Chapter 194

Lauren's POV

The ride felt endless. Every second dragged like an eternity as I laid there cramped inside the trunk, counting the rhythmic hums of the tires against the asphalt. My back ached from the hard metal floor, but I didn’t dare move too much. The smallest sound might give me away. All I could do was hold my breath and hope I’d made the right choice sneaking along.

Minutes bled into hours. I could feel my anxiety climbing higher with every passing moment, the air inside the trunk growing warmer, thicker like it was closing in on me. My palms were damp, clutching at the side of the trunk for balance each time the car swerved or slowed. I tried to distract myself by focusing on Aria — her laugh, her sweet voice when she’d call me Mommy. I had to hold on to that image. It was the only thing keeping me sane right now.

Finally, the car jerked to a stop. My breath caught. The hum of the engine faded into silence. For a moment, everything was still