The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 528

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.”

I quickly reach beyond Daphne to put my wine on a little table and then wrap my arms fully around her, giving her the big hug I think she needs. She laughs a little, hugging me back and putting her head on my shoulder.

“You don’t have to feel guilty, Daphne,” I murmur, hugging her tight and rocking her back and forth a little bit. “Whatever your feeling – guilt shouldn’t be part of it.”

“But 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 in the excitement of it?”