Chapter 275

Lila was so insistent that I had no choice but to follow her upstairs. Her apartment was warm and inviting, with light-colored wallpaper, wooden furniture, and a few potted plants and decorative pieces that made the space feel especially cozy. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll get you some water," she said while motioning for me to sit before heading to the kitchen. I sank into the plush couch, letting my eyes wander around the room. A large oil painting hung on the living room wall, depicting a vast lavender field. The endless sea of purple swayed gently in the breeze. It was a scene so beautiful that it felt almost calming. "What do you think? Pretty nice, huh?" Lila walked over with two glasses of water and handed me one. "Yeah, it's beautiful," I said sincerely. She smiled. "Glad you like it. You should come over more often." We chatted for a while before she suddenly leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Serena, have you noticed something… off in our n