Morning came too quickly.

I dragged myself out of bed, hair a tangled mess, exhaustion still weighing heavy in my bones. Last night’s call replayed in my head, Ryder’s voice lingering like a song stuck on repeat.

Expect me.

I didn’t even know what that meant, but knowing him, it wasn’t anything good.

I shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Mum was already up, sitting at the marble island, phone in hand, speaking in that polished, professional tone she used for business.

Which was still so weird.

A year ago, she was scraping by, barely able to keep the lights on. Now? She ran a successful...