C45 Do I need your permission?

**Third person**

He'd lied about everything just to be with Val??!

“Hello, hello, Karen?” Layla's voice called out from the receiver.

“You may leave,” Karen said to the guard. Her voice was surprisingly calm and steady despite the raging inferno inside.

She brought the phone back to her ear.

"Are you still there?" Layla asked.

"Forget it," Karen mumbled through gritted teeth