282.Chapter 282

The heavy thud of the phone hitting the floor jolted Elena out of her emotional spiral.

She stared at the back of Maya's hand, red from her own grasp, and instinctively pulled away.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I just..."

Elena fumbled for words, unsure how to explain what had just come over her.

In that fleeting instant, a wave of dread had gripped her so tightly that all reason had vanished.