Chapter 50

Lauren's POV

My eyes slowly slid open, the faint sting of light forcing me to squint. At first, all I saw was a hazy blur, the outlines of shapes swimming before my vision like shadows under water. My breath came slow and uneven, and it took me several seconds before the realization hit me — I had passed out.

For a moment, I just lay there, my mind trying to piece together the events that had led to this. My chest rose and fell as I remembered the last time something like this happened, the first time I collapsed from stress and exhaustion, only to wake up in a hospital bed thanks to a stranger who had taken pity on me. Back then, the doctor’s words had been firm and clear: Don’t overexert yourself, don’t push beyond your limits.

But really, what choice did I have?

With everything Ethan had done… with the betrayal, the humiliation, and now this — how could I possibly stay calm? Stress had become my shadow, following me everywhere, and I was p