Derek POV
I was still upstairs in Maddie's room, sitting in silence with Averie. Neither of us said much, both trying to distract ourselves in our own ways. Maddie had been gone for a while, longer than I expected. At first, I told myself she just needed some air, as she said nothing after the call with Sandy—maybe a moment to herself. But as the minutes ticked by, unease crept in.
Curiosity got the better of me. I stood, brushing off Averie's questioning glance, and made my way downstairs. The sound of my footsteps echoed through the hall, but when I reached the bottom of the staircase, the sight that greeted me made my blood run cold.
Maddie was running—sprinting out of the mansion like her life depended on it.
And Stephen was right behind her.
I froze for a second, disbelief grippi
