Chapter 134

Elena POV

I couldn’t focus in first period.

Ms. Rodriguez was talking about criminal justice reform, about redemption narratives in modern literature, but all I could think about was Dad’s face when he’d dropped me off. The way his hands had gripped the steering wheel like he was trying to keep something from exploding.

*He tried to kill your father.*

Mom’s words kept playing on repeat in my head.

I pulled out my phone under my desk, making sure Ms. Rodriguez wasn’t looking. Typed into Google: “Darren Blake Nova Black.”

The search results loaded, and my stomach dropped.

**”Music Mogul Shoots Rival in Parking Lot Over Wife”**

**”Nova Black’s Ex-Husband Sentenced to 15 Years for Attempted Murder”**

**”Grammy Winner’s Marriage Ends in Violence: Complete Timeline”**

I scrolled through article after article, each one worse than the last. Photos of Mom from thirteen years ago, looking younger and terrified. Photos of Dad b