Chapter 3

Michael: [Nonsense. If even Xavier can't stand you, no man will. Xavier's always been reasonable—go apologize to him, and he will still be nice to you.]

A second message followed. Michael: [I'm swamped right now. I don't ask you to help, just to behave and stop causing trouble. We'll talk when I get back."

I couldn't believe the man who'd doted on me my whole life would say this. I tried to reassure myself—maybe Michael was just stressed about something.

But unease lingered. I thought of someone, then hesitantly made a call. "I want to go abroad for further studies…