Maybe now that they’ve been exposed, some of the assaulted girls will come forward too.
“Hey, you zoned out again,” Linda complains. “Look, I know what I did that day wasn’t very nice, but I fought with my boyfriend and went home. I was so upset I forgot to let you know.”
“It’s okay. It’s in the past.”
“If you really forgive me, come with me on this boat trip.”
“You give me your solemn word you’ll show up?”
“Of course.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Only if I can bring Josephine.”
“I don’t like her. She doesn’t belong to our circle.”
“Don’t talk about my friend like that, or we’re done.”
“Okay, sorry. Fine, bring the hippie.”
“She isn’t a hippie. She’s authentic. Don’t be prejudiced.”
“Let’s not fight. So . . .Saturday?”
“Yes, but I need your brother’s full name, the name of the boat, and the exact location so I can give everything to my security team.”
She doesn’t find that strange—lots of wealthy students here are escorted everywhere. Some even bring guards into the classroom.
“Okay. I’ll text you everything later today. Gotta go now. See you Saturday.”
Chapter 24
“You’re not thinking straight.”
“The final selection of those two was a mistake, Athol. Neither of them is fit to be a wife of convenience.”
“You’re willing to give up the title? And what about your grandfather’s wishes?”
“I won’t join myself, even in a rehearsed farce, to someone I don’t respect. So if I don’t find a suitable candidate before my birthday, yes, I’ll relinquish the title.”
He looks shocked, and a few months ago, this would’ve been unthinkable to me too, but no title is worth that kind of sacrifice.
“Does this decision have anything to do with your princess?”
“She’s not mine.”
“But you wish she were?”
I glare at him, irritated. “Don’t you have anything better to do than rehearse your Cupid routine? Jazmina doesn’t belong to my world. When she marries, it’ll be for a political alliance orchestrated by her family.”
“And that’s the only reason?”
“You know it’s not. She deserves far more than I could ever give.”
“People change. You can change, boy.”
“You can’t erase the past, Athol. I will never have children. I don’t deserve them. I caused my father’s death. I have no right to pass on my name.”
He gives me the same look he always gives during this conversation, but as usual, I don’t give him time to say what I know he wants to. I don’t need comforting or words that change nothing.