Chloe’s POV
The bathroom was quiet when I stepped in, the kind of quiet that made every sound feel amplified. I locked the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, breathing slowly, grounding myself before everything that was about to follow.
This night mattered.
I turned on the shower and waited until the water warmed, steam slowly filling the space. When I stepped under it, the first touch of heat against my skin made my shoulders relax slightly. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, letting the water run through my hair, down my face, over my body. For a few minutes, I allowed myself not to think. No board. No investigation. No rumors. Just the steady rhythm of water and breath.
I washed my hair carefully, massaging my scalp, rinsing thoroughly. I took my time. There
