The waiting room settled back into its quiet hum, but the tension left in the air was palpable. Steve watched Tom and Grace sit down, his own thoughts swirling with questions and unease. He leaned against the wall, folding his arms as his gaze lingered on Tom.
Tom shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly aware of Steve’s scrutiny. “I know this is sudden,” he said, breaking the silence. “But I’m here for the right reasons. I need you to believe that.”
Steve raised an eyebrow. “Belief is earned, Tom, not demanded. You showing up out of the blue after all you did to my sister, doesn’t exactly scream trustworthy.”
Grace placed a hand on Steve’s arm, a silent plea for him to ease up. “Steve, let’s give him a chance to explain. Elena would want that,” she said gently.
Tom glanced at Grace,
