chapter Ninety-seven

I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that lingered in the air as I settled into the room Zach had provided. The decision to leave Killian left me with a sick taste in my mouth. I hurt him and I don't think I could ever forgive myself. The night held a stillness that matched the quiet turmoil within me. Zach's attempt to make a move on me earlier had left an indelible mark, and the forceful push I gave in response had failed to erase the unease. The room, though seemingly innocuous, felt like a cage closing in on me. I stared at the dimly lit ceiling, my mind racing through the events of the evening. Just because I had agreed to come to Zach didn't grant him any entitlement, and I had made that explicitly clear when I pushed him away. Yet, his dismissive laughter echoed in my ears, haunting me with an unsettling truth—that he believed it was only a matter of time. Fear, like an unwelcome guest, settled in the pit of my stomach. The door separating me from the outside world suddenl