Chapter 31

• “Funmi, we need to talk.”
• The words hung heavy in the air, and I could feel the shift in the atmosphere before I even turned to face him. Cole’s voice, usually so calm and steady, wavered slightly, betraying the tension that had been building for days. He stood there, a few paces away, hands shoved into the pockets of his tailored suit, his jaw clenched. His gaze was fixed on me, but I could sense the distance creeping in, like a slow, inevitable tide.
• I swallowed, trying to steady the racing thoughts that were clouding my mind. This wasn’t the first time he’d said those words. We had been here before—on the edge of something we both wanted but couldn’t seem to reach. But today felt different. Today, everything was more fragile than ever.