Chapter 169

• Carter sat in his living room, surrounded by an eerie silence that seemed to amplify the emptiness of his once lively home. He gazed at his phone for a moment before mustering the courage to dial Lyssa's number. The phone rang a few times before she answered, her warm voice breaking the silence.
• "Hey Carter, how are you?" Lyssa's voice was filled with concern and a hint of curiosity.
• Carter took a deep breath, grateful for the sound of her voice. "I'm okay, just feeling a bit lonely here. How are you doing?"