The Queen They Buried

Chapter 13

[Let’s meet on Saturday. I’ll text you the exact spot later.] Aubree replied to Alvin’s last message and flipped through her tenth grade textbooks.

She found it a bit amusing that she’d chosen the tutoring time for their meeting. Yet Alvin agreed so readily, clearly not taking the tutoring seriously. She wondered what expression he’d have when he found out Phoenix was her.

The first step was successful, despite the unexpected appearance of Bowen. Overall, things were going well.

Every semester, the first day of school at Rithol High School would include a start-of-term exam. It served two purposes: checking if students had slacked off over the holidays and reminding them of the effort needed for the new semester.

Her pen swiftly marked the pages as she studied. She considered herself a genius, but missing nearly two years of schooling was a fact.

During those two years of art school, her cultural lessons were shallow, and her mind was preoccupied with how to please the Wilson family. So, she only had a vague grasp of the subjects.

Aubree didn’t expect much from the start-of-term exam; making it into the top 100 would be a pleasant surprise. She had too much to do and no time to waste.

Shaking off distractions, she focused on her textbooks, absorbing knowledge like a dry sponge dropped into a vast ocean.

*****

and climbed to the third floor, knocking on Bryan’s

on Aubree

at him, whose eyes still bore the signs of recent tears, and the surprise in Bryan’s gaze hadn’t even had a chance

on her, requiring

and didn’t have time to check the documents his assistant sent. He only asked for reports on

my assistant send it to you; mine’s outdated,” Bryan said

trouble

Outdated meant Bryan, despite assigning someone to watch over Aubree, hadn’t cared enough to check on her, not even bothering to open the files

always knew everything about

hadn’t even received family care, so

quickened at the thought, his fists clenched at his

feared he’d lose control and

Bryan but realized he had no right to do

compiled all the information and

all about Aubree’s school life over the