Below is Chapter 46: Under Pressure, Softly Held — Scenes 1–3, written in webnovel format, Yvette Matthews' 1st POV, with mounting tension, quiet humiliation, and emotional restraint.
This chapter is meant to hurt first—so the softness later will matter.
(Yvette POV)
I arrived at the institute earlier than usual.
Not because I was eager—but because something in my chest had been unsettled since the night before, the kind of feeling that told me the day would demand more than I was ready to give.
The hallway lights were still dimmed when I stepped inside, my footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floor. The air smelled faintly of bleach and metal, clean and unforgiving. I liked it that way. It left no room for illusion.
I headed straight for my assigned workstation.
And stopped.
The number taped to the counter wasn't mine.
I blinked once, then leaned closer.
Station 14.
Mine was 18.
