Jasmine's POV
The world stopped spinning when Stephen spoke those words. He hadn't picked up Naia and Jeffrey.
My body went rigid, every nerve screaming as the reality crashed over me. I stumbled out of the room where Mrs. Ana and the technician waited, my legs barely supporting my weight.
"Stephen," I managed to whisper into the phone, my voice cracking. "We spoke earlier. You promised me you'd get them. We made arrangements."
Confusion laced his tone. "Jasmine, this is our first conversation today. I've been training at the martial arts center since dawn. You know Wednesday is my intensive day."
The ground beneath me seemed to dissolve.
He continued talking, oblivious to my crumbling world. "I always leave my phone with security during sessions, but today I locked it in my private suite. Just retrieved it now."
The phone tumbled from my numb fingers, clattering against the floor.
