Chapter 11

Lauren's POV

Tessa drove into the driveway slowly and carefully parked the car. As the engine died, a heavy silence filled the space between us. I stared at the front door, the house that once felt like a safe place — warm, secure, filled with memories. Now, it just looked… unfamiliar. Like the shell of something I used to recognize.

I let out a long, shaky breath, and Tessa caught it.

“Remember,” she said softly, turning slightly in her seat to face me, “don’t stress yourself too much. You don’t want to end up in the hospital again — or worse. Elena needs you.”

I nodded, though my chest was still tight with anxiety. “I know,” I murmured, unclipping my seat belt and letting it retract with a soft click.

“And Lauren,” she added, her voice quieter but more serious, “try to keep your voice low if you’re going to talk to Ethan. Elena doesn’t need to hear everything.”

I gave her a faint smile. That motherly concern was one of the reaso