Chapter 36
POV: Emma
Saturday mornings at Brookside were never quiet.
Someone always argued over parking.
Someone always burned toast.
Someone always borrowed something without returning it.
It felt wonderfully normal.
Until a sleek black sports car rolled through the front gate.
Every conversation stopped.
Even Mrs. Alvarez paused halfway through hanging laundry.
The driver's door opened.
A man in an expensive navy suit stepped out wearing sunglasses that probably cost more than my monthly salary.
He looked around with obvious confusion.
"Excuse me," he called. "I'm looking for Damian."
Leo whispered beside me,
"He definitely doesn't belong here."
"No kidding."
The stranger spotted me and walked over with an easy smile.
"You must be Emma."
I frowned.
"Have we met?"
"N
