The air in the villa's sitting room felt heavy, like everyone was holding their breath but trying not to show it. The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the silence, competing with the pounding in Sasha's chest as she finally descended the last step and entered the room.
She expected Stella and Cody to be talking, or maybe sitting casually with the TV on like nothing had happened, but instead they both turned so sharply the moment they spotted her that it almost startled her.
"Sasha!" Stella exclaimed, her voice shooting out with such urgency that it sounded like she'd been waiting hours for this moment. She rushed toward her like someone running to embrace a long-lost sister. "Oh my God, are you okay?"
Sasha blinked, taken aback by her intensity. "I... I'm fine," she said softly,
