Madelyn kept her eyes on Zach as he left the room. When he closed the door, she put her hand on her fast-beating heart, wondering to herself, 'Will he figure it out now?' She had dropped hints earlier, talking about how she wanted to leave Ventropolis after the college tests and go all the way to Lorville. She'd also mentioned wanting to teach in far-off places after college so she wouldn't mess with his Jent family revenge plan.

In short, she'd basically told Zach he could treat her like she was already gone, like she wasn't part of his life anymore. Once she left this house, she'd never come back.

She looked at the stain on the bedsheet and let out a sigh. 'Zach really can hold onto a grudge. I just changed this bedsheet today. Is he trying to make me freeze tonight?'

The blankets in the cupboard hadn't been washed or aired out for nearly six months, and Madelyn was allergic to dust. If she wrapped herself in those blankets, she was guaranteed a trip to the hospital. She couldn't