Hadley's POV:
I stood on the deck of the late-night ferry, two sheets of paper clutched tightly in my hand.
One was Caroline's school transfer application. I'd spent months comparing schools before finally choosing the international academy listed on the form.
The other was my mother's transfer appointment confirmation, scheduled with the nation's leading cardiac treatment center.
The river wind was fierce.
I pressed both papers against the cold railing, my fingertips turning white from the force.
Then, slowly, I let go.
The wind immediately caught them.
The papers spiraled into the dark water below and vanished without a trace.
They were useless now, yet a sharp pain still stabbed through my chest.
"The wind is strong. You'll catch a cold." A suit jac
