The Red String Between Us: Part III Eternal Thread

第2章 The Road to Los Angeles

      The morning air in Big Sur carried a soft haze, sunlight breaking over the cliffs in warm, golden sheets. Eden stood at the balcony railing, coffee in hand, watching the ocean swell and retreat in its steady rhythm. She hadn't slept much, her thoughts tangled with what tomorrow would bring.

Claire appeared behind her, still in her robe, hair pulled back in a messy bun. "You're already awake? I figured I'd find you buried under the covers, hiding from reality."

Eden gave a faint smile, eyes still on the water. "If only it were that easy." She took a sip of coffee, letting the bitterness ground her. "I can feel it, Claire. Everything is about to shift. And once it does, I won't be able to step back."

Claire rested a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. "Then make sure it shifts in your favor. No hesitating. If you want this, claim it."

Eden set her cup down, her reflection caught in the sliding glass door. She hardly recognized herself anymore—sharper, more deliberate, as if the decisions she carried had carved new lines into her.

By mid-morning, her bags were packed. Claire insisted on driving her down the winding coast, the open-top car slicing through the salty air. They sang along half-heartedly to an old playlist, laughter cutting through the tension Eden tried to suppress. Still, as the miles ticked by and the landscape flattened, her mind wandered again to the inevitability of Los Angeles—the cameras, the whispers, Kenji's presence.

At a gas station stop, Claire leaned against the car while Eden adjusted her sunglasses. "You've got that look," Claire said knowingly.

"What look?"

"The one where you're already living tomorrow instead of today. Breathe, Eden. Don't let nerves run the show."

Eden chuckled softly, but the truth sat heavy in her chest. "It's not nerves. It's strategy. Tomorrow, I have to walk in there and make it clear. No more shadows, no more questions. If I'm going to be seen with him, it has to be on my terms."

Claire tilted her head, her grin fading into something more serious. "You really are ready for this, aren't you?"

"Yes," Eden said, her voice low but certain. "And once I do, there won't be any going back."

The drive continued, the coastline giving way to the sprawl of the city. Traffic thickened, the air buzzing with anticipation as towers rose into the horizon. Los Angeles stretched ahead, glimmering with both promise and danger.

By the time they reached the boutique hotel near the gala venue, Eden felt the tension coil tight inside her, not suffocating this time but sharpening. Claire handed her the last shopping bag from the trunk.

"One night," Claire said, her voice warm but firm. "Rest. Tomorrow, you step into the light. And whatever happens, remember—you're not invisible."

Eden nodded, clutching the handle of her bag a little tighter. Tomorrow the cameras would flash, the world would watch, and the eternal threads would either bind her closer or unravel completely.