Chapter 10
The entire room stared at the screen, stunned.
“No way-that’s the Northwest Institute of Science! They only accept thirty students nationwide!”
“You need insane academics and perfect physical scores to get in. That school’s elite as hell,”
“Wait… so did Sierra go to work or to college?”
“Obviously college. The teacher just posted the photo-it’s a government-selected program. There’s no way it’s fake.”
Chase stood frozen in place as the comments swirled around him.
Sierra had applied to Northwest?
When?
He felt a fire rising in his chest.
Not only had she gotten in-she hadn’t told him a word. She just disappeared.
And here he was, still thinking about how to apologize.
What a joke.
Chase waited until Mr. Carter stepped off stage and went straight to him.
“Sir, when did Sierra apply to the Northwest Institute? How come no one knew?”
Mr. Carter smiled kindly. “You know Sierra. She’s always been low-key. We kept it confidential per her request.”
He patted Chase on the shoulder, clearly proud.
“This year’s class has been one of the best I’ve ever taught. Sierra’s achievement is incredible, and honestly, most of you
did well too. Our college acceptance rate was the highest in the city.”
Chase hesitated. “Before she left… did she say anything? Leave anything behind?”
He didn’t even know what answer he wanted.
Maybe just a sign-that she thought of him.
But there was nothing.
Sierra had walked away without a word.
Chase stood there, speechless. Beside him, Maddie looked just as rattled.
Everyone had heard what she said earlier-that Sierra had flunked and gone to work. Now a few classmates shot her glares.
“Wow, Maddie. You really tried to drag your sister’s name just ’cause you were jealous?”
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“Seriously, maybe it’s you who didn’t score high enough.”
The group burst out laughing.
Another girl added, “Weren’t they close before? Guess not. Feels like fake sister energy now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Maddie snapped. “Stop making stuff up.”
But her voice sounded hollow, defensive.
Then their parents approached, confused.
“Maddie… is what your teacher said true? Didn’t you say your sister failed in the exam?” Mr. Hayes asked, brows furrowed.
They didn’t know much about college applications, but they could piece things together from the whispers around them.
Sierra had gotten into a top-tier school.
That kind of success brought honor to the whole family.
Maddie’s face fell.
It was one thing to deal with classmates. But now even her parents were questioning her.
She pinched her arm hard and blinked quickly, putting on a wounded look.
“Mom, Dad… I didn’t know. I really thought she failed. But the moment she got her results, she just… left. Didn’t even say goodbye. Maybe she never saw us as family.”
“Going all the way to the northwest without a word… maybe she wants to cut ties.”
Mr. and Mrs. Hayes hadn’t thought of that. At first, they were just proud of Sierra.
But now, hearing Maddie frame it like abandonment… their pride twisted into anger.
They’d worked so hard raising these girls-only for one to turn her back on them?
Mr. Hayes called Sierra on the spot. No answer.
Mrs. Hayes’s face darkened. “Unbelievable. She really thinks she can just walk away?”
Maddie put on her sweetest voice. “Mom, don’t be upset. Even if Sierra isn’t grateful, you’ll always have me.”
She looked toward the door, where Chase was still frozen in place.
After their parents left with the acceptance letter, Maddie went to him alone.
Chase kept trying to call Sierra. Still nothing.
He opened their chat and scrolled back through their conversation.
And that’s when he realized-
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She’d stopped replying two weeks ago.
Back then, he thought she was just mad at him.
But she wasn’t.
She was already gone.
