Chloe took a deep breath before stepping out of the house. Dressed in simple jeans and a sweater, she felt free from the weight of attention that came with being known as Starry Wordsworth’s fiancée. She had convinced him to let her visit her mother without the luxury cars and fancy clothes. She wanted to be just Chloe today, nothing more.
She walked to the bus stop and waited, blending in with the morning crowd. It had been weeks since she had last seen her mother, and excitement bubbled inside her. When the bus arrived, she found a seat by the window and watched the city pass by. The buildings, the people, the small shops—they all felt familiar yet distant. So much had changed in the past few months, but right now, she just wanted to be a daughter visiting her mother.
The ride took lon
