I swallowed hard.
Ryland held my hand, and we walked inside, following Julian.
The house was huge—almost unreal. Not just big, but that quiet kind of luxury that doesn't feel like it's trying to impress anyone. High ceilings, wide open spaces, clean architecture, and soft natural light pouring in through large windows. Everything felt expensive, but also lived in, like it actually belonged to people who moved through it every day.
The moment we stepped inside, the air changed.
It was warm.
And it smelled like food—something rich and home-cooked drifting in from deeper inside the house, mixing with a soft, clean scent that made everything feel oddly comforting despite how nervous I was.
We followed Julian further in.
Just as we stepped inside the living room, which opened into the kitchen, I was able to see the rest of the family.
Five more guys.
And I could somehow tell who's who.
As we walked in, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
