Ivy didn't return to her apartment. She knew Aurora would find her there. Instead, she checked into a small motel on the outskirts of town, her hands trembling as she locked the door behind her.
Over the next few days, she delved into Aurora's past. With every thread she pulled, more sinister truths unraveled.
The most shocking discovery came from an old news article buried deep online. It detailed the mysterious disappearance of Sophia Drake, a close friend of Aurora's from boarding school. The two had been inseparable until Sophia vanished without a trace. Police investigations led nowhere, but whispers of Aurora's possessiveness had surfaced in anonymous interviews.
Ivy's blood ran cold as she scrolled through the article. She could see herself in Sophia's place, trapped in Aurora's suffocating grip.
But the final piece came from Leo. He called her one night, his voice low and urgent.
"You need to know the truth about Aurora," he said. "She doesn't just love people—she consumes them. And when they try to leave, she destroys them."
Leo revealed what no one else dared to say: Sophia hadn't disappeared. She had been found, hidden in a shallow grave on the Elric estate. Aurora's parents had covered it up, their wealth and power ensuring no questions were asked.
"She won't let you go, Ivy," Leo warned. "You need to disappear before it's too late."