After her mother left, Audrey took a shaky breath, the silence settling uncomfortably in the air. She glanced down at the counter, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the tray of pastries she'd been arranging. She was trying to keep her composure, to shove down the feelings of inadequacy that her mother's words had unearthed.But Sebastian wasn't having it. He placed his hand over hers, stilling her movements, his touch warm and grounding. "Hey," he said gently. "You don't have to hide how that made you feel."Audrey blinked, glancing up at him, her defenses starting to crumble. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held her firm, his gaze steady and unwavering. "I've known you only a short time, Audrey, but I can already see you have a strength your mother can't see. And, I hate to break it to you, but she's wrong. About everything."She forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "It's... it's just something I've gotten used to. Hearing things like that from her."Se
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