The Kiss that Sparked it All

Yeah, Elton and Victoria supported Mara. In their eyes, Mara was just a headstrong child, acting out.

The more they tried to hold her back, the further Mara wanted to run away. She couldn’t stand another minute under the same roof with them.

Sometimes, she wished she could’ve vanished with her mother and spared the humiliation that seemed to chase her through life.

Mara had a gnawing fear that her life was set in stone: living in Victoria’s shadow, never measuring up, and eventually fading into obscurity.

But then Balfour showed up, and it was as if the world flipped upside down.

Sure, to Balfour, their fleeting encounter might not even be a blip on his radar. But for Mara, it was monumental. Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

”

She never imagined falling for a guy she barely knew.

After she opted for boarding school, her grades didn’t shoot up. Instead, she found herself hanging with the rebels, the kids who didn’t give a hoot about academia. Ironically, this felt more liberating than chasing after grades that never seemed to impress her dad

anyway.

But she didn’t expect her secret to unravel.

When Mara got home, Elton’s face was an icy mask.

She had barely dropped her backpack when Elton stormed over and slapped her hard across the face.

K

“I’m busting my butt to give you a good education, and this is how you repay me? By running wild with those no-gooders? Do you have any clue what you’re doing with your life? You’re regressing, Mara! Did you know your teacher just called me? Smoking on the rooftop with that lot? I thought boarding school was to help you focus, not to mingle with worthless punks! I’ve been so blind!”

Mara clenched her fists, biting back the tears and words.

Victoria sighed, “Dad, don’t jump to conclusions. Maybe there’s misunderstanding. Sit down, and I’ll ask her.”

She turned to Mara, her voice soft but firm. “Mara, are you in some kind of trouble? Some kids in school can be ruthless, targeting the ones who used to be on top. Are they forcing you to mess up? Did they threaten you? you. If you’re in any trouble, you need to tell us, okay?”

10 140 emember, Dad and I are always here for

Mara was sick to her stomach with Victoria’s act. She swatted Victoria’s hand away, “Why

08:18

the pretense? You’re probably thrilled to see Dad hit me. Yes, I’ll give it to you straight. No one forced me, no one framed me. I smoked. So what? All my hard work never matched up to your grades. Dad didn’t care about my hard work. To you guys, I’m just dumb. So why should I bother trying? I’m fine just the way I am. I enjoy hanging out with them. They don’t look down on me for my grades, and they certainly don’t pretend to care me like

you.

I don’t need a sister like you. I’d rather be with those ‘no-gooders’ than share a single thing with you.”

Victoria staggered back, wounded by Mara’s words, “Mara, do you even hear yourself? When have I ever pretended to care and laughed behind your back? I’ve never done that. How could you say such things?”