Bryson's POV
The next two days blur together as I find myself sharing a car with Julian to school and back to the mansion. He never speaks much, just drives with his face fixed in that cold mask he wears around everyone. But I notice things he probably doesn't think I see, like how his shoulders tense up every time Richard talks to him.
It's weird watching Richard Hayes suddenly play the role of warm stepdad. He asks me about my classes, tells me he's proud of my effort on the hockey team, and even laughs when I mess up basic stuff like using the wrong fork at dinner. He acts like I've always been part of this family.
I want to feel grateful. Really, I do. But something feels off about it too. Mom's had boyfriends before who started this nice, this was interested in being a fath
