I spent the rest of the day pushing Jake, Wendy, and the gossip mill to the back of my mind. It wasn’t easy—being single now felt like freedom, yet the stares and whispers reminded me that freedom came with its own price. Students watched me and Stefan like we were part of some secret scandal. We weren’t—at least, not yet.
Even Julie had backed off. For now.
But something strange was in the air today. My senses were sharper, almost heightened. Walking down the hall toward the cafeteria, I caught a familiar scent: lavender and honey locust—Catherine’s unmistakable perfume.
I stopped mid-step and glanced over my shoulder. Nothing.
The scent grew stronger, and suddenly—
Rough hands grabbed me from behind, shoving me into a dimly lit bathroom. My back hit the cold tiled wall as I fought t
