THE DRAGON KING'S SECOND CHANCE MATE

Málaga, Spain Valerie’s POV Adine, please. I can't do your homework and mine. We're in the same classes, and the teachers will notice. I looked at her, trying to keep my voice steady. "I can teach you,” Inside, frustration bubbled up. Why does she never want my help? Why is it always me who must pick up the slack? I have a date. I don’t need you to teach me. Besides, we graduate in a couple of days. I can’t believe you finished faster than I. Adine mumbles. Then she sends me a mock kiss. Muah. I worked my butt off to get here, I told myself. That’s why I finished faster. "Valerie!" my dad screamed. "I’m hungry." "Dad, I need to finish my homework. Fine, I’ll make you a sandwich." "No, make me food, now!" he shouted. "Where is Adine?" "She just left with her friends." "Of course, she needs to have some fun," my dad said. Why can’t he see me? Sometimes I feel like I’m invisible in my own house, like everything I do never matters. He blames me for my mother’s death. She died giving birth to me. Every time Adine messes up, he looks the other way, but if I ever stepped out of line, he would notice in a second. I wanted him to see how hard I tried, to care about how tired I got, but it was always her. The unfairness twisted inside me, both making me feel angry and achingly small. By ten o'clock, I sat at my small, cramped desk and started typing. I’m 17 and have been awarded scholarships to four top schools. I’ll graduate a year earlier than anyone else. I wasn’t popular, but I didn’t care. My boyfriend messaged me, breaking my focus. Where are you? I texted back, “Have homework, maybe tomorrow." Sorry. He was so cute and popular that I was shocked when he asked me out. I wasn’t looking for a relationship. My focus was on school. I wanted to become the best at whatever I chose. Sometimes I still wasn’t sure what that was, but I knew I wanted out, out of this house, this town, and the way no one noticed me, I’m sure I won’t be missed. Most days, I thought that meant being a designer, sketchbooks full of ideas, fashion shows in Paris, my name in places Dad and Adine would never get to. I was passionate about design, about turning something ugly into something beautiful, but it was a brutal competition. My teachers were impressed by my art and praised me every chance they got. I looked at my phone’s cracked screen. s**t. Midnight. Just when I thought the day was over and could close my eyes and sleep, my sister walked in through the window. I pretended to sleep. She had a duffel bag and placed it on the side of the closet, then sat on the bed and covered her face. I could tell she did something bad, but I stayed out of it. Adine had gotten me in trouble so many times. I took the blame for her, and Dad hit me more times than I could count. Enough. I’m getting away from here and this miserable place. High School, Málaga After the classes, I texted Henry. No response. I needed to go to the bathroom, I thought, and walked back into the school, heading for the girls’ bathroom. I opened the door and froze. For a moment, my brain couldn’t make sense of what I heard. There were muffled moans, shadows moving, and my heart pounded so loudly it drowned out everything else. My hand slipped from the door handle, sweaty and shaking. I took a step forward. The banging on the stall got faster and louder, and before I could turn around, the hinges gave way. There they were: my sister, Adine, with my boyfriend. Her legs were around his waist, his pants at his ankles. The shock hit me, pain spreading through my chest and stomach, a cold wave crawling over my skin. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even breathe. Just stared while they laughed. Adine, I can’t believe you did this. Maybe I’m not surprised by him, but you? "Come on, what’s the big deal? You can have him too... Oh, I forgot, you’re still a virgin. Oops..." They laughed again. "Assholes," I said, and walked away. I ran as tears stung my eyes. She did it on purpose, always takes everything I have. I got home and packed my little suitcase. After graduation, I’d finally get away from all this. It made me sad because Dad needed me, but Adine could help him for once. I was watching a movie on the computer when the banging on the door startled me. I opened the door and saw two police officers. They handed me a paper. Search warrant. "My dad isn’t home..." "That paper allows us to search," one officer said. What are you looking for? I asked, not knowing what to do. "Stolen goods. Your name?" "Valerie Mondani. May I call my dad?" The officer gave a practiced smile. "Of course." He answered. Dad, the police are searching our house... Then I turned to see an officer walking out of our room with the duffel bag. Adine walked in and froze. "Whose room is that?" the officer asked. "Hers," Adine said. "What did she do?" "Wait, what are you talking about? That’s your bag, Adine..." But the officers had already cuffed me. My dad walked in. "What did she do?" "Stole. She’ll be taken to prison. Well, she’s not eighteen. Juvie." My dad slapped me. "How could you do that?" "Are you that blind?" I asked. "Dad, I’m so shocked. When did you have time to steal?" Adine turned to me, smiling. "You will pay for this, Adine," I said. The cops took me away. I cried quietly in the back of the police car. Nothing had prepared me for this. I lost everything, the scholarship; she ruined my life. All those years working late at my little desk, hoping that if I just tried hard enough, things would turn out okay. Now every sleepless night and missed party felt pointless. It wasn’t just about school or a diploma; it was about proving to myself that I deserved something good, something better than what this house gave me. My future, the one I thought I’d earned, was slipping away before I could even reach it. I wondered what it would feel like to be seen for who I am, not for what Adine did or didn’t do. The loss wasn’t just missing graduation; it was losing hope that things could ever change for me. I felt so alone, like I had disappeared. "Miss," a man said, "your hand." They fingerprinted me. I felt numb. Why? I kept asking myself. Inside the cell, I lay on the smelly mattress and cried until I fell asleep.