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Hailey's POV.

I was discharged from the hospital, and a mix of relief and anxiety swept through me. The sterile hospital smell clung to my clothes as I sat quietly in the backseat of Uncle Elijah's car, Mom beside him. The ride home was silent, filled with unspoken tension and the weight of recent events hanging heavily in the air.

I glanced out the window, watching the familiar streets pass by in a blur. I couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability that had settled over me since the incident in the chemistry lab. The bandage on her hand served as a constant reminder of Brielle's vindictiveness and the consequences of her choices.

As we pulled up to Ryan's house, Uncle Elijah turned off the engine, breaking the silence.

"We're here," he announced softly, looking at me through the rearview mirror with a mix of concern and reassurance.

I nodded, feeling a knot form in my stomach. Taking a deep breath, I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the car door.

Uncle Elijah got out of the car