Chapter 399

• I couldn’t let Helen try to comfort me anymore. Not because she was doing anything wrong she wasn’t. But because her words, her empathy, only made it harder to keep everything under control. Her kindness chipped away at the armor I’d carefully constructed.
• So I pivoted.
• I turned to Ryan, gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and smiled like I’d just remembered something sweet. “I’m okay,” I said lightly. “Just a little low-energy, that’s all. But I’m already feeling better thinking about the gala tonight. You know how amazing the food is at these things.”