“Teacher, I actually didn’t—”

Daniel’s voice faltered, caught in his throat as he met Hope Newton’s half-smile, half-smirk.

He couldn’t finish the sentence. If he tried to explain now, Hope would see right through him. She’d know he was faking being sick. And all the perks promised by the Newtons would vanish in an instant.

Torn between wanting to appear sick to secure Newton family favors or chase after his reality-show dreams, Daniel hesitated.

What exactly did you mean by “actually didn’t…”? the teacher’s voice crackled through the phone.

Daniel gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

“Nothing… I just feel I’ve let the teachers down.”

Let down? You...