The silence in the room did not ease after Thomas left. Instead, it deepened, becoming heavier, almost unbearable. Caro remained frozen behind her desk, her fingers still hovering over the papers she no longer saw. The only thing she felt clearly was Peter's presence, sharp and unmoving near the doorway.
Caro finally whispered, forcing her voice to stay steady, "Peter… it's not what you think." The words sounded weak even to her own ears. She lifted her eyes briefly, then lowered them again, unable to hold his gaze for too long. "Thomas was just being… friendly. That's all."
Peter did not answer immediately. Instead, he stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind him with quiet precision. "Friendly," he repeated slowly, as if testing the word. His voice was calm, but there was something restrained underneath it. "That's what you call it."
