Celeste POV.
Marissa, my mom, looked at me with her big, worried eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Do you really think Seraphina will call back, sweetheart?" She was sitting so close to me on the couch, her hands nervously twisting the edge of her sweater, like she was holding onto hope itself.
My heart ached seeing her so anxious, her love for me and fear of what might happen all tangled up in her expression.
Earlier that day, I'd mustered up all my courage and dialed Seraphina's number, my hands shaking a little as I pressed the call button. I needed her help, desperately, for a plan to finally bring Aria down, someone who'd caused us so much pain.
But before I could even get the words out, before I could explain how important this was, Seraphina cut me off, hanging up the phone with a sharp click that felt like a slap. It left me staring at my phone, my chest tight with frustration and a flicker of doubt.
