CHAPTER 5

(SHEILA’S POV)

With a sudden burst of energy, I swung the door to my humble abode open, the creaking hinges barely audible over the pounding of my heart. With trembling hands, I quickly pulled the door shut behind me, the wood meeting with a soft thud as I slid the locking mechanism into place. The room fell into an eerie silence, the finality of my actions echoing in the stillness around me.

As the weight of the world crashed down on my frail shoulders, the dam holding back my tears shattered, unleashing the surge of emotion that was lying dormant from within. I leaned heavily against the door, my body sliding down its surface in tandem with my tears. With each passing moment, the pain that had taken residence in my heart flowed out relentlessly, unstoppable. In that vulnerable moment, I knew I had come undone—Orion had seen my horrendous face.

However, just as despair threatened to consume me, my anguish was abruptly interrupted by the sound of Orion's approaching footsteps. Summoni