Chapter 17

After a long, soothing shower, Elly emerged, wrapped in a soft bathrobe. The hot water had done little to ease the tightness in her chest, but at least it gave her a moment of quiet.

She stood in front of the mirror, towel in hand, dabbing at her damp hair as the reality of her situation set in. Her fingers brushed against her phone, and for a moment, she just stared at it—unsure of whether she was ready to make the call.

Taking a deep breath, she finally picked it up, the cold glass feeling like an anchor in her hand. She tapped her mom's name, the screen glowing brightly in the dim room. Her thumb hovered for a split second before she pressed the call button, the soft vibration of the phone matching the nervous flutter in her stomach.

As the dial tone hummed in her ear, she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to find her voice. She had to face it now—no turning back.

Elly took a steadying breath as the line rang. Then, her mom's voice came through, sharp and familiar.

"Elly?"

Her throat tightened, but she pushed through. "Mom, I'm sorry. I know there's no excuse for my disobedience. I didn't mean to scare you."

On the other end, Elly could hear the low murmurs of her dad in the background. She already knew what was coming.

"Put it on speaker," her dad mouthed, though Elly could hear the slight edge in his voice.

Elly couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "Is Dad there? I know he asks for the call to be on speaker."

Her dad chuckled softly, as if caught in the act. "You know me too well, Eliana."

"Hi, Dad," she said, a small laugh escaping her. "I'm sorry about all this, I just... I needed to help a friend. You know our accountant, Jennifer?. I offered her a ride to her parents' place, and before I knew it, the hour was late."

There was a silence on the other end, and Elly braced herself for the inevitable. She hurried to add, "But I'm fine here. Really. And I've got the security you sent—honestly, I'm wrapped in bubble wrap at this point, so no need to worry."

Her dad let out a low chuckle, but her mom's voice softened, a mix of exasperation and relief. "Elly, you know how much we care about you. I just don't want anything bad to happen."

"I know, Mom. And I'm sorry," Elly replied quietly.

The conversation shifted, and though the tension still hung in the air, there was a gentleness in her mom's voice now. "Just... promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise," Elly said softly. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too. Now... try to get some sleep, okay?"

"Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad."

Her dad's voice rumbled in the background. "Goodnight, Elly. Be good."

As Elly ended the call, a small weight lifted from her chest. It wasn't perfect—there was still a lot to figure out—but for now, she had mended the cracks. She let herself relax for the first time in hours, even if just a little.

On the other end of the line, her dad spoke to Mrs. Stefano. "Looks like the heart never forgets."

Mr. Stefano's words made her pause, the weight of them sinking in deeper.

As Elly hair slowly dried, she lay down on the bed, the soft hum of the night settling around her. She had just closed her eyes when her phone buzzed.

It was Jen.

"Hi, did you reach home already?"

Elly smiled at the message but, instead of replying, tapped the call button.

On the other end, Jen stirred in bed, her voice still a little groggy as she answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, just to answer your question," Elly said with a grin. "Nope, I'm at San Nicolas."

There was a long pause on Jen's end. Elly could practically hear her brain trying to process the information. "What? Is everything okay? Are you—"

Elly chuckled, cutting her off. "I'm fine. I just thought I needed a break from the city."

Jen sat up a little, now fully awake. "I get that. It's good to have a change of pace," she said quickly, a nervous laugh slipping out, but she cleared her throat to cover it.

A long moment of silence followed. Jen could almost feel the space between them stretch, thick with unspoken things. Finally, Elly's voice come through again "Alright, I won't keep you up. Good night, Jen."

Jen paused, unsure if she should say more, but the words didn't come easily. "Yeah, good night," she replied, her tone a little quieter than usual.

The line went silent after that. Jen stared at her phone for a beat before setting it down, the weight of the conversation still hanging in the air.

After their call, Mrs. Carlos glanced toward the door, her voice low. "Is that Elly?"

Jen nodded, "Yes, she's staying at the Governor's house tonight."

Her mother's tone sharpened, though it remained quiet, almost a warning. "You can't get close to her again. You know what happened."

Jen's heart tightens, her throat heavy. She wants to reach out, to help—but what if the truth is too much to handle?