Chapter 62. Change of Scenery

ISABEL

Aware of the potential consequences, I refrained from showing the photo to my mother.

Emotionally broken and yearning for a confidant, I was weighed down by the realization that I had been naive all along. A sense of self-blame pervaded my thoughts as I struggled to reconcile with the unfolding events, feeling as though I had brought this mess upon myself.

I made an effort to complete the estimates on the paper, mustering the strength to rise and make my way upstairs to meet my stepfather.

With a reassuring pat on my back, my stepfather declared, “That’s wonderful. I’ll reach out to my account manager right away, and you can expect to receive the funds before the end of the day.”

A small smile formed on my lips as I walked away, turning my attention to packing my bags in preparation for my departure. I intended to leave the house well before Mavis’s return, and though the possibility of him spending the night with his ex at the hotel lingered in