Caro didn't give herself time to think.
"Peter, I need to tell you something before you decide anything else," she said, the words coming out faster than her breath could keep up, as if delaying even a second would make her lose her courage entirely. He was still leaning back from that silence, his expression unreadable, but her voice pulled his attention back to her immediately. His gaze sharpened, focusing fully now. "Then tell me," he said quietly. "No more half-answers. No more holding back." Caro nodded once, but her fingers tightened at her sides, betraying the tension she was trying to contain.
