CHAPTER 45

Jessica sat in her car outside Aton Empire, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The conversation with her father replayed in her mind, his words echoing in her ears like a relentless drumbeat. "You’re a Lane. And Lanes always come out on top." But what did that even mean anymore? The more she thought about it, the more trapped she felt.

She knew she had to go home, but the idea of facing her father again made her stomach churn. Instead, she pulled out her phone and stared at the screen, her finger hovering over Philip’s contact. Part of her wanted to reach out, to hear his voice and maybe, just maybe, find some comfort in it. But what would she say? That she was being torn apart inside, that she was beginning to care about him in a way that scared her? No. That would only complicate things further.

With a frustrated sigh, Jessica shoved her phone back into her purse and started the car. The drive home was a blur of thoughts and emotions. Sh