Chapter 49

Rachel POV

As the driver navigated the roads to my house, Mary attempted to divert my attention from the turmoil brewing inside me, but her efforts were in vain. When we arrived home, Mary took charge, carrying our groceries to the kitchen before joining me in the living room. I instinctively reached for my phone, but Mary intervened, gently prying it from my grasp. "Hey, you should put that phone down. Now's not the time," she said, placing it beside her on the adjacent chair. I began to protest, "I'm not trying..." but my words trailed off.

"You're not trying to check what's going on? that's a lie" Mary asked, her tone laced with concern. "You look like a walking corpse right now, and I'm not even exaggerating," she added, her expression dead serious. I knew she had my best interests at heart, and it pained me to think that I'd ever find myself in this situation.