Malorie Blackman

After years apart, Callum and Sephy unexpectedly reunite in the Hadley household, where the stark racial and class divide is immediately highlighted by a simple bandage. Their joyful reconnection is abruptly interrupted by Sephy's arrogant boyfriend, Lekan, who asserts his dominance and reminds Callum of his lower social standing.

During a high-society political gathering, Lekan attempts to humiliate Callum, a Nought servant, by questioning his political allegiances in front of powerful Crosses. Callum delivers a sharp, diplomatic response that earns the respect of the room's patriarch, Kamal, while heightening the romantic tension and social danger between himself and Sephy.