"Celeste, can you give us a moment alone?" Franklin asked, his soft gaze focused on Cassie.
Celeste lifted her eyes from the tablet in her hands and smiled warmly, the kind of smile that made it clear she already understood more than she let on.
"Of course," she said gently. "I'll be with Evelyn if you need me."
She walked out, closing the door softly behind her.
The moment it shut, the air in the office shifted. It didn't just feel quieter, it felt colder, heavier, like the room itself was holding its breath.
Cassie stood there, staring at the floor for a second too long, her thoughts tangling into knots she couldn't undo.
What could she possibly give him?
She finally lifted her eyes. "Franklin… you already have everything. What could I possibly give you?"
He stu
