Caroline spent the rest of the day distracted, Klaus' words looping in her mind: "You don't have to do this alone." The simplicity of the statement struck her deeply. For so long, she had convinced herself that this was her burden to bear, her punishment for choosing Tyler and staying despite the warning signs.

But now, that idea felt… wrong.

By the time she got home, Tyler was already there, lounging on the couch with a beer in hand. The faint hum of a sports channel filled the room, but his attention immediately shifted to her as she walked through the door.

"You're late," he said, sitting up.

Caroline's heart sank. "I stayed to finish a project," she replied, keeping her voice neutral.

"Funny how you've been staying late a lot lately," Tyler said, his tone sharp. He stood, crossing the room to stand in front of her.

"I'm trying to do my job," she said carefully, avoiding his gaze.

"Your job is here, with me," he snapped, his voice low but dangerous. "Not running around, making excuses."

Caroline tensed, her pulse racing. "I'm not running around, Tyler. I'm just trying to keep things together."

Tyler's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. Then, just as quickly as his anger flared, it dissipated. He stepped back, raking a hand through his hair. "I don't want to fight," he said, his tone softening. "I just… I need to know you're on the same page as me. That you're not… distracted."

"I'm not," Caroline lied, forcing a small smile.

"Good," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close. "Because I don't know what I'd do if you ever lied to me."

Her stomach twisted as his words sank in.

Later that evening, as Tyler snored softly beside her, Caroline slipped out of bed and crept into the bathroom. She locked the door and sat on the edge of the tub, pulling her phone from her pocket.

Her thumb hovered over Klaus' number, saved in her contacts under a fake name. The urge to call him was overwhelming, but fear held her back. What if Tyler woke up? What if he overheard?

She typed out a text instead.

Caroline: I don't know what to do.

Her finger hesitated over the send button, but after a deep breath, she pressed it.

The response came almost instantly.

Klaus: You're stronger than you think, Caroline. I can help you, but only when you're ready. Just say the word.

Tears welled in her eyes as she read his reply. For the first time, she felt like she wasn't completely alone.

She typed back: Thank you.

The following day, Caroline woke with a new determination. She knew she couldn't stay in this cycle forever, but leaving Tyler wasn't something she could do recklessly. She needed a plan, something concrete to hold onto when things felt impossible.

At lunch, she called Bonnie, keeping her voice light. "Hey, Bon. Are you free to grab coffee sometime this week?"

"Of course," Bonnie said immediately. "Are you okay?"

"I just miss you," Caroline said, her throat tightening.

Bonnie hesitated. "I miss you too. Name the time and place."

Caroline gave her a time for later that week and hung up, feeling a small sense of relief. If anyone could help her sort through this mess, it was Bonnie.

That evening, Tyler was unusually cheerful, chatting about their upcoming trip as he flipped through a travel brochure. Caroline nodded along, trying not to show her unease.

"You're going to love it," he said, his enthusiasm unnerving. "Just us, no distractions."

She forced a smile. "It sounds great."

But inside, her resolve solidified. This trip might be her chance—to find a way out, to take that first step toward freedom.

Later that night, as Tyler slept, Caroline opened her phone again and stared at Klaus' number.

Not yet, she thought, tucking it away again.

But soon.