Sophia’s POV
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Carmen’s question hung in the air like a fragile glass ornament that could shatter at the slightest movement.
“Do you two know each other?”
Her tone was curious.
Light.
Almost playful.
But the tension around us had thickened into something far heavier than curiosity.
Frank stood beside me, watching Colton.
Colton stood across from us, Carmen’s hand looped comfortably through his arm.
Emily stood slightly behind me, her posture stiff with barely restrained irritation.
And I stood in the center of it all.
My pulse beat steadily in my ears.
Enough.
This had gone on long enough.
I exhaled slowly and stepped forward before anyone else could answer Carmen’s question.
“Yes,” I said calmly.
Everyone’s attention shifted to me immediatel
