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Third Person's Pov:

Katherine stood at the edge of the kitchen, her fingers lightly brushing the surface of the countertop as she gazed absently out the window. The late afternoon light filtered in, casting a golden glow across the room, but her mind was far from the picturesque scene outside.

Bryson.

The thought of him drifted through her mind like a breeze. Calm. Easy. When she had asked him for a ride earlier that day, he hadn’t hesitated, hadn’t asked questions. Just... accepted. They had hidden from Derek together, and it had felt natural in a way. The easygoing silence between them hadn’t felt awkward. Bryson never pushed her too hard, never questioned her decisions. He gave her space, and maybe that was why she had gravitated toward him in the first place. His relaxed demeanor had always been a stark contrast to Derek’s intensity.

But that’s what made the entire situation so confusing.

With Bryson, things were comfortable. She knew what to expect, could almost predict his next