Chapter 25

• Raven
• I returned home exhausted, my limbs heavy from the long hours spent with Ava. My mind was buzzing with everything we had discussed, the plans we had set into motion, and the secrets she hinted at but didn’t fully reveal. A deep exhaustion sat in my bones, but it wasn’t just physical. The weight of it was more than that—it was emotional, a weariness from the constant double lives I had to live, playing the role of the dutiful wife while secretly plotting the downfall of my husband.
• As I stepped into the house, I noticed the unusual stillness. It was quiet, too quiet. No sounds of conversation, no clatter of dishes from the kitchen. I figured dinner had already ended, and I’d missed it. Not that I minded. The last thing I wanted was to sit at the table with Emerson, pretending that everything was fine, while Lila hovered nearby, playing the part of the innocent best friend. Just the thought of it twisted my stomach.