Chapter 51

The supermarket was bustling with activity as I stood in line at the checkout, my mind elsewhere. The events of the past few days replayed in my head, especially the encounter with the woman in the Chanel suit. Was I stupid to turn him down? Logan was offering me something steady. Safe. I wouldn’t have to carry all this alone anymore. But wasn’t that the point? I wanted to stop waiting for someone else to fix everything for me. I wanted to be strong enough to fix it myself. "Ma’am?" The cashier’s voice pulled me out of my spiral. I blinked. "Sorry," I muttered, fumbling for my phone to tap my card. "Just distracted." She smiled politely, handing me the receipt. "No worries. Have a good day!" I paid quickly and grabbed the bag of groceries. Outside, the wind tugged at my hair, and the sun felt a little too bright. I checked the time. It was nearly pickup hour. I needed to head to Lily’s school. As I pulled into the school parking lot, my stomach knotted. The woman in the Chanel suit fro