Chapter 243

• Nathan's pov
• I drove in silence, my hands gripping the wheel tighter than necessary, my mind still trying to process everything Sebastian had said earlier on the phone. Claire’s foster parents—dead. Shot instantly while attempting to escape. My chest was tight, though not from grief. I wasn’t particularly attached to them, and I knew Claire wasn’t either, but the reality of death always carried a certain weight. Still, it wasn’t loss that lingered in me, it was dread. Dread because Claire was already on her way to the airport, insisting on pushing forward with her trip to Asia.
• The morgue loomed before me, the sharp scent of disinfectant mixed with something metallic and heavy the moment I stepped inside. Sebastian was waiting near the counter, his usual sharp suit and calm demeanor contrasting heavily with the setting. He glanced up as I approached, his eyes narrowing slightly.