Isabel’s POV
I take a deep breath, my shoulders rising high as I glance at Aurora. It’s a subtle signal—I had no idea this was coming. She reads the unspoken message in my eyes, but her face stays unreadable.
Turning to face Richard, I manage to say, “Wow, I didn’t know you model.”
His face softens, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He glances at Aurora, but she doesn’t flinch, her expression neutral.
“Oh, it’s just a side gig. Something to mix things up now and then.” he says, his voice casual yet confident, as if he’s used to keeping things light.
I feel my shoulders drop, my arms folding instinctively across my chest. “Right. I see.” My voice is even, but inside, the awkwardness churns. How do I navigate through this?
The silence stretches, thick with unspoken tensi
