Chapter 1Ellie’s POVI’ve always been the kind of girl who craves stability but somehow ends up surrounded by chaos. At twenty-two, I was still living at home with Mom, juggling community college classes, part-time shifts at the local café, and the quiet ache of watching my friends move on with their lives while mine felt stuck in limbo.Mom has always been a whirlwind,beautiful, ambitious, and constantly chasing the next big opportunity. She worked long hours in corporate sales, traveling more often than she was home. Our house was nice, a two-story place with a pool in the backyard that I mostly had to myself. I’d grown up here after Dad left when I was twelve, learning early how to be independent. I cooked my own meals, kept the place tidy, and filled the empty evenings with books, movies, and late-night swims.I loved my body and had grown comfortable in it. Lon
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