Most of the listings were for tutoring or jobs at local restaurants and coffee shops, with pay similar to what she was already making. Tutoring paid a little more per hour, but the rest were all manual labor, paying only a few dollars an hour. It wasn't nearly enough to solve her current crisis.Just as she was starting to feel hopeless, Zaria called again.“Ondine,” she said, “the best hospital in the country is Lustrous Medical Center in Boreal City. I got you in touch with the top oncologist there. They can get you a priority appointment. You can't delay this. You and your mom should transfer there as soon as possible."“Thank you, Zaria. I'll talk to my mom about it tomorrow."“Good. Decide quickly. You'll probably be in Boreal for a while. My family has a place there you can stay in. Just focus on getting things sorted out with your classes first.”“Okay. I really appreciate this.”By the time Ondine finished her shift at the diner, it was four in the morning. The university dorms locked down at eleven p.m., but there was a "secret passage" through a small grove of trees near the north gate—a section of the iron fence that was old and rusty. Some enterprising students had managed to bend two of the bars far enough apart to create a gap just wide enough to squeeze through.The students had affectionately nicknamed it the "dog hole," and it was how Ondine always got back to her dorm after a late shift.noveldramaShe lived in a four-person suite with a loft bed and a desk underneath. Yasmeen was staying with herboyfriend at a hotel, and anothernetnoverroommate who lived in the city hadgone home for the weekend That left just Ondine and Allegra. Allegra was such a heavy sleeper that a thunderstorm wouldn't wake her. Ondine used her phone's flashlight to navigate the dark room, quietly changing her clothes. The hot water had been shut off for the night, so a shower would have to wait until morning. After washing her face, she climbed into bed and, out of habit, checked her phone.Several missed calls from Ellis. On WhatsApp, there were over a dozen unread messages from him. She skimmed them—more of the same. Playing poor, apologizing, begging her to forgive him.She typed out, "Let's break up." Butjust before she hit send, she hadanother idea. That night in the private room, Ellis had said he wasn't done “having his fun" yet. If she tried to breakup with him now hed probably cling to her, refusing to let go. She didn't have the time or energy for that drama.Finals were in a few days, and after that, she was taking her mother to Boreal City. What if he followed her there?After a moment's thought, she decided on a different plan. She wouldn't break up with him yet. She'd play along, pretending she still believed his lies. Then, she'd leave for Boreal and disappear without a word. A clean break. It was more direct than a confrontation and would eliminate any chance for him to beg or argue. She'd block his number, change hers, and he wouldn't even be able to find her. In a way, it felt like the perfect revenge. With her new plan in mind, Ondine replied to his messages.[Was working, didn't see my phone. Wasn't ignoring you on purpose. Just got back to the dorm. So tired. Going to sleep.]It was already four-thirty. Ellis didn't reply; he was probably asleep.Ondine didn't care. She tossed her phone aside and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ Find1Novel.net