32. SOUR DESIRE.

ANASTASIA’S POV A month and one week without seeing Isaac, and dealing with my parents breathing down my neck. It was exhausting. Every interaction felt like walking through molasses, thick and suffocating. Moving back home hadn’t helped, the walls seemed smaller, the air heavier and every glance from them was a reminder of my rebellion, my choices and my anger. The only reprieve came during the brief phone calls with Isaac. Those were moments where the chaos faded, and it was just us, untangled from the judgment. Now, I had finally told Kenny. I hadn’t expected much, but I definitely hadn’t expected the calm, knowing tone that followed. “Of course, I knew. So, you’ve finally decided to tell me?” she said, her voice carrying that teasing, knowing lilt that made my stomach twist in confusion. I blinked, trying to process the words. “You knew?!” My voice came out higher than I expected, sharp with disbelief. “Yup," she replied casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the