Emily’s POV
The warmth of Lila’s embrace and the soft murmur of her words had soothed some of the ache inside me, but I could still feel the tension lingering in my chest, like a knot that wouldn’t untangle.
She helped me pull myself together, leading me into the lab—a space I hadn’t visited in months.
It wasn’t the sterile, cold environment I remembered from the last time I’d been here. No longer was it just a place of work for her, filled with books, notes, and chemical vials. T
he walls had been painted a warm, light color, and soft, cozy rugs were scattered across the floor. There was a large leather armchair in one corner, near a small table stacked with magazines and a coffee pot that had obviously been well-used.
A few potted plants added some green life to the room, and the
