#Chapter 8: Believe it or not

Carol’s POV I wake up this morning not to the sound of my normal alarm, but instead to the sound of voices chattering in the distance. I sit up and groan. I already slept terribly last night thanks to all of the messy feelings I’ve been trying to work through. Why does the street have to be so noisy today? I check the time. It’s close enough to my normal alarm, so I roll out of bed and get into my work clothes as usual. There isn’t a moment where I don’t think of Aiden. My mind has been a constant battle between my idealistic and rational sides since last night. Aiden is undeniably an incredible partner. Anyone would be lucky to be his fated mate — especially a human like me. Still, every time I let my heart hope, I can’t help but be reminded of the deception I’ve already faced. My mind is so preoccupied with my emotional turmoil that I don’t notice the crowd of paparazzi outside my apartment until I practically crash into them. The moment I open the door to the street, I see th