LOGINIt glints softly and as I run my thumb over it, it grounds me. Tethers me to the present and reminds me that I am not alone.The panic doesn’t disappear, but it eases just enough for me to breathe again. Just because they’re suing me doesn’t mean my life or my career is over. It feels catastrophic,
SIERRAI’m sitting on the couch, laptop open in front of me, pretending to read through research articles, but I can’t get my mind to focus. At this point I think I won’t be able to focus on anything until everything is cleared.The company hasn’t sent their lawyers, but I know it’s not a matter of
Just thinking about it makes bile rise in my throat.Slowly, I reach into the drawer and pull out Chloe’s diary. I need something solid. Something real. Something to anchor me.My fingers tremble slightly as I flip it open and turn the page.[We all used to hang out even though it wasn't often, but
She freezes, just for a second, before her face smooths out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”I advance on her slowly. “So you’re going to play stupid?”“I really don’t know…”“Jocelyn.”I say the name and watch her closely… Then I see it. The widening of her eyes and the split-second panic
For a second, everything freezes. My hand tightens around the car door handle, my feet rooted to the ground.“Mr. Wood?” Blaze’s voice pulls me out of the paralysis.“Are you sure?” I ask.“Yes,” he replies. “I ran through security footage. They’ve been meeting at least twice a week.”I inhale slowl
“If I remember correctly,” she says coolly, “you stopped me.”“That’s because I didn’t want us to sleep together before I officially made you mine,” I reply. “And before I could do that, you told me to get out.”She scoffs. “What did you expect? You basically rejected me and even after that, I gave
He steps closer, not backing down. “Then tell me this: why didn’t you leave once you dropped them off? Why are you still here?”“I stayed for Lilly and for Mom,” I say, gripping onto the words like a lifeline. “I know this is hard for them.”I want to believe that. I need to believe that. It’s the o
I stay frozen in place, my body refusing to move, my mind caught somewhere between the Director’s call and the flood of memories I just unleashed.Closing my eyes, I draw in a long breath, then another, repeating the action until it anchors me to the present.There’s nothing to be afraid of, I tell
Mom’s words echo in my head, chilling me to the bone. Maybe I’m overthinking. Maybe it’s just her words planting fear in my mind. Either way, I can’t shake the feeling off no matter how much I try.Forcing it down, I get into my car and head to the grocery store. I know I was supposed to go straight
“Hey.”Lilly’s voice pulls me back, her hand warm over mine, grounding me in the present. “You’re scaring me. Should I call the doctor?”My vision clears slowly, the sterile white walls of the hospital room replacing the foggy garden from my dream. I take shaky breaths, trying to calm the frantic rh







