Chapter 76 An Apology

• Ruby’s pov
• The kitchen was silent, except for the soft hum of the stove, as I stood there, chopping vegetables with hands that trembled. I wasn’t sure if it was the nerves from being in Dominic’s space, or the weight of the conversation I’d had with Oliver earlier, but something in my chest felt suffocating, tight.
• Emma sat at the table in the living room, absorbed in her coloring book. Her innocence, her focus on the simple task in front of her, should’ve made everything feel lighter, but the silence between Dominic and me felt suffocating. I couldn’t push away the haunting echoes of Oliver’s words—they kept circling in my mind, no matter how I tried to ignore them.