"Did Elle get home yet?" Adrian asked as he stepped into the living room, where Chloe sat hunched over her books.
His sister glanced up, her gaze lingering—hesitant, almost calculating.
"Well?" he prodded, picking up on the shift in her demeanor.
Chloe let out a slow breath. "She did... but her eyes were swollen."
Adrian stilled.
So, she had been crying. Was it because he never showed up? That was the only explanation that made sense.
He hadn’t meant to miss their dinner—he really hadn’t. He was already on his way out when Ester showed up, looking utterly wrecked. And when she told him she needed him… how could he just leave?
So, he stayed.
He stayed until she calmed down, until she fell asleep. He never once checked the time—never once thought about the dinner he had promised Elle
