Walking into Ravenscroft again felt like stepping back into the very place where everything in my life had fallen apart, and even though I had prepared myself for this moment, nothing truly softened the weight of those memories pressing in all at once.
This time, however, I wasn't here to survive it.
I had come back ready.
Elena was already waiting downstairs when I stepped out, standing exactly the way she always did—composed, elegant, and completely untouched by the chaos she left behind in other people's lives.
"I thought you might take longer," she said lightly.
"I didn't want to keep you waiting," I replied as I made my way down the stairs.
I was dressed in a fitted black suit that sat perfectly against my body, simple but sharp, with my hair neatly tied into a bun that revealed my face fully, leaving no room to hide behind softness or hesitation.
Her eyes moved over me slowly, taking in every detail.
