The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0528

My heart sinks a bit for my friend, because I never want her to be embarrassed about something like that. How much money she grew up with - it's never mattered to me - to any of us.

"Yeah, I get that," I say quietly, turning back to Ben's point and looking between them. "The fear that...you'd get left behind a bit whenever Rafe meets...her. Whoever she is. I can see how that puts a dampener on things." We're all quiet for a moment, especially as Ben and I notice that Daphne's still looking down at her wine glass and not at us. As the seconds tick by, I straighten again, realizing...

But Ben puts it into words first.

"That's not the whole story though, is it Daphne?"

She sighs, her voice getting a little creaky with tears. "No," she croaks out, shaking her head. "No, that's not all of it."

"Daph!" I exclaim, instantly scootching closer to her and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What's wrong!? What is it!?"

"I just feel so guilty," she says, raising her head to look at me, her eyes rimmed with tears, giving a sad little sniff. "I just...I don't know."

my wine on a little table and then wrap my arms fully around her, giving her the big

to feel guilty, Daphne," I murmur, hugging her tight and rocking her back and forth a little bit. "Whatever your feeling - guilt shouldn't

- feeling a bit absurd as she straightens up and wipes at her eyes. "I just...I feel so guilty. Here's this wonderful guy, who is so good looking, and so lovely to me, and who likes me! Like, really likes me!" she laughs, shaking her head. "And I just...I just don't feel the same way. I thought

at her hands, and I reach out for her, slipping my palm against hers and

Rafe," she whispers, I think confessing it for the first time, both aloud and maybe even to herself.

quietly for a moment, just supporting her. I glance over at him and see that his face reflects my own, a mix of love and pity for our friend, who we don't want to see going through this kind of

Daph,"

when you find the one person who's your match. So, we shouldn't be as shocked as we are when it turns out the person we're dating. isn't the one guy in

her cheeks, I think coming back to herself. "Yeah, well, I never thought Rafe was the one - I'm not good enough

hold your tongue on that,"

that way about herself. "You're magnificent, Daph," I say, bending downa little so that I can catch her eye, making

murmurs, a bit chuffed. "Even if it

squeeze her