Lennox's POV
I didn't rush through the food. Partly because it was still hot, partly because… I didn't want her to leave. The silence between us wasn't the cold, biting kind from before—it was warmer now, softer, filled with unspoken things I wasn't ready to let out yet. Her eyes kept drifting to my face as if she wanted to say something, but each time, she swallowed it back. I could feel her through the bond—guilt still sitting heavy in her chest, mingled with relief that I was eating.
When I set the fork down, she reached for the tray, but I caught her wrist. "Leave it," I said quietly. "Stay here a little longer."
Her lips parted, but she didn't argue. Instead, she shifted so her knees were tucked up on the bed, facing me fully. I studied her for a moment before inhaling deeply. "I'm sorry for the way I reacted, Olivia… yes, you have every reason to still doubt me," I said softly, but she shook her head.