- 4.
That evening, I told my parents that I wasn’t
going to college with Ethan after graduation.
My mom asked why.
Looking at my parents‘ faces, I felt a sudden lump in my throat.
I was their only child, and in my past life, I’d been so obsessed with a man who held no love for me in his heart or eyes that I’d neglected the two people who loved me most in the world.
And in the end, I made them bury their own daughter.
I sniffed and said, “I want to spend more time with you guys.”
My dad always spoiled me. If I made up my
mind about something, he would support me.
After that, my parents found me a tutor.
He was a year older than me, from Northwood
High. He’d gotten the highest score in the city
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His name was Ashton Hughes.
Ashton came to my house every weekend to
tutor me. He was incredibly smart. His
explanations were often simpler than what the
teachers taught in class.
This weekend was the high school basketball
league championship.
Our school was hosting.
Ashton was playing too; he was the captain of
Northwood’s team.
He’d told me he’d compiled some notes for me
and would bring them over on game day.
Since the game was on a Friday, Ashton was
coming to my house for our regular tutoring
session after the game.
But Ethan was playing too, so I wasn’t planning
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on going to the game. I was waiting in the
classroom for Ashton to text me.
I sent him a message: “Good luck, Mr. Hughes! Stay safe!”
I was just putting my phone away when Zach
snatched it.
“Good luck, Mr. Hughes? Stay safe? Mia, have you moved on?!” Zach’s loud voice attracted
Ethan’s attention. He looked over at me, a
strange expression on his face.
I thought I saw a flicker of nervousness, even fear, in his eyes.
Ethan, the always arrogant Ethan, showing such
vulnerability?
He walked towards me, took the phone from
Zach, and stared at the messages, his face
grim.
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Finally, he looked up at me slowly, his voice
laced with suspicion. “Who is he?”
I snatched my phone back and shoved it into
my pocket. “What’s it to you?”
Zach gaped at me. It was hard to believe these words were coming from Mia.
I turned to leave, heading for the library.
As I turned, Ethan grabbed my arm. “I asked
you who he is. You’re not going anywhere until you tell me.”
Was he crazy?
In my past life, I’d chased after him, and he’d treated me like a nuisance, his disgust clear on his face.
This time around, I was giving him what he
wanted
–
–
distance – and he was suddenly
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How pathetic.
I shook off his hand and frowned at him, my
voice calm. “Ethan, I thought you hated me? So
please, just keep hating me.”
Ethan grabbed my arm again.
Just then, a clear male voice called out from
the doorway.
“Mia.”
