CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

CHAPTER 44

By the time Julia and Caleb made their way downstairs, their usual squabbling had subsided into an uneasy truce. Caleb marched ahead in sullen silence, while Julia trailed slightly behind, giving her brother tense back furtive glances every few steps.

She couldn't resist the nagging suspicion that Caleb's obvious animosity towards this scholarship competition originated from more than just his normal rebellious behavior. There was an apparent undercurrent of worry and dread in his statements, which felt out of character for her generally calm sibling.

Of course, making such observations openly would only invite Caleb's scorn. He had little regard for any hints that he was straining under the tremendous expectations that weighed heavily on their privileged family. Julia knew better than to poke that particularly territorial bear without a verifiable reason.

Instead, she merely let the tense silence to stretch between them as they approached the huge circular driveway where C