Aliyah sat on the couch, fingers clenched tightly around the edge of her shirt as Marion walked in from work. He looked tired, his tie loosened around his neck, blazer draped over one arm.

She stood, forcing a calm breath. “Marion, can we talk?”

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “About what?”

Aliyah hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s about Courtney.”

He blinked, then chuckled lightly. “What about her?”

Aliyah’s hands fell to her sides. ...