The drive home was quiet, the low hum of the engine blending with the gentle patter of rain against the windshield. Anna kept her eyes on the road, but her thoughts were everywhere—scattered, tangled in emotions she didn’t want to admit to. Lilly’s laughter still echoed in her mind, but so did Jaden’s name. The way her sister spoke about him—with such innocence, such trust—it stirred something deep in Anna’s chest.
Family.
The word had never felt so fragile, so terrifying.
Her grip tightened on the steering wheel. She was letting Jaden in. And that was dangerous. This wasn’t supposed to be real. This was a contract. A desperate agreement to save her sister’s life. Nothing more.
Right?
The wrought iron gates of the Blackwell estate slid open as her car approached, the mansion standing
