Chapter 79

ELORA'S POV The drive home after the meeting with president Riley felt longer than it should have. The discussions had gone surprisingly well, and Lucas has been right beside me the entire time. But even that success couldn't chase away the heaviness in my chest. Tomorrow was my Grandma’s birthday. That was a joyful event, something to look forward to. But I knew her birthdays always come with their own storm—half the family circling like vultures, pretending to love when all they wanted was approval or a chance to flaunt themselves. Still, Grandma deserved to be celebrated, and no matter how draining it was, I would be there for her. By the time I got home, the sun was down, shading everything in gold. I tossed my bag onto the couch and went straight into the kitchen, pulling leftover food from the fridge to the microwave and filling up my belly. The silence in the house pressed in on me, so heavy it felt suffocating. I ate quickly, not because I really had the appetite, but because I