"Lolo..." Samantha's voice cracked as they stepped into the mansion. The moment she saw him, the floodgates burst open. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him as sobs racked her frame. All the pain she’d been holding in—the ache in her chest, the weight in her stomach—finally broke free.
Her grandfather frowned, gently stroking her back. "What’s wrong, apo?" His voice was warm, steady—the kind of voice that had comforted her since childhood. He glanced at the young man standing stiffly near the door. The entire room had turned their attention to Drake.
"Why is my granddaughter crying?" The old man’s tone sharpened as his gaze flicked between Samantha’s trembling form and Drake’s unreadable expression.
"What do you think?" The voice came from the far side of the room—older, lac
