I was taken aback when I saw the caller ID flash across my screen. My heart raced, and I instinctively turned to Draven, who was already watching me with a curious gaze. With a gentle nod, he excused himself, giving me the space I needed to handle the impending conversation. His thoughtfulness was a comforting reminder that not everyone was chaotic like the person on the other end of the line.

As I stood there, dread washed over me like a cold wave. My finger hovered over the answer button; I was caught in a battle between my desire to disconnect and the deep-seated urge to confront my past. The ringing echoed in my ears, sharp and relentless. At that moment, I felt torn—should I silence the chaos or embrace it?

Summoning every ounce of courage, I pressed the button.

ON THE PHONE*

Adam: "Hello, Anna? Are you there?"

His voice was as soft and sweet as I remembered, yet this time it felt tainted, laced with insincerity. Disgust coiled in my stomach; I was no longer that girl who eagerly awaited his late-night calls. I had transformed into someone stronger, someone fiercely independent. This change was for my own sake, an act of self-preservation that I had to honor.

Anna: "Yes, I'm here. What is it that you want?"

I managed to keep my voice steady, though it wobbled slightly, betraying the storm of emotions swirling inside me. I wanted nothing more than to unleash my pain, to scream at him for his callousness, but I refused to let my vulnerability show. I was beyond that—anger and displays of weakness belonged to a version of me I had left behind.

Adam: "I just wanted to ask if you'd like to come over tonight. We're having a small gathering to celebrate our lives before we move to Paris."

The words struck me like a punch to the gut, and I felt a wave of grief wash over me. Betrayal mixed with absurdity—how could they invite me, of all people, after everything that had transpired? A bitter laugh threatened to escape my lips; it was almost laughable.

Anna: "I can't make it. I'm currently in the hospital with bruises all over my legs, so I'll have to decline your invitation. Honestly, I'd appreciate it if you would refrain from contacting me in the future."

Adam: "Wait, just li—"

I cut him off, ending the call with a swift movement, my heart pounding. How audacious of them to reach out after their betrayal. A primal urge to confront them surged within me—how I wished I could unleash the fury they deserved.

The nurse entered the room just as I finished my call and asked me to move to the exam room.

As I sat on the edge of the exam table, my heart raced, and my palms felt clammy. Suddenly, the door swung open, and in walked the doctor, followed closely by Draven. The doctor's presence was reassuring, a steady hand amid the storm of anxiety I was grappling with. He approached me with a calm demeanor and gently placed the thermometer under my tongue, furrowing his brow slightly as he awaited the reading.

After a moment, he carefully removed the thermometer and shared the results with me. "It seems you're experiencing a panic attack brought on by anxiety," he explained, his voice steady and soothing. He recommended that I take a break from any stressful activities and stay home until I felt better.

I nodded in understanding, the gravity of his words sinking in. He then reached into his bag and pulled out a prescription pad, swiftly writing down the names of the medications he believed would help ease my troubled mind. With a final reassuring smile, he left the room, leaving me with a mix of relief and uncertainty about the path ahead.

Draven's phone rang, shattering the stillness of the moment, and he hurriedly grabbed his belongings, urgency etched on his face as he darted out of the hospital. I remained there, feeling a heavy weight in my chest, grappling with the turmoil of emotions that swirled inside me, completely alone.

With a deep breath, I summoned the strength to rise from the sterile hospital bed, the movement causing a wave of dizziness to wash over me. Each step toward the pharmacy felt like a monumental task; my limbs were still weak and uncooperative, my fingers felt as if they were encased in cotton, distant and numb to my commands.

As I stepped outside the hospital gate, I scanned the area for a taxi, but the streets were disappointingly empty. A sense of unease settled over me, so I fished my phone from my pocket and called my driver. Thankfully, he arrived within minutes, his familiar face offering a fleeting sense of comfort as he helped me into the car.

The ride home felt like a blur, the world outside the window merging into an indistinct haze. However, upon reaching my destination, the familiar sight of my house brought little solace. As I pulled up, an unwelcome surprise awaited me. Adriana and Adam stood just outside my front door, their voices low and intense as they appeared to be deep in discussion, the tension palpable in the air between them.

"You summoned me here, so it's your duty to handle this situation correctly and invite her," Adam said, his voice steady but carrying an unsettling weight. "If she shows up, we will be able to complete our mission; if she doesn't, then only our Lord knows what will happen." His tone sounded strangely different, with a cold edge that sent a shiver down my spine, as if the man speaking in front of me was not the Adam I knew.

Adriana's response was immediate, her frustration evident. "I know, and I'm trying, okay?" she snapped, her teeth clenched so tightly I could almost hear them grinding. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of determination and anxiety, further adding to the tension in the air.

Something was off with both of them. Their unusual behavior raised alarm bells in my mind, making me decide that confronting them might not be the best course of action. I discreetly looked down at my phone, noticing several notifications from Adriana flooding in. Each ping felt like an echo of my brewing unease, so I muted the notifications and steeled myself. With my heart pounding and fear gnawing at my insides, I took a deep breath and walked towards them, compelled by a mix of dread and curiosity despite every instinct urging me to turn away.