Annabelle stepped out of the car when she got home, her legs feeling like they might give way beneath her. The weight of Sebastian’s words still pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She clutched her bag tightly, her knuckles white, as she walked toward the house. The familiar sight of the front door offered no comfort. Instead, it felt like the entrance to a maze she wasn’t sure she could navigate.
Derek was in the living room when she entered, his back to her as he adjusted the frame of a painting on the wall. He turned when he heard her footsteps, his face lighting up with that easy smile she had come to love. But today, it felt different. It felt... calculated.
“Hey, Sunshine,” he said, his voice warm. “How was school?”
Annabelle forced a smile, though it felt brittl
