CHAPTER EIGHTY – COLLEGE DAYS

Over the next few weeks, Cassie quickly found herself drowning in a sea of coursework and responsibilities. Keeping up with her regular duties at the von Steiner mansion while also juggling classes, assignments, and studying for exams proved even more overwhelming than she'd anticipated. "I feel like I'm being pulled in about ten different directions at once," she confessed to Florian one evening, slumped exhaustedly over her books and notes. "How am I supposed to get all this done?" Florian settled onto the couch beside her, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "By taking it one step at a time and not beating yourself up, for starters. You've got a lot on your plate right now." "No kidding," Cassie muttered wryly, gesturing to the veritable blizzard of papers and textbooks surrounding them. "I feel like I'm drowning under all these assignments already." "Well then let's get you a lifeline," Florian said with an easy grin. "C'mon, show me what you're working on - maybe I can h