ATTICUS
The fresh air hit me as I stepped into the garden, but it did nothing to dispel the tension coiling tight in my chest. Just up ahead, Hera and Ben strolled along the path, Hera laughing at something he must have said.
Her laughter was soft, light, that carefree sound that I’d only heard a handful of times… and never directed at me. It was like hearing something forbidden, something meant for someone else—and that only made it worse.
But then she noticed me.
Her laughter faded, replaced by an uneasy look as her gaze met mine, and for a split second, her mood shifted entirely. She seemed… conscious, guarded, the brightness in her eyes dimming.
The swift change hit me like a punch to the gut.
I forced my gaze to remain steady, though the twist in my stomach tightened.
Her
