Ryan's POV
The room went quiet the moment she stepped inside.
"Hi."
Paulina's voice was barely above a whisper, soft and hesitant—the kind of voice that used to make me drop my guard.
This time, I didn't.
I kept my eyes on her, saying nothing.
Her expression fell slightly before she swallowed hard.
"I just..." She looked away for a second, gathering herself. "I never expected you to hit my brother like that. Not over some girl."
Something inside me snapped.
"She's not some girl."
The words came out before I could stop them.
Paulina froze.
Her eyes flickered with something I couldn't quite place—hurt, maybe. Disappointment.
"Yeah?" she whispered. "Then what am I, Ryan?"
Her voice cracked slightly.
"Am I just any girl to you too?"
My jaw tightened.
"I never said that, Paulin
