Elizabeth's POV

The next morning, I woke with a heavy heart. My cheek still stung from May’s slap, and the memory of her words haunted me. I could hear them in my head. He called your name… He’ll always come back to me.

I didn’t want to get up, but eventually, I forced myself. I had to face another day. I couldn’t stay in bed forever, even if my heart felt like it had been crushed into a thousand pieces.

I dressed slowly, trying to ignore the dull ache in my chest. Every mirror ...