RAINA Whatever was happening outside was an unwelcome distraction. Could they not realize that this was neither the place nor the time for such disruptions? Frustration bubbled under my already strained composure as I followed after Dominic, who had just reassured Grandma not to worry. When I reached the front door, the scene before me made me pause. Alex stood there, his jaw tight, facing Adelaide, who looked pale and fidgety, her eyes darting around like a trapped animal. Dominic was already mid-sentence, his tone sharp and unyielding. “Why the hell are you yelling, Alex?” Dominic demanded, his frustration clear. “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Alex replied, his voice steady but firm. “But I stepped away to take a call, and when I came back, I found her,”—he gestured toward Adelaide—“p

