Ella's POV
As I stepped into my apartment that evening, the weight of the day seemed to fall off my shoulders.
The long hours at work, the constant pressure of being perfect, and the ever-present awareness of Arec, all of it melted away as soon as I closed the door behind me. But there was still one more thing I needed to do before I could fully unwind: call Kate.
Kate had been my rock through everything, especially after Klaus. She was the one who picked up the pieces when he shattered my heart, and she was the one who encouraged me to take this job in the first place. Now, she was going to have to hear about my latest twist of fate.
I plopped down on the couch and dialed her number. She picked up after the first ring, her voice bubbly and warm as always.
"Ella! Finally, I've been dying to hear how your day went. Spill the tea, girl."
I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. "Oh, Kate, where do I even start?"
