. 5:19.
Justin was nothing if not punctual. He said he’d be there at 5:20, and he’d never arrive a minute late.
At the thought of Justin, Edith felt her exhaustion melt away, replaced with a sudden surge of anticipation. She stood up, heart beating a little faster, and made her way
toward the curb.
Chloe, spotting her movement, grinned smugly. “See? Edith just can’t resist the comfort of a luxury car. Lucky for her I’m so generous–my family’s driver will give her a ride. Come on, let’s go.”
With a lazy wave, Chloe called over a couple of classmates who’d been hoping to
catch a lift.
The BMW pulled up beside them, the driver stepping out and opening the door with a respectful nod. “All right, everyone. Let’s get in.”
Chloe slipped into the front seat, gesturing to the cramped back row. “You three squeeze in the back with Edith.”
The other two girls climbed in, but Edith didn’t move. She stayed right where she was, waiting, her eyes fixed on the street.
2/2
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.