Layla’s POV
Caleb stood up in front of me. His jaw was tight. His eyes searched my face like he was trying to understand a language he could no longer read.
"Ava... this is not your fight," he said quietly. "And you're not in the right condition for such a journey."
I stared at him, my lips trembled. "Please... don't shut me out. " My voice cracked and a single tear slipped down my cheek. I didn't bother wiping it. "Just--- just let me know immediately you find this person
.. please. I need a one-on-one with him."
Caleb drew a long breath . The tension in his shoulders fell slowly.
He nodded and turned to leave.
But he stopped before he opened the door, then he turned to me slowly.
"Ava," he said gently, "if my attempts... if my efforts to show you that I care... if they offen
