Layla sat across from Nolan, nerves coiled tightly in her chest as she waited for him to lay out the so-called rules. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, too uneasy to look at him directly.

“Hmm…” He cleared his throat, drawing her attention. Her eyes flickered up to meet his.

“I know neither of us wants to be in the situation we’ve found ourselves in,” he began in a deep monotone, “but since it’s already happened, we just have to adapt.”

“You already know what’s going ...