*Roanne’s POV*

I could feel the weight of Michael's gaze, piercing through the haze of my flustered state. His brow arched in concern. "Roanne, are you quite alright? You seem... agitated. I thought this was what you wanted, to expose him."

The words swirled around me, a mix of suspicion and care that I wasn't sure how to take. "I'm fine," I assured him, striving for nonchalance, but my voice betrayed a tremor. My focus sharpened on him, his presence both ...