Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view
- - -
I listened to Duke's explanation and my heart tightened.
His words about Magda and my scholarship fund stirred an internal fight inside me as I clearly remembered her scornful gazes and those few interactions I noticed between Duke and Magda from afar suddenly got a different meaning.
I remember Duke telling me it was nothing, and I knew that he was hiding something, but after his explanation, there is a possibility that he was trying to shield me from another bully who targeted me for no fault of my own.
Duke always protected me, because he knew very well how fragile I was and it's not an exaggeration to say I might not survive those days without his presence.
My heart screamed to trust him, but my mind was putting the brakes on.
