Chapter 41. Where To?

Aurora’s POV

I can feel my pulse drumming against my ears as Mia and Shane lead me down the long hallway, my feet barely keeping up with their determined strides. There’s a knot twisting in my stomach, a creeping sense of dread that coils tighter with each step. My fingers twitch against the stiff fabric of the ridiculous dress they had shoved me into, the weight of it unfamiliar and suffocating. I don’t know where they’re taking me, but the ominous feeling settling over me is enough to make me want to turn and run in the opposite direction.

Just as we round a corner, my breath catches in my throat. Among the lavish decorations adorning the walls—golden streamers, extravagant floral arrangements, and glittering chandeliers—I spot a massive sign hanging proudly above a grand set of double doors. ‘Happy Birthday Caleb,’ it reads in bold, golden letters.

My heart sinks into the pit of my stomach as realization crashes into me like a tidal wave. This isn’t just