Hazel

I had reached out to Adam before facing the press. He was my best friend and, despite our differences, he always had my back. William's betrayal still stung, leaving me desperate for some space to clear my head. His earlier threats lingered, casting a shadow of fear over me. What scared me most wasn't just his knowledge of my secret, but his silence about it. It was a chilling reminder of his power over me.

"I'm ready," I texted Adam on iMessage.

"I'll be there in 10 minutes," came his ...