Chapter 30

Chris’s POV

My heart hardens but I tried all my best to hide it.

I'm selfish! She is for her future and the best for her.

My brows hiked upwards as I regarded her with open curiosity, noticing the familiar nervous habit of her teeth worrying at her plush lower lip.

"The conservatory programs?" I repeated, digesting this tidbit with no small measure of pride. "Babe, that's incredible! You know how insanely competitive that admittance process is – you should be walking on air right now!"

Hailey's face blossomed into a radiant smile at my enthusiastic response, only for the expression to falter slightly a heartbeat later.

"The only... the only snag is... well, shit – it's in LA, Chris." She winced, averting her gaze as if bracing herself for an outburst or disappointment to cloud my features. "If I take it, we'd have to do the long-distance thing for at least a year while you finish up your senior courses. And you know how demanding