Scarlett’s POV
The door closed behind me, but the ache didn’t stay in the room.
It followed me.
Down the stairs.
Out the gate.
Into the car.
It clung to me like a second skin. Like smoke in my lungs. Like poison on my tongue.
I didn’t say a word as I slid into the back seat of the car. The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror, and I could tell he wanted to ask if I was okay, but one glance at my face, and he knew better.
I couldn’t even remember telling him to drive. The world outside was a blur. Trees, lights, buildings… all smearing into one long streak of nothing.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Nothing.
By the time we got back to the mansion, I couldn’t move.
I sat frozen in the car. Staring at the massive gates. At the house that wasn’t mine. At the life I didn’t as
