Chapter 552 Are You Okay?
After finally seeing her off, Jean slipped right back into that same daze, sitting alone on the couch, staring at nothing.
She knew the Ginger family’s feelings for her weren’t fake. But the urge to leave that house had only grown stronger. The biggest reason, of course, was that she didn’t want to be anywhere near Sarah. That girl was like a ticking time bomb–no one knew when she’d go off, dragging Jean into the blast. The farther away she stayed, the better.
There was another reason, too. With Sarah back and the plot beginning to move forward again, Jean had no real confidence in what the future held. If the Ginger family started leaning toward Sarah in the days ahead, it would be a dangerous sign. She’d been under their protection for years now and had grown far too attached. Better to pull away while she still could. Otherwise, when the inevitable ending came, she’d be the one left shattered.
So no–her desire to leave wasn’t some fleeting impulse. It was firm. The only issue was figuring out what kind of excuse she could use. Based on how the Ginger family was treating her now, there was no way they’d let her go willingly. They’d want her to stay, to keep everything the way it was.
Jean dropped her gaze, thoughts swirling endlessly in her head.
The next morning, she acted like nothing had happened and left for school early. She didn’t know what kind of situation Sarah was facing back at the house, nor did she care to guess how things were going between her and the family. Just thinking about it made her chest feel tight.
She’d gotten up at the crack of dawn and rushed out the door with her backpack slung over her shoulder, all to avoid running into anyone.
But the moment she set foot on the Stellarford Academy campus, her phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. One call after another came in from the Ginger family. She stared at the flashing screen, but didn’t answer any of them. Partly because she didn’t feel like talking, and partly because she wanted to come off as hurt, distant, and too upset to deal with anyone right now.
Even if she’d already made up her mind to leave, she still had to play the part of the poor, wounded girl. That way they’d feel guilty, maybe even a little sorry for her–and as a bonus, it’d probably make Sarah uncomfortable too.
That little scheme of hers lifted her mood a bit. Since there was still plenty of time before class, she decided not to head to the classroom just yet. Instead, she turned toward the student dorms, hoping to sneak in a quick nap.
But just as she reached the building, a tall figure suddenly came into view. Jean froze, her steps halting.
Asher stood there in a black jacket, head to toe in dark clothing, his face expressionless. He looked sharp, aloof, and distant. Jean opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Asher walked up to her and asked, “Are you okay?”
He lowered his eyes slightly, gaze fixed on hers. His tone was calm as always, but the concern in his eyes was unmistakable.
Jean blinked, caught off guard. Judging by his tone, he clearly already knew what had happened yesterday. Then again, it made sense. Sienna had a good relationship with the Lawsons now. Even though Asher hadn’t shown up at the party himself, the Lawsons had definitely sent someone. And the whole thing had played out in front of every guest. Of course Asher would’ve heard.
Jean scratched her head and gave a faint, dry smile. “So you know, huh?”
Asher nodded. “Yeah. I heard.”
Jean pressed her lips together. She’d been planning to put on a brave face in front of him, to make it seem like everything was fine so he wouldn’t worry. But before she could say anything else, Asher suddenly reached out and took hold of her wrist.
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.
Summary & Review: The Family
