Late evening. The Callahan family mansion.
Dim lights. Quiet halls. The atmosphere heavy with guilt and regret.
Noah drove back home after leaving Landon's penthouse. His hands felt like paper on the steering wheel. Thin. Fragile. Ready to tear.
He felt hollow. Not just guilt. Exhaustion that sat deep in his bones. In his soul.
The Callahan mansion glowed from afar. Warm lights in the cold night. But to Noah it felt like walking into a grave. His grave.
He hesitated at the front door. Hearing muffled voices. His parents talking inside.
He took a deep breath. Pushed the door open.
Eleanor sat in the living room. Pale. Tense. Sipping wine. Thomas read silently beside her.
The moment Noah entered, she looked up. Eyes sharp. Red from crying.
Eleanor stood. Voice sh
