Lisa’s POV
The words were simple but the way he said them…carefully, like he wasn’t asking casually… like he was observing more than inquiring.
I let out a quiet breath.
“Settling in,” I repeated slowly, my brows lifting just slightly. “Is that what we’re calling it? There was no bite in my tone but there was no softness either, just… truth.
Mr. Cole didn’t react immediately, he didn’t rush to respond. He studied me for a brief second… then gave a small nod.
“As much as circumstances allow,” he said. That almost made me smile… almost because that was the most honest answer I’d heard from anyone in this house so far.
“Circumstances,” I echoed under my breath, then I added, a little more directly this time…
“You weren’t at the wedding,” it wasn’t a question, it was a statement. And i
