The weekend weighed heavier on Rayla than she had expected. Despite Scarlet’s encouraging words and unwavering support, the turmoil in her heart refused to settle. She couldn’t stop thinking about Asher—about his anger, his pain, and the way he had shut her out. She wanted to understand him, to help him, but she didn’t know how to bridge the gap he had created between them. By Sunday afternoon, she found herself sitting in Scarlet’s car, the two of them winding their way through the woods toward Asher’s grannies’ house. Rayla couldn’t drive, and Scarlet, ever the loyal friend, had insisted on taking her.
“You sure about this?” Scarlet asked, glancing at Rayla as she navigated the narrow, tree-lined road. “I mean, I’m all for you confronting him, but… you know how he gets. He’s not exactly
