Chapter 5: The Frame-Up

The storm had passed by morning, leaving the city slick and gleaming under a reluctant sun, but inside me, the chaos raged on. I dragged myself to Hale Tech with shadows under my eyes, the weight of last night's confrontation pressing like a vice on my chest. Marcus's words echoed—love, raw and desperate, clashing against Mom's warnings of manipulation and control. I'd slammed the door on him, on us, but sleep had evaded me, replaying every heated glance, every ...