Julian’s POV I didn’t want to frighten Alice, so I kept my hand on her shoulder firm but light. Yet, every other muscle in my entire body was ready. I felt coiled like a snake, ready to pounce the minute Chase showed any sign of suspicion. I didn’t trust him on the best of days, and today, right now, was far from that. After what Amber had told me, with someone, likely Olivia, having showed up at Alice’s school to try to take her out of it, I was on edge. This only made the instances I saw of Chase and Olivia interacting during our celebration more suspicious. I thought I knew Olivia better, and would have never thought that she’d target a child. Even now, despite Amber having been so sure that it was Olivia who had done the act, I struggled to wrap my mind around it. Yet, with Alice,

