Chapter 73: CHAPTER 73: A Shocking Proposal

　　The exhaustion from the flight finally hit me like a rogue wave sometime after rereading Ava's heart-wrenching encounter with her mother for the hundredth time as I tried to find any clues that would lead me to whatever secret was being hidden.

　　Sleep, a precious commodity these past few days, beckoned insistently. I surrendered, promising myself just a quick nap before diving back into the diary's secrets. However, when I jolted awake, the harsh morning light streaming through the window shattered the promise. A glance at the clock confirmed my worst fears. I was late. Groaning, I stumbled out of bed, feeling the familiar jet lag fog in my head.

　　Work. Ugh. The thought of facing Nicola's interrogation disguised as a friendly check-in made my stomach churn. But avoiding her would only cause suspicion. Deciding honesty was still the best policy, I showered, threw on a work-appropriate outfit, and took one last glance at the diary before heading out.