Chapter 51: The Uninvited Guest's Warning

The bell above the door of the Red Romance Café chimed a cheerful, almost mocking, tune as I stepped inside. The air was thick with the rich scent of roasted coffee beans and steamed milk, a comforting aroma that did nothing to soothe the knot of anxiety tightening in my gut. The café was a cozy little place, all warm lighting, dark wood, and the low hum of conversation. It felt aggressively normal, a stark contrast to the life I’d been living for the past few months. I scanned the handful...