**IVY POV**
As soon as I caught sight of Lily standing at the door, a knot of anxiety twisted tightly in my stomach. I braced myself for the inevitable slap across the face or the scathing words I expected her to hurl at me. To my surprise, she rushed forward and enveloped me in a warm embrace.
“You scared the hell out of me. I didn’t think I would ever see you again,” she said, her voice trembling with a mix of concern and relief.
“Sorry about leaving like that. I didn’t have a choice,” I replied, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on my heart as I closed the door behind her, turning the lock with a deliberate click.
She turned to face me, her eyes searching my face for any signs of the nervousness I couldn't hide. It was clear that my unease was unfamiliar territory for he
