<strong>Chapter 910:</strong>


    Even with Rickey’s family connections, he couldn’t just skip the exam, could he? If he wasn’t nning to take the test, why had he even shown up at all? Her palms felt damp, and the room seemed stifling despite the air conditioning. The low hum of the unit only added to her unease.


    Her thoughts raced, swirling around Rickey’s strange behavior. Was there something urgent he needed to tell her?


    She recalled a senior once mentioning that people often express their feelings after graduation. Aurora shook her head, dismissing the idea as ridiculous.


    The invigtor’s signal cut through her thoughts, marking the start of the exam. Aurora took a deep breath and turned her attention to the paper. Math had always been her strongest subject, and today’s test was no exception.


    Usually, Aurora would pace herself, but with this being herst exam, she wanted to finish quickly. Determined, shepleted her answers efficiently and handed in her paper with thirty minutes to spare. Without looking back, she bolted out of the exam room.


    Outside, her family was waiting eagerly. Aurora ran straight into Joelle’s warm embrace, the stress melting away as she felt her mother’s arms around her.


    “Great job, Aurora!” Molly cheered, thrusting a bouquet of flowers into her hands.


    Adrian patted her head gently, a proud smile on his face. “So, how did it go?”


    “Let’s go—I’m treating you tonight! Shawn booked out the whole restaurant for dinner!” Katherine linked her arm through Aurora’s and started leading her away.


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    Aurora scanned the crowd onest time. She had expected Rickey to be waiting at the entrance, but he was nowhere in sight.


    Later, at the restaurant, amidst theughter and congrattory toasts, Aurora finally found a quiet moment to step away and call Rickey. When the call connected, a wave of relief washed over her. “Rickey, was the tenth question in the exam difficult for you?”


    “Yeah, I just guessed an answer.”


    Aurora froze. She gripped the phone tighter, the sound of her family’sughter and chatter filtering through the door. That uneasy, ufortable feeling began creeping over her again, like a shadow she couldn’t shake.


    “Rickey, are you hiding something from me?”


    “Yes.”


    Her heart sank. Rickey had always been her best friend. If he was keeping secrets from her, she couldn’t help but wonder if their friendship had been one-sided all along.


    “There are a lot of things you don’t know. Can youe out now?” Rickey asked before she could react.


    Aurora nced back at the room. The adults were still deep in conversation, and the kids were preupied in their own little world. No one seemed to notice her slipping away. “Yes,” she replied.


    “Thene to the school.”


    Aurora hesitated. Her intuition told her that if she saw Rickey, their friendship might change forever.


    “I’ll wait here until youe,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.


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    <hr>


    <strong>Message from Noah:</strong>


    Double chapters are up—one for yesterday and one for tomorrow!


    God loves you, and Noah wishes you all the best! (=?=)/


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