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Chapter 74

Author: Lauren
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-26 02:08:54

Caroline’s Point of View

The quiet hum of the diner wraps around us, the clinking of utensils and the low murmur of conversations filling the air. Adrian sits across from me, leaning back in his seat with an easy smile, but his eyes are sharp, studying me.

“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?” he asks, breaking the silence. His voice is calm, but there’s an edge of concern that makes me feel guilty.

I fidget with the edge of my napkin, avoiding his gaze. “It’s nothing. Just work.”

Adrian raises an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Caroline, come on. You’ve been picking at your food for twenty minutes, and I’ve never seen you this distracted. If it’s work, I can handle that excuse, but I don’t think it is.”

I glance up at him, startled by how easily he reads me. His patience feels like a lifeline, and for a moment, I consider brushing it off again. But then I realize how exhausting it is to keep everything bottled up.

“It’s not about Knoxx,” I say quickly, preempting the question I kno
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