#Chapter 107: Bargaining for Freedom

I had never been more nervous than I was when Matt dropped me off at my house. I knew Jack would be waiting for me. I approached our front door with a heavy heart. The events of last night weighed on me like a cloak of lead, suffocating every breath I took. When I opened the door, Jack was pacing in the living room. His eyes were filled with a mixture of relief and worry as they locked onto mine when I finally stepped inside. I didn’t think it would last long. Anger was never far around the corner. "Where have you been, Celeste? I've been out of my mind with worry," he exclaimed, his voice fraught with concern. But there was a harsh edge to it. I was going to be in for an earful if I didn’t take charge. I closed the door behind me and took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I knew would be a difficult conversation. "Sit down, Jack. We need to talk." He furrowed his brow, sensing the gravity of the situation. We settled onto the worn-out couch, the silence between us stretchi