Chapter 40. The Doorway to Despair

Lottie POV

Sitting on the sofa, I tried to focus on Chase's words, but they seemed to drift past me like a distant echo. Confusion swirled in my mind like a thick fog. How did I end up downstairs? One moment, I was in bed, and the next, I was in the kitchen with Kane. The memories were hazy and fragmented. Why could I only recall from the moment Chase burst in? None of it made sense.

I felt as if someone was playing a cruel trick on me. For a fleeting moment, I even suspected Chase. But when he scolded me, the raw concern in his eyes told me otherwise. Deep down, I knew what I'd said to him was unfair. He was just trying to protect me. Yet, an overwhelming sense of loneliness pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.

Standing up abruptly, I shook my head.

"You're not helping," I uttered, my voice barely above a whisper. The room felt stifling, and I needed to escape, to clear my head.

"Lottie, wait," Chase pleaded, his eyes reflecting a pain t