| CHLOE POV |

The living room fell into a heavy silence, the kind that seemed to press against the skin, making every breath sound too loud.

I could see the turmoil behind Josh’s eyes, a mix of disgust, fear, and the desperate instinct to keep his secret buried, all clashing as he struggled to decide what to do.

Josh’s gaze flicked from my face to my phone on the couch, then back again. I stood there, calm and naked, letting him see that I wasn’t the least bit afraid.

His jaw ...