Chapter 175

• VALENTINA
• Steam filled the bathroom from the shower I’d just turned off. The mirror was completely fogged over. I reached up and wiped a circle clear with my palm. My face looked back at me—eyes tired, cheeks still pink from the hot water. I stared for a long minute. Adrian’s voice kept echoing in my head. His last pleas. The way he’d tried to pull me back even after I told him we were done. Now he was gone from my life. Blocked. Deleted. The quiet felt strange. Relief sat in my chest, but guilt sat right beside it. I’d let him close. I’d let him use me. And part of me still felt bad for cutting him off so hard.
• I dried off, wrapped the towel around me, and walked to the closet. Pulled out a white blouse and black slacks. Simple. Professional. The fabric felt soft when I slipped them on. I went to the kitchen, filled the kettle, and made tea instead of coffee. The chamomile smelled gentle. Calming. I needed calm. I carried the mug to the table and sat. Steam curled up. I blew on it. Thought about everything.