Tessa’s POV
Returning to school after the weekend felt like walking into a storm I wasn’t ready to face.
I kept my head down, arms wrapped tightly around my bag, trying not to look at anyone for too long. Especially not Liam.
My heart would pound every time I thought I saw him out of the corner of my eye. And then I’d turn quickly, pretending to be interested in some poster or the floor tiles. Anything but his face.
It wasn’t his fault. I knew that.
But after what my mother did… after the way she spoke to him like he was nothing… I couldn’t look him in the eye.
Because part of me thought maybe he believed I was like her. And part of me was scared he’d never look at me the same way again.
I slipped into the lecture hall early, taking a seat toward the back, hoping no one would notice
