Chapter 78

Lauren's POV

The sound of the luggage box zipping cut sharply through the quiet room, that metallic rasp breaking into my thoughts like a reminder of finality. It was the sound of closing doors, of a chapter ending, of me stepping into something entirely new. I had been staring at the ceiling moments earlier, my mind restless, when Tessa finally finished convincing herself that calling a doctor wasn’t necessary.

I’d had to beg her not to. She was stubborn, her concern etched into every gesture, but eventually, she let me win this one. That was one small relief, at least. Now, she crouched by the bed with the packed box standing proudly beside her, zipped, neat, and heavy. Every necessary dress, every professional piece I owned, now lay folded inside, ready for wherever the next few days would take me.

I rose slowly, legs stiff from sitting too long, and crossed the short distance to my bedside. My hand hovered over the small wooden table, over the