Emily nodded, her expression firm. “Yes, and they’ll want to see you, of course. I’ll help you cover everything, but you need to pull it together.”
I inhaled deeply, trying to steady the storm inside me. This wasn’t just a casual visit. Vincent’s parents lived abroad; their rare appearances were deliberate. For them to show up unannounced meant only one thing—they were deeply worried about their son. And that meant one thing for me—I had to hide the truth about Cross.
I shot a glance at Emily, her determined expression a small comfort. “Okay,” I said, the tremor in my voice barely under control. “I’ll handle it. But you need to keep Cross out of the way.”
Emily’s nod was sharp, resolute. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get anywhere near them.”
The hours blurred together as I pa
