Chapter 26 Sudden Challenge

• Carol’s POV
• Returning to work after the whirlwind of travels with Aiden, I step into my bustling office building. Even in this once familiar space, I find my mind caught in the echo of everything that had transpired that weekend. The air, filled with the familiar hum of typing and the murmur of conversations, seems strangely detached from the vibrant scenes I had witnessed.
• As I make my way to my desk, I begin to notice eyes following my every movement. Out of the corners of my vision, I can see my coworkers whisper amongst one another as I pass by. I pick up a few tidbits of conversation just barely within earshot.