Chapter One-Hundred and Sixteen

Lauren's POV

The drive back to the house felt like it took forever. Each second that passed only deepened the aching cavity in my chest, the weight of Damien’s words pressing down on me and making it difficult for me to breathe.

As I pulled into the driveway, my hands trembled, and I had to take a moment to steady myself before I could get out of the car.

The house was quiet with nothing but the distant sounds of nocturnal bugs to remind me that I was alive. As I stepped inside, I found them all in the living room—Damien, Shirley, and Conrad. As soon as Shirley saw me, she rushed over and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.

“I’m so sorry, Lauren,” she whispered, her voice filled with guilt. “I didn’t want to tell Damien, but I couldn’t find you anywhere. I didn’t know what else to do. You could have at least told me that you had not changed your mind.”

I wanted to be mad at her. I wanted to lash out and tell her that she had no right, but I could