chapter 14: Make Believe

As the footsteps drew nearer, my heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing loudly in my ears. I strained to see through the dimly lit hallway, my breath catching in my throat as I braced myself for whatever was to come.

With every passing moment, the sound of the footsteps grew louder, and closer, until finally, a figure emerged from the shadows—a figure I recognized all too well.

It was Adrian.

Relief flooded through me at the sight of him, my fear giving way to a rush of hope. But as he drew closer, his expression grave and his eyes filled with concern, I realized that something was wrong.

"Carmen," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Are you alright? What happened? I received a call from Sean, saying that you were in trouble."

My heart sank at his words, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. Sean had set a trap for me, using Adrian's concern for my safety against me. And now, I was caught in the middle of a dangerous game with no way out.

I opened my mouth to respo