Chapter 35

Students stepped out of Miles's way as he headed for the teaching building. One look at his face was enough.

Things had changed. Too many things for him to explain them all away. Julian treated Elise differently, and her place in the family bore almost no resemblance to what Miles remembered. At first, he'd blamed his own neglect. Perhaps he'd paid so little attention to her that he'd simply missed what was happening.

But Vivian hadn't been thrown out in their previous life. She hadn't changed her name. Nobody had exposed her for spreading lies about Elise online or encouraging people to dox the Bennetts.

Perhaps he wasn't the only one who'd come back.

He could think about that later. His sister needed him to treat her better and keep anyone from hurting her again. Going after her adoptive parents was as cruel as going after Elise herself. She loved them. Vivian must have understood how much that would hurt her.

After everything he'd seen of Vivian's selfishness, he had no trouble believing she was capable of it.

He reached the foot of the building and was about to go upstairs when someone called from beside him.

“Miles.”

Hannah stood in the corridor wearing a face mask. She watched him uncertainly, too nervous to come closer.

He smiled. He'd been looking for her, and here she was.

Hannah fought the urge to back away. He'd always had a terrible temper, but he'd shown her a little more patience than he showed most people. She'd been afraid of him even then. That small allowance had nevertheless given her the confidence to wheedle and ask for things.

Yesterday's message had been different. His blunt words had made his disgust clear. Julian and Adrian had already turned against her; now Miles had, too. She could only assume they'd all discovered what she'd done.

She had to approach them anyway. She couldn't bear staying with the Lawsons.

Before he could speak, she took off her mask. The marks from her fight with Kayla were still there. Kayla had slapped her several times, leaving one side of her face badly swollen. Fear of her classmates laughing at her had kept her away from school. Learning that Miles was back had finally brought her in.

He raised an eyebrow at the bruises. Someone had certainly given her a hard time. Who had hit her?

Remembering the fight made Hannah feel more wronged than ever.

“I know I was wrong, Miles. I was jealous of Elise. I was scared I'd lose everything when she came back, so I spread things about her online. But I was angry. I never thought it would get so bad.” Her voice shook. “And when those people got doxxed, I just didn't like that fan defending her. I didn't know it was her adoptive parents. I had no idea what would happen. If I'd known, I wouldn't have done it!”

The students he'd stopped had given him an outline. He knew Hannah had hurt Elise; he hadn't understood exactly how she'd gone about it. Now, between sobs, she was providing the details herself.

He listened to the admissions. Her tears interested him considerably less.

When he didn't answer, Hannah saw his anger give way to thought and hurried on.

“After it blew up, I couldn't sleep for days. I was terrified someone would find out it was me. I wanted to apologize to Elise, but Julian and Adrian wouldn't believe me anymore. I know I'm selfish. I know I've been spoiled. But I understand now. They've already thrown me out, and my new family doesn't even want me...”

She didn't want to remember going home with Robert. The place had been dark and cramped. Their entire home was smaller than the bathroom she'd left behind.

Her birth mother, Elaine Lawson, had held her and cried for two hours without letting go. Hannah had felt only embarrassment. There was hardly anywhere to put her feet. Every surface seemed covered in germs.

She'd been unable to sleep all night, and the food couldn't begin to compare with what she'd eaten at the Whitmores'. Robert had kept finding ways to ask how much money she had. Disgusted, she'd given him evasive answers.

Be patient, she'd told herself. Wait until Miles and Theo came back.

Then, last night, she'd discovered someone had been through her wallet and handled her bank card. She couldn't stand it any longer.

Compete with Elise? She'd abandoned that idea. She wanted to get away from the Lawsons. Living alone would do.

Watching his face, she said, “I'm not asking to move back in. Everything Elise has belongs to her. I won't try to take any of it. I just want to leave the Lawsons, and I don't have any money. Miles... you used to be so good to me. You spend tens of thousands on a single part for one of your cars. Couldn't you help me?”

