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."

her, giving her the big

feel guilty, Daphne," I murmur, hugging her tight and rocking her back and forth a little bit. "Whatever your feeling

I do!" she cries out, laughing a little and - I think - 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 I did, when it first started? But...I think...I was just caught up

I reach out for her, slipping my palm against hers

way I should about Rafe," she whispers, I think confessing it for the first time, both aloud and maybe

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

natural, Daph," Ben says

To figure out how you feel about people. And honestly, it's only supposed to work once-like really work, when you find the one person who's your match. So, we shouldn't be

back to herself. "Yeah, well,

hold your tongue

herself. "You're magnificent, Daph," I say, bending downa little so that I can catch her eye, making her look at me and see the honestly in my expression. "Rafe

murmurs, a bit chuffed. "Even if it is harder to

her hand again,