Chapter 1
On my seventeenth birthday, I was making a wish in front of the cake.
Lucas suddenly spoke up.
"Can you just give the scholarship back to Chloe? You're already crashing at my place and taking advantage of everything—do you really have to grab even this bit of cash too?"
Lucas had selective mutism. Ever since we were kids, this was the first time he'd ever spoken to me—and it was all for Chloe.
I didn't dare say anything; I just kept quiet and gave in.
After all, I was just a broke live-in companion who'd secretly accepted three million dollars from his father, Arthur Bennett.
Once SAT was over, I was heading overseas for college.
I wasn't going to fight over the scholarship or Chloe.
*****
Lucas had selective mutism.
The Bennett Family tried everything, throwing money at the problem, but nothing could get him to speak.
Until one day, when the Bennett Family was doing charity work at the orphanage, they happened to catch me fighting desperately with a group of kids much taller than me over a stuffed sandwich.
Lucas saw it and pointed his finger at me.
"Help her."
Those two words filled the Bennett Family with joy, and they immediately handled the adoption paperwork.
And just like that, I became Lucas's live-in companion.
Back then, he was scrawny and short, and he never said a word. The rowdy upperclassmen at school thought he was just pretending, so they picked a day to beat him up.
Since I was living under someone else's roof, I had to prove my worth.
So I didn't flinch at all. Facing those much taller bullies felt like a chance to rack up some battle honors. I grabbed a shovel from the gardening-loving board member and chased them off.
Even after getting reported and punished to stand in the hallway, I was still grinning and doing handstands outside the window for Lucas.
Lucas was mortified, his face tight with embarrassment as he refused to look at me.
After class, he handed me a note. Ever since that day at the orphanage, he hadn't spoken a single word to me.
[I know you like me, but do you really think these petty gestures are enough to win me over?]
[What a joke.]
[Stop dreaming you'll suddenly rise above your station.]
Huh?
He was the golden boy of the family.
I was just the help.
If anything happened to him, I'd be toast.
Love? I wouldn't even dare to dream about it.
But Lucas didn't care. He was convinced I was hopelessly in love with him.
So, after having a nightmare in the middle of the night, he called me without even a hint of guilt, waking me up like it was nothing.
Half-asleep, I had to coax myself for ages before finally getting up, splashing some water on my face, and heading to his room.
The room was pitch black. I made my way to the bedside by memory, gently covering Lucas's eyes with one hand while reaching for the lamp with the other.
After a few seconds, I let go, and there he was, his bright eyes fixed right on me.
His face was still a bit pale as he typed on his phone, complaining to me.
[I just had a nightmare and couldn't sleep, so I asked you to come read to me. But you took forever, like you were getting ready for a date.]
[Trying to look natural, huh? Next time, quit pretending you just washed your face—it's so obvious.]
[Just come over as you are next time. I never thought you were ugly anyway.]
Here we go again.
I just mumbled a couple of lazy "uh-huhs," grabbed a book from the shelf, and started reading. Halfway through, a breeze messed up the pages.
I glanced up and saw the window was still open.
I got up, closed it, and told him,
"Don't leave the window open so wide at night, or you'll catch a chill and end up with a headache."
Turning back, I tucked the blanket around him to keep him warm.
He couldn't get sick, or I wouldn't get to tag along for the private tutoring his family booked for him tomorrow.
Those lessons cost a fortune—seven thousand dollars a session.
As I was tucking him in, Lucas gave me that weird, unreadable look again.
"What's up?" I asked.
He texted: [When it's time to choose colleges, I'll allow you to apply to the same university as me.]
He suddenly mentioned the SATs coming up in a month.
I was caught off guard.
But Lucas got all worked up, practically shoving his phone in my face.
He typed: [What, you don't want to? How could you possibly refuse? It's an honor for you to even go to Westlake University with me—stop acting like you're playing hard to get!]
[Not that you could even get in, anyway!]
I took a deep breath and shook my head.
"No," I said.
"I'm just really excited."
Lucas let out a satisfied little hum and closed his eyes.
I quietly slipped out of the room and closed the door, only to run into the butler, who'd clearly been waiting there for ages.
"Please, this way," he said.
The butler handed me a cup of coffee. I took it and immediately recognized the scent—it was the same coffee the Bennett Family always served to their guests.
Arthur was sitting across from me, rubbing his temples. The watch on his wrist was so expensive, it could buy a whole apartment in the heart of the city.
The butler thoughtfully spread out the newspaper for him, smoothing it over the coffee table.
The headline was impossible to miss: [Lucas Bennett Sacrifices Himself for a Girl]