Chapter 174. A Moment to Breathe

They drove further away from the city, where the buildings faded into rolling hills and thick trees. The road wound like a ribbon through the land, and with each passing mile, Anna felt the weight on her chest ease, if only a little.

The air smelled fresher here, untouched by the suffocating grip of the city. The wind blew through the open window, tangling her hair, making her feel like she was escaping something, though she wasn’t sure if it was Victor or herself.

Carlos hadn’t said much during the drive, but she could tell he was watching her, studying her reactions. 

Maybe he was waiting for her to change her mind, to tell him to turn around. But she didn’t. She did not want to.

Because for the first time in a long time, she wanted to be here.

The guilt…you know, the one she was feeling about being with Zac and then coming here with Carlos. She had brushed it off.

She had convinced herself that it was nothing romantic or weird that she and Carlos