Resisting the burning urge to return to the pier and confront Devon, I forced myself to focus on making my way back to my old apartment. The anger simmered just beneath the surface, making my hands tremble slightly as I clenched them into fists. The betrayal was like a poison in my veins, fueling a determination I hadn't felt in a long time.
I'm done. I'm done playing by everyone else's rules. I'm done being scared and looking for help. This realization hit me with a cold clarity. Devon, Bella, all of them—they had opened my eyes to the harsh reality I was facing. There was no one I could truly rely on. I was alone in this unforgiving world, and it was time I accepted that and took control of my own fate.
The streets blurred as I walked, my mind racing with plans and strategies, trying t
