Chapter 21

Kelly POV

I could feel the weight of Ava’s words, the sharp implication behind them. She was taunting me, and she knew it. She had always known exactly how to get under my skin, even years ago. She knew the torment I had been through with Anderson and Evelyn, and now she was trying to pull me back into that dark place.

For a moment, the urge to leave washed over me. I wanted to walk away from this table, from this meeting. But I stayed,I couldn’t let her see me falter. Not after my years of rehab, after everything I had fought for.

Susan glanced at me, her warm eyes laced with concern. She sensed the tension, though she didn’t seem to understand its source. She tried to smooth over the awkwardness with a soft smile.

“How have you been, Kendra? I mean how’s work?” Susan asked, tilting her head with genuine curiosity. “I’ve missed you. It’s been way too long since we’ve had a proper catch-up.”

Her words caught me off guard, pulling me from my thoug