Chapter 1

On the very last day of the Columbia University Early Admission deadline, I discovered that Dante—the boy I had grown up with—had given my hard-earned recommendation letter slot to Bianca.

When I finally tracked him down, he was leaning casually against the polished side of his sports car. He flicked a stray ash from his expensive cigar, his expression entirely indifferent.

“Bianca’s family is going through a rough patch,” he said, exhaling a thin stream of gray smoke into the freezing air. “If she doesn't get into a good university, she'll have to start working right away.”

He looked at me, his eyes devoid of any guilt. “Your grades are excellent. Even if you have to take the SATs and apply normally, you'll still get into Columbia on your own.”

My face went completely pale. I stood there, unable to squeeze a single word past the tight knot in my throat.

Seeing my silence and the sheer hostility radiating from me, Dante frowned. He pulled open his designer leather wallet, drew out a sleek black card, and held it out to me.

“Look, I'll fully cover your tuition for all four years of college,” he said, his voice laced with impatience. “Think of it as me buying this slot from you. Is that enough?”

I stared at the black card glinting between his fingers. A heavy, suffocating silence stretched between us.

The recommendation letter I had nearly died to secure was nothing more than a piece of cheap charity to him, something he could put a price tag on whenever it suited him.

I didn't take the card. I simply turned on my heel and walked away.

Above us, the sky finally opened up, pouring down a cold, biting rain.

“What kind of tantrum are you throwing now, Siena?” Dante’s voice sliced through the downpour, instantly turning icy. “Don't you spend all your time scrounging for scraps and fixing junk at the repair shop just for a bit of cash? I’m offering you real money, so stop acting so damn high and mighty!”

My footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second.

I slowly turned my head back, looking at his face, which was now blurred by the thick sheets of rain and fog.

More than ten years of treasured affection, of shared secrets and promises, rotted completely away in that single, agonizing second.

A faint, empty smile touched my lips.

“Sure,” I whispered, the rain washing the sound away. “Think whatever you want.”

...

By the time I dragged myself back to the grease-stained repair shop, my phone was already vibrating in my pocket. It was my best friend, Jenny.

“Siena! Have you seen the admission list yet?” Jenny’s voice was frantic, practically screeching through the speaker. “How is Bianca’s name on there? Is this Dante’s doing? It has to be!”

Listening to her panic, a bitter, hollow laugh escaped my chest. “I already went to see him.”

“And? What did that bastard say?”

“He said he bought the slot from me.”

The line went dead silent.

It took a long, painful minute before Jenny finally spoke again, her voice shaking with rage. “He is an absolute piece of trash.”

I didn't answer. I couldn't find the energy to agree.

“What are you doing right now?” she asked, her tone softening with worry.

“Working on a car.”

“Stop fixing cars! You need to go to City Hall right now and make a scene! That recommendation letter belongs to you! Have you forgotten how much hell you went through just to get the Congressman’s signature?”

I shook my head slowly, though she couldn't see me, and picked up a heavy metal wrench. “It’s useless, Jenny.”

“How is it useless? The Congressman promised it to you!”

“If Dante's family could swap my name out once,” I said, my voice deadpan, “they can easily do it a second time.”

Another heavy silence fell over the call.

Finally, Jenny sighed, her voice laced with pity. “I just saw Bianca’s Instagram post. Dante booked the most expensive hotel rooftop in the city to celebrate her admission.”

“I see.”

“Siena, you—”

“I have to go, Jenny. A customer just pulled in.”

I cut the call before she could say another word. Outside, a sleek sedan rolled slowly up to the entrance of the garage.

I wiped my damp face with the back of my sleeve, stepped out into the damp air, and knelt down to inspect the worn tread of the tires.