Jessa

The music was still pounding, but the energy in the house had shifted. What had been laughter and dancing an hour ago now felt like static—uncomfortable, heavy, and directed squarely at me.

Everywhere I turned, people were whispering.

I could feel it—eyes flicking toward me, darting away the second I looked back. Some pretended to scroll through their phones, others pretended to laugh at something else, but the truth hung between us.

Everyone had seen it.

Noah punching ...