Jess's POV
I bow my head in shame, feeling the weight of my mother's disappointing gaze. It's like a slap to my self-esteem, a constant reminder that no matter what I do, I can't seem to live up to her expectations. It irritates me—the way she looks at me like I’m not enough, like I’ll never be good enough for her. She makes me feel worthless, as though nothing I do can change her view of me.
At first, I was reluctant to tell her about what happened with Selene, but deep down I knew she was the only one who could get me out of this mess. My father? Not an option. He doesn’t have the same strength of will as she does. More often than not, he’s the one wavering, the one who gets scared and second-guesses his decisions.
When Maya Norman found out about my impulsive choice, the one that le
