I’m about to shut it off when one last message appears on the screen:
Ryder
I’ll never make a promise I can’t keep.
End of Episode 1
Worst Behavior
EPISODE 2
Ryder
A Week Later
Montlake Musical Academy for the Gifted…
The gates glide open as the school’s façade rises into view—stone columns, manicured hedges, the kind of polished prestige that charges by the breath.
Adeline presses her nose to the window, wide-eyed and humming with anticipation.
“Thirty minutes from the estate,” I murmur as I ease into the circle drive.
She’ll be close enough for me to protect. Far enough for her mind to believe she’s completely free.
I’m still not sure this arrangement will hold long-term, but right now, her smile makes it worth the gamble.
She unbuckles her seatbelt before the engine finishes its last turn.
“Is Miss Jane coming to dinner this weekend?” she asks, twisting in her seat with too much hope in her eyes.
“No.” My grip tightens around the wheel. “She decided to quit.”
“Oh…” Her gaze drifts toward the entrance. “Why didn’t she say goodbye?”
I hesitate, then clear my throat. “She left you a note, remember?”
Adeline nods faintly, her fingers curling tighter around the handle. “I know, but… that’s not the same.”
I don’t know what else to say, so I flick the hazard lights on, needing a reason to break the silence.
“Did you remember to pack your red shoes for your introductory showcase?” I ask.
She nods, slower this time. Her shoulders curl inward as she adjusts her violin case.
Neither of us says anything else.
The quiet between us feels heavier than usual.
When she reaches for the door handle, I lean across the console.
“One last thing before you go,” I say. “What’s your name?”
“Adeline Ivy.” She rolls her eyes, but there’s affection in it.
“And what else?”
“The Rochester is silent.”
