CHAPTER FOURTEEN

NADIA

“Why weren’t you in school last week?” Sandro asked, his voice oozing with false concern. For a second, I contemplated staying silent, but as their presence loomed over me, it became hard to hold my tongue.

“I just needed some time off,” I said simply, refusing to let them see how much they affected me.

Sandro tightened his grip on my shoulder, a mocking laugh escaping his lips. “Time off? Or maybe you were just busy thinking about how poor you are?”

“Let go of me,” I said, trying to pull away, but their grip only tightened.

Both of them burst into laughter. Their mocking voices made...