The tension in the room was suffocating, the silence heavy with unspoken truths and mounting distrust. Angela stood frozen, her mother's cryptic warning still ringing in her ears. Elena's steady gaze remained fixed on her, searching for a crack in Angela's resolve. The words from Julie and Elena had left Angela spiraling, caught in a web she no longer felt capable of untangling. Stay away from Michael. The line had gone dead, leaving her questions unanswered and her heart pounding. Across from her, Elena's gaze was sharp, unwavering.