[Ryder]
By the time we arrived at the mansion, Elvis was already unloading my luggage. I intercepted Celeste before she could offer to help, her hand hovering close to the strap. The weight of those bags wasn't something she could manage, and frankly, it wasn't something she should even attempt. Some traditions—like a man carrying the heavier load—weren't outdated in my eyes.
"Leave it," I said curtly when she reached for one of the suitcases. She pressed her lips together and stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, her eyes drifting to the mansion behind me. She was trying hard not to gape, but the subtle widening of her eyes and the way her lips parted ever so slightly betrayed her.
"It's bigger than I imagined," she murmured, almost to herself.
I smirked faintly. Her reaction wasn'
