Chapter 51

Lauren's POV

“I know she deserves more, but at this point, we just have to.” Tessa’s voice was soft but carried a firmness I had heard before. Usually when she had already made up her mind about something.

I shook my head slowly, taking a deliberate step back as if putting physical space between her words and my heart would make them less true. “No,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper at first before it gained strength. “Elena will be buried here.”

Her brows furrowed. “How?” Tessa asked, a mix of confusion and concern painting her face. She knew the question was more than about logistics, it was about the impossible.

And the worst part was… I didn’t know how. I had no answers, no miracle tucked away in my back pocket, just this gaping wound in my chest and the weight of my little girl’s absence pressing down on me until I could barely breathe. My hand rose to my face, fingers digging into my skin as if pressing hard enough could stop the