Bianca's voice was soft, laced with concern as she observed the uncharacteristic silence that had settled over Lauren in the past week. "You've been quiet for a while now, Bebe," she murmured, her gentle gaze fixed upon her partner.
Lauren met Bianca's eyes, a silent plea in her own. Without a word, she reached out and pulled Bianca closer, enveloping her in a tight embrace. It was a gesture that spoke volumes, a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil that had been weighing on her heart.
A week ago, Lauren had made a pivotal decision—one that had required a tremendous amount of courage and humility. She had reached out to Matthew, Rayleigh's brother, to let her talk with Rayleigh and Isabelle, then asked for forgiveness, finally confessing all the wrongdoings that had driven a wedge between them.
"You know," Lauren began, her voice wavering with a rare vulnerability. "I'm a terrible woman. A very terrible one."
