The clock struck midnight, and Scarlett lay in bed, wide awake, her thoughts running wild. No matter how hard she tried to close her eyes, sleep wouldn’t come. The day’s events replayed in her mind on a constant loop—James’s piercing stare, Ethan’s protective urgency, and Daniel’s sudden seriousness. It all felt like pieces of a puzzle she couldn’t quite assemble.
Finally, with a frustrated sigh, Scarlett threw the blanket off and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The apartment was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. She padded softly down the hall, her curiosity and unease pushing her to check on her brother and Ethan.
The faint glow of light seeped out from under the door to the living room. As she drew closer, muffled voices and the soft clinking o
