Lucas hoped the change of scenery would still the storm inside him. Rose’s home was nestled in a quiet neighborhood, framed by frosted windows and the smell of pine. It should’ve calmed him. But from the moment he stepped inside, something felt… off.
Rose’s father, James Harrigan, was all warmth and handshakes. He joked about holiday weight and offered Lucas cider. But her mother—Kiara—froze mid-step when she saw him. For a second, her smile faltered. Her eyes locked on Lucas as if she were looking at a ghost.