Chapter 132
First Step
After breakfast, the silence of the house felt like a challenge. I clutched the documents I'd prepared for work, the paper a little crinkled from my nervous grip. Then, my mother's voice, sharp and clear, sliced through the quiet.
"Are you ready to go, Alayna?"
I turned, adjusting my bag strap, the leather digging slightly into my shoulder. "Yes, I'm going to the hospital, Mother. I won't be living here after the wedding, but that doesn't mean my life stops. I still need to work."
She hesitated, a crease forming between her brows like a worry line etched in stone. "I understand, we've talked about it, but… do you really need to? The Haltons could give you a life most people only dream of. Comfort. Security. You wouldn't have to lift a finger."
"I know," I said evenly, trying to keep the impatience from my voice. "But this isn't about money. It's about me. I need to stand on my own. I need to know I can build something without anyone holding my hand."