So that was what she'd come for.

Did she think he was an idiot? Without the memories of their previous life, he might have believed her excuses about never meaning to hurt Elise.

She'd walked away after the bankruptcy. He'd stayed behind with the debts, taken desperate chances trying to pay them, and ended up with a permanently injured leg. Now she wanted his help.

Those memories brought back all the fury he'd been trying to contain. He advanced a step at a time.

“Do you know what it's like to walk with a limp?” he asked softly.

“What?” Hannah retreated.

She'd expected him to be angry. She'd prepared for his temper. The hatred on his face frightened her far more.

He looked directly into her eyes.

“I could give you the money.”

“Really?” Hope returned before she could stop it. With his money, she could leave the Lawsons.

He laughed at the change in her expression.

“On one condition. You try living with a damaged leg, too. How about that?”

The hope disappeared. Hannah kept backing away, close to tears again.

“Miles, don't scare me...”

He straightened, speaking almost casually now.

“Well? Would you agree to it?”

Of course she wouldn't. Ruin a leg? She couldn't bear the thought of being left helpless like that.

She bit her lip and said nothing. He gave a cold laugh.

“You hurt Elise. I don't care whether you meant to. I'll never forgive you for it.”

Intent made no difference to him. She'd chosen the wrong person to appeal to with her suffering. Anyone who hurt his sister would have to deal with him, whatever it cost.

He leaned closer and brushed his fingers over her swollen cheek. Pain stung through it.

“And I'd advise you to stay away from Elise. Stay away from me, too. I've never hit a girl. Push me far enough, and that might change.”

The threat left Hannah trembling.

They attended the same school. She and Elise were in the same class. How could she avoid ever appearing in front of her?

Did he mean she had to transfer?

She'd come to ask for some spending money. How had she ended up facing the prospect of leaving school?

One look at him stopped her from dismissing it as an empty threat. He meant every word.

By the time Miles appeared at the back door of Elise's classroom, the students inside had plenty to whisper about. His gaze passed over them, and the whispering stopped.

Nora looked up from the seat beside Elise, saw him, and immediately lowered her head.

Oh, God. He was here for Elise.

Yesterday, after messaging Julian, she'd watched Miles settle the trouble between the two groups. Once she was sure they weren't going to fight, she'd finally felt safe going home.

Being Elise's friend was worrying enough already. She'd started hanging out with Jade, and now there was this terrifying brother. Nora wanted to make herself smaller every time she saw him in the distance. Watching him approach their desks, she lowered her head still further.

Why did being Elise's desk partner have to be so frightening?

Elise was puzzled to see him. Last night, he'd gone upstairs without looking back, apparently angry. With Miles, it was difficult to tell what had set him off. She hadn't dwelled on it. She'd thought she could soothe him sometime later.

Instead, here he was, coming to her classroom as soon as his lesson ended.

Miles met her questioning eyes, and every word he'd rehearsed on the way vanished. He glared at the students trying to watch. Once they'd all found something else to look at, he spoke awkwardly.

“You called me when I went upstairs yesterday. I didn't answer. I didn't mean it. Please don't be angry.”

Nora couldn't make sense of what she'd just heard.

He wasn't yelling. He hadn't come to start trouble. He was speaking so gently that she wondered whether she'd imagined it.

Was he actually sweet like this? The Miles she knew always looked ready to punch someone.

Around the room, the other students were listening just as hard. What on earth was going on with him today? Once, someone had accidentally stepped on his shoe, and several people had needed to hold him back before he could beat the boy up.

Now he was practically pleading with Elise. Apologizing, even. All because she'd called to him and he hadn't answered?

Faces around the classroom registered varying degrees of alarm.

Elise hadn't thought such a tiny thing needed a special trip to apologize. Still, he'd made the effort. She smiled at him.

“I'm not angry.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Miles relaxed. Thank God. If he'd upset her badly enough to make her stop talking to him, he'd never have forgiven himself.

