Chapter 64

Bella's POV

The cab ride was a blur of city lights and distant sounds. I sat in the back seat, my heart still pounding, clutching Essie's letter as if it were my lifeline. The driver, a middle-aged man with a kind smile, glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

"Rough night, huh?" he asked, his voice filled with sympathy.

I nodded, unable to find my voice. I was a stranger in this city, with no destination in mind, no plan, and nowhere to go. But I couldn't go back; that much was certain.

After what felt like an eternity, the cab pulled up in front of a quaint hotel. The driver turned to me and said, "We're here, miss. This is a safe place to stay for the night. Do you want me to help you inside?"

I mustered a weak smile and nodded. He got out of the car and came around to the passenger side to assist me. With his support, I managed to exit the cab, my legs still shaky from the escape.

The hotel's entrance was bathed in warm, inviting light. The driver helped me through the glass d