Tessa's POV:
The recorder burned in my pocket like a hot packet of freshly made toffee.
All night, it had stayed there, tucked away beneath layers of fabric, humming softly against my skin like a live wire connecting the dots. Every time I moved, I swore I could feel it pulse — a tiny reminder of what I had. Of what, I still didn’t know.
Tori’s confession.
Summer’s bravery.
The threat that still loomed.
And yet… it wasn’t enough.
I’d listened to the recording four times. Each time, the truth had unraveled clearer and uglier. Yes, Tori had stolen the necklace. Yes, she’d tried to frame me. Yes, she’d used Summer like a pawn and threatened to burn her life to the ground if she said a word.
But still — the necklace was gone. Vanished. Removed from my room before anyone could find it.
