Mathilda’s POV

Paula kept her word.

She showed up exactly one hour after Mrs. Rosa’s phone call—or two hours after she’d stormed out of my room earlier.

The moment I heard the knocking, I woke up immediately.

Instead of hiding or pretending not to hear, I decided to face her.

I was done running from Paula’s rage.

I didn’t even let her pound on the door too long. By the third knock, I opened it.

“Mathilda.”

And there she was—Paula. But to my surprise, Fredric was standing right beside her.

Even