It's a new school week, and the anger from yesterday still burns in my chest like acid. I can barely focus on anything else except finding Gabriel. The conversation with Mom keeps replaying in my head – her confession about Gabriel's father, the way she looked when she said she might consider his proposal. The thought makes my stomach churn.
I walk through the campus with my bag slung over my shoulder, but it feels heavier today. Everything feels heavier. The weight of secrets, lies, and a truth I never asked for. My eyes scan the usual spots where Gabriel hangs out with his crew, but he's nowhere to be seen.
The courtyard is empty of his presence. The parking lot where all the expensive cars gather – nothing. Even the cafeteria where he usually holds court like some kind of king is Gabr
