Emma's POV

　　My gaze drifted away from Bennett's hopeful face and landed on Parker, who stood a short distance away, his eyes fixed on the ground. His frown was deep, his brows furrowed in discontent. My lips twitched as I took in his disgruntled expression.

　　Despite the tension between us, I found Parker's sulky demeanor amusing. I had never seen him so defeated, so... human. My heart skipped a beat as I realized that I was actually enjoying his company, even in ...