Chapter 94

• I sigh. “Believe it or not, he’s trying to change.”
• Ruth stares at me for a long moment, visibly disturbed but saying nothing. Her eyes shift to the side, unreadable. I can’t tell what she’s thinking—whether she believes me, doubts me, or simply wants to shut the conversation down. The tension sits between us like a silent weight.
• I hesitate, then decide to press forward with what’s really been gnawing at me. I’ve had this strange feeling since I arrived—like someone else was nearby. Watching. Hiding. And I couldn’t shake the name that kept floating to the front of my mind.