Noah's gaze snapped to Cecilia.
Cecilia's words hung between them like the final toll of a bell. Each second seemed to stretch on for longer than possible.
His throat tightened, and for once, he couldn't find the right words to hide behind.
She was staring straight at him, her golden eyes calm, like she could see every little secret he was hiding.
Noah opened his mouth, ready to deny, to twist her assumption, to fabricate something believable, anything, but his mind failed him.
His thoughts scattered like birds startled from a snapped twig in a quiet forest.
Cecilia exhaled softly, and in that sigh, Noah heard her making a decision.
"I'll take your silence as a yes," she said.
The words were simple, but they hit like a hammer.
Her voice wasn't raised, but it felt like she'd just yelled at him. Like she'd been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
