Chapter 6 Six

• Karina:
• The car was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine and the faint rustle of trees as we passed them. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past me in a kaleidoscope of lights, but my mind wasn’t on the scenery. I could feel the weight of Michael’s presence beside me. He was calm, his hands steady on the wheel, his focus on the road ahead.
• I risked a glance at him, sneaking a peek from the corner of my eye. His golden hair caught the street lights, and the faint smile on his face made my chest tighten. Why wasn’t he angry? I’d expected tension, coldness, something—but instead, there he was, completely at ease.