The drive into the city felt endless. I stared out the window, my mind drifting in and out of anxious thoughts as Freddy sat beside me, calm and composed as always. The world outside seemed to pass by in a blur, contrasting with the suffocating stillness in the car. I had no idea where we were going, but I could sense something was off about Freddy today—he was quiet, more so than usual.

When the car finally stopped in front of a high-end boutique, my stomach turned. Freddy opened the door ...