LAUREN'S POV

I turned my gaze toward the window. The sun had shifted slightly, casting golden shadows across the floor. I didn’t answer right away. My mind felt heavy, like it had too many thoughts packed into too small a space.

“Well, first of all…” I began softly, “I need to go back and check on my daughter. Elena’s the only thing that matters to me right now.”

Tessa nodded in understanding but didn’t let it go just yet.

“And what about Ethan?” she asked, her tone ...