My pulse raced as I stared at the screen. A wave of conflicting emotions crashed over me—surprise, anger, fear, confusion. I hadn't heard from him in weeks, ever since he walked out of my life without any explanation, leaving nothing but a mess of shattered trust in his wake. And now, here he was again.
I swallowed hard, my hands trembling as I reached for my phone. The message was brief, but the words sent a shock through my system.
"Nora, I need to talk. Please pick up."
My heart skipped. I didn’t want to feel anything for him. I shouldn’t feel anything for him. But the familiar pull of his presence—however toxic it had been—was undeniable.
I glanced up at Vincent, who was watching me closely. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the concern in his eyes. Emily, on the other
