The drive back to the Hart mansion was quiet in a gentle, almost peaceful waynothing loud, nothing probing. Just the steady hum of the engine and the warm evening breeze flowing in through the cracked car windows. The sky outside was painted in shades of dusky gold and fading coral. A sunset that could have been beautiful, if Raya's thoughts weren't so loud.
Her mind replayed everything from earlier over and over again, like a movie reel caught in its own loop.
The day had gone… strangely well.
Too well.
Almost unnervingly smooth.
Raya had prepared herself for questions, subtle ones, sharp ones, the kind that slipped in between your ribs and stayed there. She had been ready to dodge, deflect, redirect. Because Juliana always noticed things. Always asked what others didn't see. Always dug deeper, even when she pretended not to.
But today… Juliana hadn't asked a thing.
No comments. No probing glances about her quietness. No attempts to peel her open.
Instead, she talked.
