ELLA
Camilla was dead?
Just like that?
The world spun around me, my chest tightening as my brain struggled to catch up. I couldn’t process it. Couldn’t breathe through the weight of those words. My legs gave out, and I sank to the floor as hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
How could this have happened?
Guilt hit me like a violent wave crashing down. Maybe it was my fault. Maybe she died because of me, because of the choices I made. The betrayal. The lies. The selfish hope that somehow, I could escape unscathed.
I began hitting Adrian’s chest through my sobs. Weak fists against unmovable muscle. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t stop me. He just knelt down with me and held me tight while I cried.
"How could this have happened?" I asked again, my voice shaking, almost choking on the words
