Julian's POV
I follow my father down the hallway toward his office, my mind still tangled between Bryson and his mother's unexpected news. The weight of Clara's pregnancy announcement sits heavily in my chest, mixing with confusion about what just happened in Bryson's room.
The office door closes behind us with a soft click, sealing us in the space that always makes me feel small. Everything about this room screams success and expectation.
The air feels heavy, lined with the quiet authority my father always carries. It's the same feeling I get before he criticizes my grades or lectures me about disappointing him.
Richard gestures toward one of the chairs across from his desk. "Sit."
I sit, my back straight, hands resting on my thighs. Waiting.
He settles into his own ch
