AARONThe door clicked shut behind Andrea, the sound quiet but heavy enough to settle into my bones.For a second, the room felt hollow.Like all the air had been pulled out with her.Venus didn’t move immediately. She stood where I had left her, shoulders tight, eyes still fixed on the door as if she expected Andrea to burst back through it laughing.Then she turned to me.“What are you up to?” she asked, voice low but sharp. “Aaron, don’t leave me in the dark anymore. Not now. Not after everything.” Her breath hitched. “What was that about Rick? And where is Iris?”The questions landed fast, desperate, layered with fear she had been swallowing for too long.I stepped closer slowly, careful not to overwhelm her.“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.The apology wasn’t enough, and I knew it. But it was the only honest place to start.Her brows pulled together. “Sorry doesn’t answer me.”“I know.” I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm even though my pulse had already started to climb ag
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