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Something has changed. Sure, Peony liked her gift well enough, but I think she missed the meaning behind it. Her smiles didn’t reach her eyes. She’s sad, hurting, and for what feels like the first time, she hasn’t told me why.

Which means that whoever is upsetting her isn’t someone I can kill.

Zie’s acting weird. Kaiden too. Though Kaiden’s been acting pretty weird since the incident. I guess technically dying for a third time does give you the right to be a bit preoccupied, but what’s Zie’s excuse?

Everyone’s acting like it’s a funeral, not a birthday. I know the guys aren’t exactly relishing the idea of leaving next week, but we have to make the most of it. Peony thinks we’re going to Southview U, but really my father has arranged for us to go to Trinity.

All my hard work is coming together now. My father thinks he’s sending us to Trinity to broaden his empire and to take out the competition. What he doesn’t know is that I own the competition and that we’re happy to go to Trinity to build our business, make more allies and grow our defences. Come graduation, we’ll be back to take down our fathers once and for all.

The only part the guys don’t know about is Peony.