Annabelle leaned against the cool wall, her phone still in hand, the message from Derek flashing brightly on the screen. Her heart raced, emotions swirling in her chest. The words he had sent her held so much weight—more than she had anticipated. He cared about her. He had orchestrated everything, ensuring her safety in the most dramatic, public way possible. And still, she found herself grappling with a whirlwind of questions, unable to understand the full extent of Derek’s actions.
Flavia, who had been walking just ahead of her, stopped and turned around. Her brow furrowed in concern as she studied Annabelle’s face. “What did Derek say?”
Annabelle quickly tucked her phone away, not wanting to dwell on the message just yet. “He... he saw what happened. He said he had a hand in it.”
Fla
