Ondine had always been a good girl, the kind of daughter who never gave her mother a moment's worry. In her entire life, the most rebellious thing she'd ever done was fall for Seth at first sight and nurse a secret crush on him for over a year.Seth was just so impossibly handsome. His deep-set eyes were like tranquil, bottomless pools, and his nose was high and straight. His features were so exquisite, he looked as if he'd been carved by a master sculptor. He wore everything with an effortless grace, whether it was a tailored suit or a casual button-down shirt. For a teenage girl just discovering romance, a face like that was impossible to resist.noveldramaBut the chasm between their financial worlds created a deep-seated insecurity that kept Ondine from ever confessing her feelings. Besides, she was buried under a mountain of schoolwork, her sights set on getting into a good university, so she tucked her feelings away.Whether by coincidence or fate, she hadn't visited Zaria's home often, but every single time she did, Seth was there. On the rare occasions their eyes met, a blush would creep up her cheeks, and she would quickly look away.That night, as Ondine slept, she dreamed.She was back in high school, wearing her simple, crisp school uniform. It was her first time visiting the Thorne family. She followed Zaria into the mansion, and the sight of the luxurious, beautiful estate filled her with a mixture of awe and inadequacy. Her fingers tightened on the strap of her bookbag, a knot of nervousness forming in her stomach. She'd known Zaria's family was wealthy, but she had never imagined this level of opulence. The garden in front of the house was larger than all the basketball courts at her school combined.It was the height of summer, and flowers of every color were in full bloom. A gentle breeze carried their sweet fragrance through the air as butterflies danced among the blossoms, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale. Behind the mansion, a swimming pool shimmered, its sky-blue tiles reflecting the water into a brilliant, pale blue.She followed Zaria with hesitant steps. As they passed the pool, a sudden splash made her jump. A figure emerged from the water, and her breath caught in her throat.She froze, her eyes locking with his.It was a face so handsome it was almost aggressive. At twenty, Seth possessed a pair of cool, brooding eyes. His hair was slick with water, each droplet catching the sun and sending a spark straight into her heart.That was the first time she ever saw him.And the first words he ever said to her were a simple, polite, "Hello."The dream shifted, fast-forwarding to Zaria's birthday party after their final exams: Seth, dressed in a sharp suit, stood next to Ethel Todd, who was draped in a designer gown They were a stunning pair, their good looks perfectly matched drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. Ondine felt an invisible hand clench around her heart, each breath drawing a sharp, oppressive pain deep into her lungs until her chest ached. The feeling was so real it jolted her awake. She stared at the ceiling, her mind a blank fog for a long moment. She didn't know why she was dreamingabout high schooQuPerhaps it was because she had spent so much time with Seth last night; her brain had simply carried him into her dreams. Ondine lay in bed for a while longer, her thoughts slowly clearing. The dream was over, but reality was far more suffocating. She sat up and let out a heavy sigh. Read full story at ⓝovelFind.netThe first thing she did was check her phone for missed calls or messages from her mother. She scrolled through her notifications-nothing. There was only one missed call from Ellis and three from the wife of the diner owner.furrowed, but sheOndine's brow fdidn't call back. Early this morning at the police station, after Seth hadè spoken with the officers, the diner's owner Sampson, had been officially investigated for sexual assault. Under pressure from Seth, Sampson had grudgingly paid Ondine her wages for the month on the spot.