Jake's POV
I felt horrible the whole day.
Everything about what I’d decided sat like a stone in my chest—and Mom, unknowingly, made it worse. Over dinner, she asked how many college offers I’d received and which one I was planning to take. Victoria was on the sofa with Dad, watching what looked like a comedy or something, both of them relaxed, easy.
But the moment Mom spoke, they turned to me—waiting, expectant.
I didn’t meet Victoria’s eyes. I just mumbled, "Godolken."
And even when she whooped, "Congrats!" she said with that bright voice of hers.They were all so damn happy for me. I still couldn’t look at her.
They were all happy. Smiling. Proud.
And I just felt... like a fraud. A cheat.
Mom offered to make something special for dinner—"as a celebration," she said—but I just mutt
