Christian stiffened, every muscle tightening like a drawn wire.
His arms hovered uselessly at his sides. He didn’t return the embrace—but he didn’t move away either. He just let her stay.
After a beat, Raven pulled back. Her gaze dropped, and the smile on her face turned shy. The room suddenly felt full of unspoken things.
She turned to the window, brushing the curtain lightly. Then to the desk. Then the wardrobe. Each corner of the room called to her like an exit.
Christian saw it.
“I’ll give you some space,” he said gently.
He stepped back and pulled the door closed behind him.
Now alone in the hallway, between Mia’s room and Raven’s, he stopped.
One hand on his hip. The other dragged through his hair.
He stared at the floor for a moment, then slowly looked up at the quiet walls
