Riley POV
Morning sunlight poured across my room in soft gold, warming my skin like a promise. The McKinnley estate looked peaceful from my window — too peaceful. The trees whispered in the breeze, the sky stretched wide and endless, and for a moment, I let myself breathe.
A real home.
A real family.
Something I’d spent my whole life convincing myself I didn’t need because wanting it hurt too much.
But now… I had it.
Dad.
Alex.
Mason.
The thought sent a flutter of anxiety and something warmer — heavier — through my chest.
I dressed quickly and followed the smell of breakfast downstairs. When I entered the kitchen, Dad and Mason were already there. Their conversation stopped the moment I stepped into the room, and for a heartbeat, I felt the old fear rise:
They were talking about
