Chapter 126

• I had hoped—perhaps naively—that my regeneration abilities would handle the alcohol in my system. I’d lost count of how many glasses of wine I’d consumed. Despite that, I was sober enough to wave off Kenzo’s offer to carry me to my room. Determined, though unsteady, I navigated the stairs myself, focusing harder on each step than I’d like to admit. Once I closed the door and reached my bed, I thought, finally, I could rest.
• But then, my gaze fell on the bedside table—and my phone. The very one I hadn’t so much as glanced at for two days.
• A lump formed in my throat as I picked it up, my hands trembling slightly. I already knew I’d messed up. The screen confirmed it: thirty missed calls and seven unread messages. With a deep breath, I forced myself to look at the details. Most of the calls were from Freya, and three were from Varen. Guilt hit me like a wave. I’d been the one asking them to keep in touch, yet here I was, ignoring them completely.