Natalie froze completely, her voice faltering.
“Rhett? You’re home? Why are you home?”
“I—it’s not what it looks like…” she hurried to explain. “I was just joking with her, don’t misunderstand—”
As she spoke, she hastily set me down.
The moment my feet touched the ground, I stepped back immediately.
Rhett was already coming up the stairs.
He still had a fruit knife in his hand, the blade faintly glistening with juice.
He stood there, staring at Natalie without saying a word.
That silence was more terrifying than anything he could have said—like he might strike the next second.
Natalie’s face had gone pale, her eyes filled with fear.
And then, at that very moment, Rhett suddenly smiled, as if nothing had happened.
He turned to me, his voice returning to its usual calm tone.
“Ari
