Aubrey's POV
When the door shut behind Matt, I felt the room exhale, but the pressure didn't leave. It just shifted. Heavy and unspoken, and now it sat squarely on my shoulders.
I turned my eyes toward Joseph, only for a second. That was all it took. The look on his face gutted me.
God.
I don't know what expression I expected, but not that. Not that silent devastation beneath all that tension. His jaw was still clenched, his arms crossed like he was holding himself together, but his eyes… they weren't cold.
They were disappointed.
That was worse.
Something inside me twisted. Shame? Regret? Guilt? I don't know which emotion to feel. I couldn't stand in that space for another second. I turned around and walked to my room, roses still in my hand, ribbon trailing from
