I stayed there numb for a while.
The air in the room felt still, like everything was waiting with me.
They didn’t push. Didn’t speak. They just stood there, giving me space to breathe through something I didn’t even understand yet.
I finally looked at them.
Pierce was the first one my eyes found. He gave a small smile, soft and careful, but it didn’t reach his eyes. There was concern there.
My gaze shifted.
Hayes stood straight, composed as ever, his shoulders squared, his expression controlled. But it wasn’t as solid as before. There was something beneath it now. Something tight. Like if he moved the wrong way, everything he was holding back would show.
My chest tightened.
Then I looked at Ford.
He didn’t even try to hide it. His brows were drawn, his jaw tense, his hands flexin
