Chapter 65

Valerie

As I slowly woke up from the depths of sleep, the intrusive melody of my phone pierced through the peaceful of the morning. Irritation bubbled within me as I reached for the offending device, my mind still cloaked in the haze of slumber. Who could possibly be calling at this ungodly hour?

Reluctantly, I glanced at the screen before answering, half-expecting it to be Drew, ready to unleash another wave of stress upon me. To my immense relief, it was Shay. But why on earth was she calling me so early? Shay was notorious for her late mornings, and I couldn't recall a single instance where she had been up before nine.

Then it hit me like a bolt of lightning. The article. Had it been published already? The memory of handing over crucial evidence to Arnold the previous night flooded back, mingling with the anticipation that now gripped me.

"Did it happen?" I blurted out as soon as I answered the call, my voice laden with a mixture of anxiety and hope.

"No, sorry Val," Shay's v