Mist's POV
Although Selena promises me that Charles can handle things well, a wave of anxiety washes over me, causing my stomach to twist into knots. I make a hasty excuse to head to the bathroom, desperate to hide the turmoil churning inside me from Stella. But instead of finding calm, I drift down the hallway, my mind a whirlpool of confusion. It's then that I overhear Charles and Michelle in a heated discussion. It ends up with her cursing him, and then she storms off, with Autumn trailing quietly behind.
Taking a steadying breath, I step forward into the hall.
"Oh, you're here, Mist. Take a seat. Would you like something to eat?" Charles greets me with unexpected gentleness, his voice a balm against the storm of my emotions.
"No, thank you. I'm not hungry," I manage, my voice fragi
