LORIANThe moment Emely disappeared at the end of the corridor, the entire house shifted—quieter, looser, as if the air finally had room to breathe again. Alexander stood frozen in front of the bedroom door, his shoulders rigid, his jaw locked.Opportunity.I walked toward him slowly, my heels barely whispering against the thick carpet. “Alex?” I called softly.He didn’t answer. Didn’t move. So I did.My hand slid around his arm, gentle but intentional before I leaned in and wrapped myself against his side. His body was stiff, but he didn’t push me away. That alone was enough.“You look… not okay,” I murmured, barely above a whisper, as if I were the only person who ever paid attention to the turmoil inside him. “What exactly happened with Emely?”I shifted closer, close enough that he could feel the warmth of my skin through his sleeve. A gesture that looked empathetic, but every inch of it calculated.“Did she say something that… hurt you?” My tone soft, sympathetic yet perfectly la
Last Updated : 2026-02-11 Read more