The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0529

"Ben!" I object, turning to glare at him, kind of not believing that he's pushing Daphne to face her feelings for Rafe so bluntly.

"I mean, it's true," Ben says, turning to me.

"Daphne is allowed to make her own decisions on her own time!"

"Agreed," Ben says, nodding and looking between us. "Until...well, until it gets unfair to Rafe. I mean, he's...he's pretty gone on you, Daphne. And trying really, really hard to be your boyfriend. If you don't want that..." He pauses, and shrugs.

Daphne takes a deep breath and lets it out, heavy. "I have to tell him."

"Daphne," I say, my heart breaking a little for her, shaking my head. "Don't let Ben push you into things if you're not ready -"

"No, he's right," she says, straightening her shoulders. "I'm...I'm just being a coward. And cruel. Rafe has been so good to me and...I have to be fair."

"Okay," Ben says, nodding.

We're all quiet again for a long moment as my mouth pops open - as I realize that...what started out as a chocolate run has ended up in a plan to dump by brother.

chickens," Daphne says, quickly raising her glass to her mouth

going still, clinging to her hand. "Is this...is this

to. Now that I know in my heart that

my lips and drain it, thinking that I'm going to need a bit of courage as

to do this right now," Ben says, laying a hand on his heart and looking a little guilty. "I really didn't mean to push you,

for a push," she says with a sigh, tugging at her shirt so that it

say, standing and

back on the little table, reaching

own

of us head out of

back upstairs in a much different mood than when we left. I

we get back to the room, my family and

asks, frowning as he peers at

the couch I look at Rafe to find his eyes already on us, a frown on his lips, sensing that

back at his book and Jackson, I notice,

Rafe says, standing slowly and crossing the room to us. He shifts his eyes to our joined hands. "Are you...coming

scared to say anything, and give Daphne's hand one final squeeze before starting across the room. My heart aches, suddenly, my allegiances torn - because as much as I want