Eliza’s POV
The sunlight streamed through my bedroom window, painting the walls with golden hues. It should have felt like a new beginning, but the heaviness in my chest made it impossible to embrace the morning. My thoughts were consumed by Cavin—his distant behavior this morning, the way he avoided my gaze. And then David’s presence had made everything worse. His imposing demeanor was a silent reminder of how trapped I was, and how little control I had over my own life.
I sat on the edge of my bed, fiddling with my phone, debating whether to call Cavin. Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe he was just tired. My finger hovered over his name, but before I could make a decision, a notification popped up on the screen.
It was a message from Nikolai.
I frowned, unsure of why he’d message me. The text was short and cryptic:
"You should see this before you ruin your life further."