He needed to control his temper. He couldn't let something like this happen again.

The bell rang. Students who'd been listening from elsewhere in the room hurried back to their seats.

Miles frowned. He'd only just arrived. How could the break be over already? Hannah had wasted the time he should have spent here.

Being in different classes was a nuisance.

He pushed a hand through his hair and asked quickly, “Lunch together?”

Elise noticed her classmates glancing their way again.

“Julian arranged for Daniel to bring me lunch every day. You should get back, Miles. Class is starting.”

If the teacher arrived while he was still here, they'd lose lesson time over her personal business. That was far too much to waste.

Under her urging, Miles reluctantly left.

The corridor was empty and much quieter. He walked without hurrying, untroubled by the fact that the bell had already rung.

If he wanted to become closer to his sister, he needed to spend more time with her. They had to eat lunch together.

But Julian already had Daniel delivering her meals?

He remembered how warmly she'd spoken to Julian yesterday. Miles had barely returned to this life, eager to make things up to her, and his eldest brother had already got ahead of him.

He wasn't about to accept that.

They were at the same school. He could hardly let the lunch break go to waste. Until now, he'd either skipped the whole afternoon and eaten elsewhere, or gone to the restaurants nearby with Dylan and the others.

He considered his options, took out his phone, and began typing.

In the spacious conference room, Julian sat at the head of the table with dozens of employees below him. Slides moved across the large screen. The room was otherwise so quiet that everyone heard the phone vibrate on the table.

Julian paused mid-sentence and glanced at the display. Daniel.

He'd told the butler to report anything concerning Elise to him first. He raised a hand to pause the meeting, picked up, and answered.

“What is it?”

“Mr. Whitmore, Miles called. He'd like me to bring him a portion as well when I deliver Miss Elise's lunch.”

Julian's eyebrows rose. His youngest brother was getting remarkably bold.

He'd hired Elise her own chef. Every dish was made to her taste. He'd been trying to earn her forgiveness, to persuade her to stop treating him so distantly, and at last his efforts had begun to work.

Now Miles wanted to insert himself into it.

Sending lunch to Elise was something her eldest brother did for her. Send it to both of them, and suddenly it became something he did for his younger siblings. The gesture would lose everything that made it hers alone.

Besides, since when did that little brat deserve lunch delivered by him?

He gave a cold snort.

The employees exchanged glances. What had the person on the phone said? Julian's expression had changed the whole room. Nobody wanted to speak and attract his attention now.

At the other end, Daniel had broken into a sweat, too. He'd been right to call. When Elise was involved, even the smallest matter needed Julian's approval first.

After a pause, Julian said, “Don't bring him any. He won't starve.”

Daniel was silent.

He'd made a guess before calling, naturally. They were both Julian's younger siblings. Bringing lunch for two instead of one should hardly have made a difference.

He hadn't expected quite this reaction.

Were these two men really brothers?

When the last morning bell rang, Elise collected her insulated lunch carrier at the side gate as usual and returned to the classroom.

Miles was already there, sitting in Nora's seat. A few other students had brought lunch from home. Some of them had quietly picked up their food and left when he came in.

“Aren't you going to eat, Miles?” Elise asked.

He held up a white plastic container.

“Got mine here. I'm eating with you.”

Daniel had told him there weren't enough ingredients at home. Only enough to make one person's lunch, apparently. He'd hung up before Miles could question him.

Miles hadn't believed a word of it. But no matter how many times he called back, Daniel refused to answer.

That left Dylan and the others fetching him something from a restaurant, which would take too long. After considering it, he'd settled on the closest option: the cafeteria.

He was used to far better food. This was the first time he'd eaten from Northbridge's cafeteria, and it was hardly going to suit his tastes. Still, if it let him eat with his sister, he could put up with it.

Their lunch break lasted an hour and twenty minutes. They finished eating in half an hour. Students returning to the classroom lowered their voices as soon as they saw Miles still sitting there.

