Mathilda’s POV

“Mathilda? Where are you? Come out.”

I wiped away the tears that had been streaming down my face for the past twenty minutes. Fredric’s voice reminded me that I had to pull myself together. No matter what drama had unfolded tonight, I needed to play my part. I couldn’t let Mrs. Rosa see me weak.

“Ah, there you are! I was so worried looking for you. What took you so long, Mathilda?”

I looked up at Fredric — it was the first time I’d ever seen him worried about me. And honestly, se