"Yes—"
Before he could say anything further, she cut him off.
"Yeah, we were my school friends. My kids know nothing more," Mira said, letting out a small, awkward laugh that sounded far too rehearsed, as if she had practiced it just enough to convince herself.
Lucien tilted his head, studying her with suspicion, as though his young, beam-warmed mind was carefully dissecting every word she said. " A school friend, Mommy?" he said slowly, brows knitting together, "you never told us about uncle in any of your stories at night."
At the same time, Ivy climbed onto the couch beside Cassian without hesitation and began decorating his hair with tiny pink, bow-shaped clips she had proudly collected.
Cassian didn't stop her. He didn't speak at all. Instead, he carefully adjusted the clip she'd just placed, as if accepting the role she had silently assigned him.
