~Teyana’s POV~

Even though Carol kept the car’s AC low, the air felt unusually warm against my skin as she drove us out of my estate. Maybe it was because I hadn’t stepped outside in nearly a week—my body seemed to reject the idea of being exposed again.

Everything outside the window looked too bright. Too fast. Too… open.

Professor Hartley had organized a charity event, and he had insisted that I attend—Carol told me that. Part of me wanted to ignore the invite completely, stay in my room and bury myself under blankets, waiting for Jeremy’s text notifications to soothe me like medicine.

But Carol was stubborn.

And here...