chapter 10:

Torn Apart

I couldn’t focus on anything as Angela and Kurtis had their private conversation. Every creak of the floor, every murmur from the next room, sent my heart racing. I tried to keep busy, cleaning the villa as if scrubbing away the dirt could somehow cleanse the anxiety gnawing at my insides. But no matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Minutes felt like hours until finally, Angela emerged from the room, looking as composed as ever. Her eyes landed on me, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips, one that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Kurtis and I have decided to get back together,” she said, her tone casual as if she were talking about the weather.

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. My hands trembled, and the rag I’d been holding fell to the floor. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving me gasping for breath.

“Angela…” I managed to whisper, my