The car ride home was quiet, almost deceptively so. Outside the tinted windows, the city blurred past in streaks of neon and fading daylight, but inside, silence pressed heavily. Claude had one hand on the wheel, the other still linked with Mio's fingers as if to anchor her. He hadn't let go since they left Jean Company, and though Mio tried, she couldn't bring herself to pull away either.
It wasn't because she was weak. It was because her thoughts wouldn't stop circling Serena's cruel words.
When they reached the Lockheart residence, Claude led her in without a word. He dropped his suit jacket neatly over the back of the couch, loosened his tie, then immediately turned back to her.
"Sit," he commanded softly, pointing to the sofa.
Mio frowned, folding her arms. "I'm not a child."
"No," Claude murmured, stepping closer until he towered over her, "you're my wife. Which makes it my job to take care of you when you look like you're two seconds from crying."
