“Mary? Are you okay?”
It’s Sabrina.
I look up.
She's standing beside my desk, concern written all over her face.
Behind her is Claire, my classroom aide and student teacher.
And judging by Claire's expression?
She's already seen the article too.
“Oh my God,” Sabrina whispers.
That's when I notice she's holding two coffees.
One in each hand.
And behind her—towering over both women—is Ego.
He looks concerned, then angry.
But he’s not who I’m looking for—my heart pounds, my pulse races, anxiety is taking hold—then I see him.
Kai.
My Kai.
He's wearing a dark shirt and carrying a white bakery box, and immediate relief washes over me.
“Kai,” I whisper.
“Hey, what is all this?”
He comes closer.
His gaze drops to the newspaper.
He reads the headline.
And I watch every trace of warmth disappear from his face.
Uh-oh.
I've seen that expression before.
It's the same look he wore when he punched Joel Jonas.
The exact same one.
Only this time, my stomach drops for a different reason.
Because whoever did this didn't just come after me.
They came after him.
Kai’s reputation.