Chapter7 " Fine , " Chase Rylan said with a clipped nod , his voice edged with irritation - as if teaching her a lesson . " If you're that stubborn , don't call or text me for a while . We both need to cool off . " A bleak hollowness opened in Lydia's chest . So he wanted to give her the silent treatment . She looked at him and almost laughed . " Don't worry , " she said , each word clear . " Not just for a while . From now on . " She turned and walked away . Chase hadn't expected her to be that unyielding . He started after her on instinct , but Sienna Quinn caught his arm . " Chase , didn't you say she needs to learn ? She's like this because you spoil her . Give her a few days . She'll realize she's wrong . " He stopped Right . He had thought exactly that . Lydia had been his princess for three years ; her temper had only hardened . The uneasy flicker he'd felt under her gaze faded . He looked away - and didn't follow . The Rivers Estate was still empty when Lydia got home ; her parents were tied up with immigration paperwork . Her mother called , voice bright with good news . " Lydia , Harrington College in London accepted your application ! The immigration paperwork is almost done , We can leave in a few days ! " A quiet , unprecedented relief washed through her . She started packing in earnest . Every gift from Chase went straight into a trash bag , stuffed animals , jewelry , love notes , even the homemade star projector he'd built for her . As if throwing them away could bury the foolish girl she had been . She had just cleared the final trace when the doorbell rang . She opened it to find Chase on the porch . They stared at each other for a long moment , the air heavy and unmoving . Chase caved first , sounding tired , with a faint , bruised sort of grievance . " Lydia ... how can you be this heartless ? It's been days - no call , no text . Do you know what I've been through ? " He reached to pull her in . " Okay , I was wrong . You'don't have to apologize anymore . Let's not fight , please ? I can't stand it ... ' Lydia stepped back , out of his arms . Something in his chest skittered . He fumbled a velvet box from his pocket . " A present . Don't be mad . The class is having a farewell tonight - I came to take you . We're all going our separate ways ; who knows when we'll see each other again . " She hadn't planned to go , but it might be the last time she saw some of them . In the end , she agreed . Outside the private dining room at the Grand Armitage Hotel , a classmate was doing quick tarot readings for fun , Maya Brooks shuffled Chapter 7 31824 the deck while a crowd watched . Sienna was already there , bright - eyed . " Read my love life ! " Maya dealt the cards , studied them , and smiled . " You've met a promising love interest , but you'll have to make the first move . " Sienna's smile turned meaningful . " I thought so too . " She flicked a glance at Chase and slipped into the room . Chase , amused , tugged Lydia closer . " Do us next - love forecast . " Maya shuffled again and let him draw three cards . When she turned them over , her expression wavered . " Go on , " Chase prompted . Maya winced . " It looks like ... a breakup risk . Soon . ' Chase's brows pinched together . He pulled Lydia into his side . " Nonsense . I'm never breaking up with Lydia . " He lowered his voice for her alone . " Don't believe this stuff , okay ? " Lydia's lips twitched , the faintest curve of irony . He wouldn't break up . She would . Inside , the class rep , Trevor Hale , handed Chase the menu . Chase ordered smoothly - house favorites , all things Lydia used to love . At the end , he added for the server , " And no walnuts in the desserts . My girlfriend's allergic . " Lydia went very still . Sienna gave a soft , delighted laugh . " Chase , you've got it mixed up . I'm the one allergic to walnuts . " Silence settled like dust . Chase blinked , then smoothed it over with practiced ease . " I've been at the hospital with her dad nonstop . We've eaten together a lot - I got it scrambled . Don't mind me , Lydia . " " Mm , " Lydia said , eyes down . Nothing more . Remembering her allergies used to be second nature to him . Now , second nature meant remembering another girl's needs . Chapter7 142 Oddly , it didn't hurt anymore . Dinner ended in the ache of impending goodbyes . No one wanted the night to end , so someone suggested spin - the - bottle . truth or dare . Laughter and clinking glasses filled the room again . The bottle pointed to Lydia first . " Lydia , truth or dare ? " "Truth . " A classmate grinned . " Goddess , what's something you're genuinely happy about lately ? Share ! " Lydia lifted her gaze , calm . " Throwing something away . " " What , a gift from the star athlete again ? " people teased . " You traded up to a limited edition and ditched the old one , huh ? " She didn't explain . Chase heard her answer and , for reasons he couldn't name , a thread of unease pulled tight in his chest . Before he could speak , the bottle spun again - landing on Sienna . " Dare , " Sienna said , fearless . " Your dare , " someone crowed , " is to do the most thrilling thing you can think of to someone in this room . " 31.82 %