Chapitre 23: TWENTY-THREE

The day passed with a heavy sense of anticipation hanging over me. Every glance at my phone reminded me of Wade's message, the unspoken promise of another difficult conversation. By the time evening rolled around, I had worked myself into a state of anxious resolve.

"Wendy, are you okay?" Char asked, noticing my distracted state as we sat in the living room.

I nodded absently. "Yeah, just... thinking about meeting with Wade."

Karen glanced up from her book, concern etched on her face. "Are you sure you want to go? You don't owe him anything."

I sighed. "I know, but I need to figure out what's going on. Maybe get some closure."

Char put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Just be careful, okay? Don't let him mess with your head."

"I won't," I promised, though I wasn't entirely sure if I believed it myself.