The Valentine Manor loomed ahead like a final boss castle. Which was appropriate because I was about to face whatever conspiracy Sabrina and Cassidy had cooked up during my breakdown in the parking lot.
Mrs. Tanaka opened the door before I knocked. She took one look at my face and handed me a rice ball wrapped in paper.
"Eat," she commanded in that tone that didn't allow arguments.
I ate. She nodded once and pointed toward the library.
Walking through the manor felt different now. The portraits of dead Valentines weren't just judging me for being poor anymore. Now they were judging me for blocking my mother's number, for nearly crying in a school parking lot, and for being the kind of person who somehow got tangled up with four billionaire quadruplets who seemed determined to turn my life into a romantic comedy light novel.
The universe had a sick sense of humor.
I pushed open the library doors.
