Luara finished placing the last dish on the table with deliberately slow movements, feeling the weight of each passing second while Rayder was still away, hunting the damn ice cream as if that gesture could buy the forgiveness that would never come. The dish towel slipped from her fingers when she breathed deep, resting her hands on the table's edge, shoulders relaxing just enough to let out a crooked smile, loaded with irony and satisfaction.

She straightened when she noticed the ...