Alison's POV
I felt the tension before I even opened my eyes. It hung in the air, heavy and undeniable, like a storm threatening to break loose. The events of the last few days weighed on my chest like a boulder, and yet, I found myself craving resolution, clarity, and closure. I didn’t realize how much until the words tumbled out of my mouth at breakfast: "I need to see Kendrick."
Xander's fork paused mid-air. His jaw tightened, and I caught the flicker of displeasure in his eyes before he even uttered a word. “Absolutely not.” His tone left no room for argument or so he thought.
I squared my shoulders and met his gaze head-on. “You can’t forbid me from this, Xander. I need answers.”
His chair scraped against the hardwood floor as he leaned forward, his palms flat on the table. “That
