Page 52 of Phantom Flower

I wanted to go in.

I wanted to pull him into my arms and tell him that no one would ever touch him again. That I would burn the entire school down before I let anyone make him feel like this again. But right now, he did not need me.

He needed space.

And I was willing to give it to him.

Chapter 15

Rei Kurosaki

I heard a noise outside my window. But when I went to check, no one was there. When my eyes dropped to the wide stone windowsill, I saw it.

A single flower.

A Phantom Orchid. I knew what it was the moment I saw it. And I knew exactly who had left it.

Dimitri.

No one else would come here in the middle of the night.

My chest tightened as I carefully opened the window and picked up the flower. The petals were soft against my fingers. I brought it to my chest without thinking. A smile tugged at my lips.

When I woke up the next morning and went out of my room, I could hear my mother’s voice from the living room. Daniel’s too.

Perfect.

I walked in anyway, keeping my expression neutral. Mom was curled on the couch in one of her expensive silk robes. Daniel sat beside her, legs crossed like he owned the place. Which, in his mind, he probably did.

“Rei, sweetheart,” Mom said, smiling too brightly. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” I answered, heading straight for the kitchen. I needed water. Or maybe something stronger, but I was not stupid enough to drink in front of them.

Daniel’s eyes followed me. “You look tired. Did you sleep bad?”

I braced myself for him to bring up the video. I knew he kept tabs on what happened at school. He always had. Whether it was through the principal, other parents, or whatever connections he had, he usually found out about everything. But he did not say a word. Dimitri had kept his word.

I poured a glass of water and took a sip before answering. “Something like that.”

He chuckled, that polished, condescending sound I hated. “You know, if you spent less time with that scholarship kid Marco, and more time networking with the right families, you might feel less tense and get into less trouble. You’re lucky the principal changed his mind last minute.”

My grip tightened on the glass. I kept my voice even. “Don’t put his name in your mouth.”

Mom sighed softly, like I was being difficult on purpose. “Rei, Daniel’s just trying to help. We want what’s best for you.”

I set the glass down harder than I meant to. “Best for me? Or best for the family image?”

Daniel’s eyes cooled. “Watch your tone, son.”

“I’m not your son.”

Mom’s face fell. “Rei. That was uncalled for.”

“He’s not my father,” I said. “He never will be. Stop pretending he is.”

Daniel stood up. He was taller than me. I wished he would drop dead. “I know you miss your dad, but—”

“Don’t you dare talk about my dad.”