Chapter 16

**Chapter 16**

**Aria’s POV**

The moment Mrs. Jennifer departed, my attention was drawn to the other street cleaner—James, a man whispered about in the shadows of our community. They said he had no family, no one to call his own, surviving off scraps and the occasional favor. He lounged lazily on a bench nestled near the hedges, his arms comfortably folded behind his head, tools forgotten at his feet. James was Anita’s nephew, a fact that felt like a weight in my chest.

Anita. Just the thought of her made my fingers curl tightly around the broom handle until the wood creaked in protest. She was the woman who had cost me three thousand dollars with a mere flick of her wrist, leaving me in a pit of despair.

I noticed James slip something into his pocket about ten minutes ago. Now, he reclined there like a king on his throne, exuding an air of entitlement that made my skin crawl.

I had reached a crossroads; retreat was not an option. I had promised Lana that I would protect what kept her alive, and I refused to let anyone take that away from her. So, I chose to risk it all.

As dusk bled into the streets, I continued to sweep beneath the flickering streetlight, each stroke of the broom a countdown to when I could finally go home. I longed to tuck Lana into something warmer than the thin blanket that barely shielded her from the chill of the night.