She still didn''t fully grasp what was happening.


    All she could remember was running out into the rain. Everything after that was a blur. Now, staring at the unfamiliaryout of the room and noticing the change of clothes on her body, it was only natural she felt lost.


    Just as M was trying to make sense of it all, the door suddenly burst open and a little girl, maybe six or seven years old, came running in.


    The two of them locked eyes in silence.


    Then the girl shouted at the top of her lungs, "Mom! Mom! The prettydy''s awake!"


    After announcing this, the girl didn''t leave. Instead, she trotted over and tilted her head back, gazing up at M with wide, sparkling dark eyes-utterly adorable.


    M couldn''t help but smile at the sight. "Hey there, sweetheart. Where am I?"


    "This is my house," the girl replied, head cocked to the side. "My name''s Lucy. A big brother brought you here. You''re really pretty, miss."


    "...Thank you."


    M was just about to ask who this "big brother" was when Archie strolled into the room, grinning from ear to ear.


    "Hey, you''re awake."


    M''s brow furrowed instinctively.


    After what happened at the old estate, her impression of Archie was far from good. She never imagined she''d run into him here, of all ces.


    If Lucy was right, he was the one who''d brought her?


    "You-"


    Before she could finish, Archieunched into a rambling, wildly embellished ount of how he''d found and rescued her. The story dragged on, full of unnecessary details.


    By the end, M''s head was pounding, but at least she had pieced together her current situation.


    She''d managed, by pure luck, to slip out from under Lysander''s watchful eye-a realization that brought a small sense of relief.


    Right now, thest thing she wanted was to see Lysander.


    In fact, anyone connected to that time seven years ago—she wanted nothing to do with them. Just the thought of it made it hard to breathe.


    She needed a break.


    With that in mind, she cut off Archie''s endless chatter. "Whatever the case, thank you for helping me. I think I heard you say there''s a car?"


    "Yeah," Archie replied, dropping into the seat across from her and crossing his legs. "Why? What''s up, M?"


    She frowned, then said, "Could you lend me your car for a while? I''ll pay you back at double or even triple its value."


    "You want to borrow my car? Where are you going?"


    Archie studied her for a moment, then an idea seemed to click. “Wait, you''re not going back to Kingsford, are you? You''re not trying to avoid my cousin, are you?"


    He remembered eavesdropping the other day. He hadn''t caught every word, but something had felt off.


    As far as he knew, Lysander was the one who''d cheated, so he assumed Lysander wanted a divorce. But judging by the mood that day, maybe that wasn''t the case. Maybe it was someone else who didn''t want to let go.


    Didn''t want to let go, but still cheated. His cousin really was something else.


    Archie''s interest was piqued. "Where are you headed? I can drive you, if you want."


    Any chance to annoy Lysander was one he''d dly take-he was more than happy to throw a wrench in his cousin''s ns. And besides, he was almost certain the woman in front of him was Daphne.


    M frowned. "Don''t you have sses? Aren''t you supposed to be in school?"


    Archie''s face darkened. "Come on, M-don''t talk to me like my mom. Skipping ss is nothing new for me. My buddies cover for me all the time, it''s no big deal. Besides, you ran out with nothing-no phone, no money. Are you sure you want to go alone?"


    He had a point. Still, M''s expression didn''t change. "And stop calling me M." Archie shrugged. "So where to? Not too far, I hope."


    M looked out the window. Early morning sunlight filtered in, casting a pale glow


    on her face, making her look almost translucent. Her eyes were calm and distant, as if nothing could stir them.


    "Hignd Territories. Sris City."


    That city, with its many old churches, sat right on the country''s border.


    She needed a ce to breathe.


    Somewhere far enough to piece together the fragments of her past, to sort through the chaos. Somewhere she could find peace, and-before the quiet gaze


    of saints and angels-cut the ties that bound her, once and for all.