Chapter 7

Tears spilled over.

I hated myself for it.

Hated how much I still needed him.

My chest heaved.

The ice in his voice melted.

"Lose the spoiled princess act."

"Do it for our future."

"We leave for college in a few weeks."

"I don't want petty drama ruining freshman year."

"Are we good?"

I forced my lungs to steady.

Wiped my face dry.

"No, Liam."

"I'm not going down South with you."

A loud scoff.

Total dismissal.

"Deposits are already paid, Ava."

"Don't wreck your future over a stupid tantrum."

The joke was on him.

My parents' company just expanded to Europe.

They'd been begging me to study in Paris.

I turned them down just to stay close to a liar.

Yale was off the table now.

But snagging a spot at a top school in Paris?

One phone call from my dad, and I was in.

My face stayed blank.

A heavy sigh broke the silence.

"Look. You were browsing off-campus housing, right?"

"I found a sick penthouse. Let's just sign the lease."

"It'll be our first real place."

"You can decorate it however you want. Deal?"