Ivy yanked her arm free and bolted through the halls of Verdant Manor, her heart pounding. Aurora's voice echoed behind her, filled with desperation.
"You can't leave, Ivy! You don't understand!"
But Ivy didn't stop. She ran until she reached her car, fumbling with the keys. Just as she slammed the door shut and started the engine, Aurora appeared in the driveway, her face illuminated by the car's headlights. She didn't move, her tear-streaked face etched with pain.
Ivy hesitated, her hands gripping the steering wheel. For a moment, the weight of guilt and confusion threatened to pull her back. But then she saw the photographs in her mind again, saw Aurora's obsession laid bare, and pressed the gas pedal.
As she drove away, Ivy's thoughts spiraled. How had she fallen so deeply into this web of manipulation? The glittering world Aurora had offered now felt like a gilded cage.
For the first time, Ivy realized she wasn't just running from Aurora—she was running for her life.