Chapter 20 Chapter 20 “Briar Louise snapped, her face flushed with anger. Imani scrambled up from the ground, grabbing her mom’s arm. Tears streaked her cheeks as she muttered “Mom, just drop it. My bad. If Briar’s not feeling me, fine, let’s go. Don’t poke the bear.” All Imani wanted was to get the hell … Read more
Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Louise’s face was dark as a storm, practically fuming. Imani had limped home to nurse her bruises, and Louise hadn’t even gotten the chance to tear into Briar. Yet here she was, face–to–face with her. “Don’t call me Mom! You’re no daughter of minel Louise snapped. “Why’d you hit Imani again!” … Read more
Chapter 18 The car pulled up to a sprawling estate just past Limond City’s suburbs, Briar stepped out, her eyes narrowing at the word Nocturne carved into the iron gate This wasn’t some greasy diner–it screamed old–money vibes. Enzo sauntered over, hands behind his head, smirking. “Hey, Ms. Shepherd, Cyrus doesn’t bring just anybody here. … Read more
Chapter 17 It was not that these institutes were churning out junk. Research was a wild ride with multiple tracks. Science wasn’t just about proving what was right–it was about debunking what was wrong. Some researchers spent their whole lives just to show one idea’s a dud. And the money it cost? A total money … Read more
Chapter 16 Cynus gave her a sly, sideways glance. International Medical Research Institute, huh?” Briarjabbed a finger at her nose, cool as ice. “Limond University, Art Department, animation freshman. Proud patriot, raised in the motherland’s glow. Once a little sprout, now ready to be a big shot” Enzo’s jaw just about hit the floor. Scrapping … Read more
Chapter 15 That last jab clearly struck a chord with a ton of people. Forget who started what in this whole fight mess for a minute. A spar between a few girls shouldn’t mean calling in outsiders to throw down. A sweet, goody–two–shoes type pulling in off–campus muscle for a brawl! Yeah, that’s a hard … Read more
Chapter 14 “Sweet, thank you two, Briar said. She slumped into a chair, bored out of her mind, scrolling through her phone. A text pinged at the top of the screen, but before she could check it, a call flashed up. The name on the display made her grimace. She swiped it away. Two seconds … Read more
Chapter 13 Limond University. Dean’s Office, School of Arts. The cops had already carted off the troublemakers, leaving Briar and her crew standing awkwardly in the dean’s office. The heads of the Acting and Art Departments, along with their advisors, crowded the room, sizing up the situation. Dean Calvin Monroe, a fifty–something guy with a … Read more
Chapter 12 Tiana had seen Briar’s photo before. In person? Briar was a knockout–slim, almost fragile, not the type she’d | per Briar spun around, flashing a sly grin. The a brawler. She grabbed Imani’s collar, her voice sharp but casual. “You lookin‘ for help, huh?“Imani’s lips twitched, too spooked to speak Even with Briar’s … Read more
Chapter 11 Rhea shot her a side–eye, lips sealed. What You think I’m bluffing?” Briar asked, smirking. Rhea turned, her stare screaming. “Please, you expect me to buy that?” Briar just shrugged. If Rhea wasn’t convinced, whatever. At the dorm building, Briar leaned against the wall, casually pulling out her phone and dialing “Hey, Imani. … Read more