Hailey's pov
Roy opened the passenger door and offered his hand. I took it, stepping out carefully, my legs still unsteady from the long, silent ride. The mansion loomed ahead, warm lights glowing through the windows, but the air between us felt colder than the evening breeze.
Ryan got out from the back seat and moved toward me. “Hailey, please—let me explain.”
I kept walking, eyes fixed on the front steps. “Not now.”
“Just give me a minute,” he insisted, his voice tight, controlled in that way that usually meant he was panicking underneath. “You deserve at least that.”
Roy’s arm slipped around my waist, steadying me without a word. His presence was solid, grounding. We climbed the steps together, the gravel crunching under our shoes, the only sound besides the distant wind.
Ryan fo
