Chapter 256

Carla's POV 

"I'm... I'm fine," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't mean to cause any trouble." I take a deep breath, my nerves still on edge.

"Carla, you don't have to apologize," she says sincerely. "We all make mistakes, especially when we're hurting. I just want to make sure you're okay." Julie's eyes soften further, and she reaches out to place a comforting hand on my shoulder. 

Tears well up in my eyes as I realize the depth of Julie's compassion. Despite our rivalry, she's showing genuine concern for me. It's a revelation that leaves me feeling both grateful and guilty.

"I'm sorry, Julie," I manage to choke out, my voice filled with emotion. "I didn't mean to leave you like that. I was just... overwhelmed. And with everything between us, I didn't know how to handle it."

"Carla, we need to work through this," Julie whispers. "We can't keep letting our differences and competiti