XYRA'S POV
A feeling of guilt took over my entire being. All day, I'd been consumed by my own mess, my stupid choices, oblivious to the troubles they were facing at home.
The mission I'd set for myself, to help Dad, felt laughable now. What good was aiming to be the top student at school when the whole company was teetering on the edge?
"Look, Michael," Dad's voice was strained, "I hear you. Let's meet tomorrow, first thing. We'll thrash things out then."
He ended the call, his face grim. The silence in the car felt like the most suffocating I'd ever encountered. I wanted to say something and offer some empty words of comfort, but nothing felt right.
"Hey," Dad said finally, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Don't worry about that. Just work stuff. Boring grown-up st
