Chapter 78

Emma's POV

I finally found my voice, though it was softer than I’d intended. “Thank you for today,” I said, my eyes not quite meeting his. “You didn’t have to do all of this, but…I’m glad you did.”

Ryan’s gaze was steady, unreadable for a heartbeat, and then he smiled—a slow, genuine smile that made my heart skip in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. “I meant what I said earlier, Emma. I’m here for you. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”

His words should have comforted me and should have made me feel safe. But instead, they sent a shiver down my spine, a sensation that I didn’t quite know how to process. I could sense him moving closer, even though I hadn’t looked at him. It was in the way the air between us seemed to hum, in the warmth of his breath that I felt more than heard.

When he reached for my hand, I didn’t pull away. I let him take it, though I knew my trembling would betray the tumult of emotions coursing through me. His hand was warm, his grip firm but