Chapter 61
ARIELLE’S POV
I sat huddled on the floor of the girl’s bathroom, the sound of my rapid breathing echoing off the cold, tiled walls. The chaos outside had become too much for me to bear. The attention, the constant stares, the never-ending stream of people seeking my time and energy—it had all become overwhelming. I needed a moment of respite, a sanctuary from the suffocating expectations that had been placed upon me.
Just as I was starting to feel a semblance of relief in the solitude of the bathroom, a gentle knock on the door startled me. I froze, my heart pounding in my chest, fearing that someone had discovered my hiding place. With trembling hands, I whispered, “Occupied.”
The knock came again, louder this time, followed by a voice I knew all too well. Derek. “Arielle,