He took the opportunity to ask Elise to add him on the messaging app. Julian and Adrian already had her there; she gave him her contact information without a second thought.

Miles looked at his phone, satisfied. Jade had been so pleased with herself yesterday, adding his sister right in front of him. Well, he had her now, too.

As soon as she'd finished eating, Elise opened her textbook and workbook and began working through problems.

Miles watched in surprise. Her grades had been ordinary in their previous life. Had she always studied this hard?

Working so hard and still getting only average results was awfully unfair. He couldn't help feeling sorry for her.

Eventually, Elise could no longer ignore the way he was looking at her.

“Why don't you go back to your classroom, Miles? I need to do some work.”

He wanted to stay, but staying would almost certainly distract her.

His reluctance softened her. Of all her brothers, Miles had been the one life hit before he'd even had a chance to establish himself. In their previous life, he'd faced the bankruptcy before he could get into a good college. He'd gone from job to job trying to pay the debts, repeatedly turned away because he hadn't finished high school. Then the damage to his leg had left him withdrawn and miserable for a long time. Only after he'd begun to face life again had he learned a practical skill and found a way to support himself.

If he studied seriously this time, if he held on through the bankruptcy instead of dropping out, perhaps finding work wouldn't have to hurt so much.

“Miles,” she said. “There's something I want to talk to you about.”

His eyes lit up. She rarely spoke to him so earnestly. He sat back down at once and gave her his full attention.

“You've never taken school seriously. You skip class. You didn't even turn up until more than a week into the school year. You can't keep doing that.”

It was blunt, but someone had to say it. Otherwise, he would never start caring.

Nora returned from lunch and nearly stopped at the door. He was still there. Still sitting in her seat.

Did he have to keep coming back?

She approached uncertainly, then noticed something she couldn't quite believe. Miles looked almost hurt.

Since he hadn't argued, Elise continued.

“Hard times teach you how to survive. Get too comfortable, and you stop being careful. Choosing whatever feels good now can leave you with consequences you can't undo later. I know you have everything you need right now, but money can't do everything. It can't buy you knowledge.”

She couldn't bear to watch him suffer the way he had before. An education would at least give him another way forward.

“Knowledge is power. Learning will always matter. If you work at it, you'll have a better chance at a good future. People will respect you, and you'll be able to do the things you want. Keep coming last, and people will look down on you.”

Miles's spirits sank as he listened. She was right. In their previous life, she'd helped him climb out of his despair in much the same way. However sharp or forceful her words, he could hear that she wanted what was best for him.

He'd come back, and here she was again, doing everything she could to pull him forward. At any point in his life, his sister would still do that for him.

Nora listened in astonishment. Was Elise giving him a motivational speech or telling him off?

And how was he taking it without a single objection? His head was lowered. He looked almost obedient.

That was twice today she'd had to rethink everything she knew about him. Only his own sister could get away with this. Anyone else lecturing him like that would probably have been punched by now.

Elise was far too brave. Nora hardly dared move while she listened.

Finally, Miles looked up and asked gently, “Would you look down on me?”

Elise faltered. She didn't. But if she denied it outright after everything she'd just said, the whole speech would be wasted.

She pressed on as best she could.

“Well, I'd say I like people who work hard at school better.”

The hurt disappeared from his eyes. They brightened at once.

When the afternoon bell rang, Dylan was still half asleep from his nap. He intended to keep sleeping. Lessons made very little difference to any of them. Their families had money. They'd have somewhere to go after graduation whether they paid attention or not.

An exercise book struck him on the head.

He jerked upright, instantly awake, and was about to swear when he found Miles staring down at him.

Their other friends were sitting up with equally miserable expressions. Apparently, he'd woken all of them the same way.

Miles motioned toward the front, where the teacher had already begun.

“Class has started. Pay attention.”

Dylan stared. Miles wanted them to pay attention? Had they heard him correctly?