DominicAlexander’s footsteps faded down the hallway, his voice still echoing in my head even after the door shut behind him. The room felt different once he was gone, like the air finally loosened enough for me to breathe properly. I stayed where I was, hands in my pockets, staring at the floor for a moment longer than necessary. I could have followed him. I could have left the same way I always did, silent, distant, pretending none of this touched me. But my feet refused to move.“Ava,” I said instead, lifting my head. “Can we talk? Just us.”She paused by the window, her back still to me. For a second, I thought she might refuse. She had every reason to. Then she turned slowly, her expression calm but guarded, like she had learned long ago not to let people see too much.“Fine,” she said. “But say what you came to say.”We moved to the smaller sitting area off the main room. It was quieter there, the noise of the house muted, the heavy doors closing behind us. I didn’t sit. Neither
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