Chapter 10-Control

Lyle's POV

I rub my temples, feeling the exhaustion settling deep into my bones. I just don’t have it in me to console Fiona right now.

Not after everything that happened with Angela. My patience is shot, my mind a tangled mess. Without much thought, I type out a reply: I’m dealing with something urgent. We’ll talk later.

I toss my phone onto the passenger seat, let out a tired sigh, and start the car. The engine roars to life, but it doesn’t fill the emptiness pressing against my chest.

Angela’s face still haunts me, that look of quiet devastation, the bitterness that came with it.

Even now, I can’t shake it.

Ever since Angela moved out, our house has become a place I’ve avoided at all costs. The idea of going back there, to the space that now feels cold and abandoned, makes me feel more alone than I care to admit.

So, instead of driving home, I steer toward my parents’ house. It’s not a comforting choice, but it’s better than the alternative.

The memory of coming home the night