Chapter Fourty one

The air hung heavy with Ariana's icy disapproval, a silent accusation radiating from the way she sat, arms crossed and lips pursed. I knew the moment I had abandoned our class in search of Nico, that this moment of assessment was inevitable.

Where have you been, Ella?" Ariana repeated, her eyes narrowed. "We had class, remember?"

My mind raced. "I... I had to go with Dad," I stammered, while looking at Lola, scared that I was going to be ratted out. The lie tasted like ashes in my mouth. "He had a doctor's appointment, and I needed to be there."

Ariana raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on her face. "Funny, Lola saw you coming out of Nico's house the other day." Her voice was now a razor-sharp whip, slicing through my flimsy lie.

Heat flooded my cheeks. "That... that was just a…" I mumbled, trying to find my words.

"You could have told me, Ella. You could have told me Nico was ill. We could have gone to visit together," Ariana spoke, her voice softer now, tinged with a hint of sadn