She reached to pick it up, only to cut her finger—the pain was sharp. Yet no matter how desperately she cried, the two figures kept arguing without pause.
"Valerie, Valerie, wake up!"
The urgent voice pulled her from the nightmare. She sat up abruptly, her forehead damp with sweat, tear stains still visible on her cheeks.
Realizing it had all been a dream—that time hadn't reversed—she let out a relieved sigh and covered her face.
"Bad dream?"
Ryan's voice was surprisingly soft as he watched her, the gentle tone slowly easing Valerie's tension.
She managed a weak smile. "Yeah, but I'm fine. Thanks for waking me."
Ryan was accustomed to her usual playful antics. Seeing her vulnerable like this stirred something unexpected in him.
"You're okay then. Wash up—we should go down for dinne
